
The Institution of Engineers of Ireland () or the IEI, is an
engineering society
An engineering society is a professional organization for engineers of various disciplines. Some are umbrella type organizations which accept many different disciplines, while others are discipline-specific. Many award professional designations, s ...
primarily representing members based in Ireland. The institution is Ireland’s recognised organisation for accreditation of professional engineering qualifications under the
Washington Accord The Washington Agreement was a peace agreement that led to the modern Bosnia and Herzegovina, signed in 1994.
Washington Agreement or Washington Accords may also refer to:
* Washington Accords (1942), the Brazil-United States Political-Military ...
,
Sydney Accord
The Sydney Accord is an international mutual recognition agreement for qualifications in the fields of engineering technology.
Definition and background
The Sydney Accord is an agreement between the bodies responsible for accrediting engineering ...
, and
Dublin Accord
The Dublin Accord is an agreement for the international recognition of ''Engineering Technician'' qualifications.
In May 2002, the national engineering organisations of Ireland, the United Kingdom, South Africa and Canada
Canada is ...
.
Membership of the institution is open to individuals based on academic and professional background and is separated into grades in accordance with criteria, including the
Chartered Engineer
Regulation and licensure in engineering is established by various jurisdictions of the world to encourage life, public welfare, safety, well-being, then environment and other interests of the general public and to define the licensure process thr ...
and
European Engineer
European Engineer (EUR ING) is an international professional qualification and title for highly qualified engineers used in over 32 European countries. Contemporary EUR ING engineers are degree-qualified and have gained the highest level of profes ...
titles.
The institution received its current legal name in 1969 by an
Act of the Oireachtas
The law of Ireland consists of constitutional, statutory, and common law. The highest law in the State is the Constitution of Ireland, from which all other law derives its authority. The Republic has a common-law legal system with a written co ...
. In October 2005 the institution adopted the operating name Engineers Ireland; the legal name is, however, unchanged.
History
The history of the institution can be traced to 6 August 1835 when
civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering – the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructure while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing i ...
s met in Dublin; the result was the Civil Engineers Society of Ireland, in 1844 the society adopted the name the Institution of Civil Engineers of Ireland (ICEI). The institution received a
royal charter
A royal charter is a formal grant issued by a monarch under royal prerogative as letters patent. Historically, they have been used to promulgate public laws, the most famous example being the English Magna Carta (great charter) of 1215, but ...
on 15 October 1877, this being a significant milestone in obtaining international recognition and standing. In the early years of the
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State (6 December 192229 December 1937), also known by its Irish-language, Irish name ( , ), was a State (polity), state established in December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 1921. The treaty ended the three-ye ...
Cumann na nInnealtóirí (The Engineers Association) was set up independently, in 1928, by incorporation under the Companies Act, 1908 to "improve and advance the status and remuneration of qualified members of the engineering profession"
[The Engineers Journal, Volume 59, Issue 10, December 2005, Dublin] as it was felt that the ICEI's charter prevented its negotiation of employment conditions and salary.
In 1927 the ICEI elected their first woman member when
Iris Cummins was admitted to the organisation.
As time progressed it was realised that the institution and association might better advance engineering in Ireland by amalgamation of both into a single organisation which would represent a broader set of engineering disciplines, so discussions commenced in 1965,
and resulted in
The Institution of Civil Engineers of Ireland (Charter Amendment) Act, 1969' leading to the redesignation of the unified institution as The Institution of Engineers of Ireland – Cumann na nInnealtóirí. Since this Act the institution has represented all branches of engineering in Ireland.
In 1997 the institution set up th
Irish Academy of Engineering – official website based at
Bolton Street,
Dublin Institute of Technology
Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT, ) was a major third-level institution in Dublin, Ireland. On 1 January 2019 DIT was dissolved and its functions were transferred to the Technological University Dublin, as TU Dublin City Campus. The insti ...
(Now
Technological University Dublin).
Mission
''"The institution promotes the art and science of engineering..."'', in particular:
:''"Our members serve society through the highest standards of professional engineering. We seek to improve the quality of life for all, creating prosperity and adding value through innovation and the promotion of health, and sustainable development."''
Responsibilities
* Promote knowledge of engineering.
* Establish and maintain standards of professional engineering and engineering education.
* Provide opportunities for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for engineers.
* Maintain standards of professional ethics and conduct.
* Ensure that professional titles are granted to qualified candidates.
* Act as the authoritative voice of the engineering profession in Ireland.
Professional Titles
* Honorary Fellow of Engineers Ireland – FIEI (Hons)
* Fellow of Engineers Ireland – CEng FIEI or CEng CEnv FIEI
* Chartered Environmentalist – CEng CEnv MIEI
* Chartered Engineer – CEng MIEI
* Associate Engineer – AEng MIEI
* Engineering Technician – Eng Tech MIEI
* Member of Engineers Ireland – MIEI
* Technician Member of Engineers Ireland – Tech IEI
Other Membership Titles
* Student Member of Engineers Ireland
* Affiliate Member of Engineers Ireland
* Companion Member of Engineers Ireland
Sectors
The institution is divided into three sectors; Divisions, Regions, and Societies, which are further subdivided – their purpose is to promote engineering and share knowledge.
*Regions: An Ríocht (Kerry); Australia/New Zealand; Cork; Donegal; GB; Midland; North-East; Northern; North-West; South-East; Thomond and West.
*Divisions: Agriculture and Food; Biomedical; Chemical and Process; Civil; Electronic and Computing; Electrical; Energy, Environment and Climate Action; Fire and Safety; Public Sector; Mechanical and Manufacturing; Structures and Construction.
*Societies: Academic; An Roth; Geotechnical; Heritage; MEETA Asset Management; Project Management; Transportation; Water and Environmental; Young Engineers Society (Y.E.S); Inclusion and Diversity; Executive and Business; Women in Engineering Group.
International
In accordance with EU requirements it is the ''designated authority'' for the engineering profession in Ireland. The institution is a national member of ''
European Federation of National Engineering Associations'' (''FEANI''). The institution is also a signatory to a number of multilateral agreements, these are principally for ''registered professional titles'' and ''accredited engineering programmes'', for academic programmes these are:
[This table is only a summary of the main details]
the Engineers Ireland website
gives more information
The institution is also the signatory to a number of bilateral agreements with engineering societies in the United Kingdom. These are for the dual recognition of corresponding Chartered Engineer, Associate Engineer and Engineering Technician grades of the institution.
What the Institution offers
Free CPD Series and Sector webinars;
Awarding Registered Professional Titles;
Continuing Professional Development (CPD);
International Recognition of your Qualifications;
Advocating on behalf of Members and the Profession;
Supporting Career Progression;
Online Resources/Communications
Footnotes
See also
*
Education in the Republic of Ireland
Education in the Republic of Ireland is a primary, secondary and higher (often known as "third-level" or tertiary) education. In recent years, further education has grown immensely, with 51% of working age adults having completed higher edu ...
*
List of Irish learned societies
*
List of universities in the Republic of Ireland
Third-level education in Ireland includes all education after second-level, encompassing higher education in universities and colleges and further education on Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) and other courses.
The degree-awarding institutio ...
External links
Official siteRIAI CPDFEANI European Engineer Title
{{DEFAULTSORT:Institution of Engineers of Ireland
Engineering societies
Learned societies of Ireland
1835 establishments in Ireland
Professional associations based in Ireland
Professional certification in engineering
Seanad nominating bodies