In order to promote the mutual recognition of engineering qualifications between China and Singapore, the CAST Center for Professional Training and Services (also known as the CSE’s Secretariat, hereinafter referred to as the “Center”) held the Exchange Seminar on Promoting the Mutual Recognition of China-Singapore Engineering Qualifications Between China and Singapore on the afternoon of April 8 through videoconferencing under the guidance of the International Liaison Department of the CAST. Wang Qinglin, Deputy Director of the International Liaison Department of the CAST, and Tan Seng Chuan, Chairman of the International Outreach Committee, Chairman of the Chartered Engineers Board and Honorary President at the Institution of Engineers Singapore (IES), attended and addressed the seminar. The seminar was presided over by Zheng Kai, Director of the Center.

At the seminar, both sides explained their standards and processes of engineering competency assessment standards and processes, and carried out in-depth exchanges and discussions on the selection of assessors, preparation of applicant materials, organization of interviews, paths of mutual recognition, and other topics. Tan Seng Chuan pointed out that the IES, founded in July 1966, was a national community organization for Singapore engineers. In order to improve their capabilities in engineering technology, IES introduced the Chartered Engineer Programme, which covered a wide range of fields, including aerospace engineering, chemical process engineering, hydro-environmental/hydraulic engineering, marine/coastal engineering, railway transportation engineering and systems engineering. Similar to the provisions in the General Specification of Competency Assessment for Engineers, chartered engineer applicants must first be admitted as IES’s full members, have necessary academic qualifications and at least 4 years of professional work experience, meet the requirements in respect of 7 capabilities (problem analysis, problem solving, evaluation, decision-making responsibility, management responsibility, judgment and communication) and participate in continuous professional development activities.

The CAST and IES Both sidesboth agree that their standards and processes of engineering competency assessment standards and processes are highly consistent and both refer to the Graduate Attributes and Professional Competences issued by the International Engineering Alliance. The two sides also reached a preliminary consensus on the path to mutual recognition of engineering qualifications.