Open University engineering degrees receive IMechE accreditation
The Open University has just received accreditation from The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) for its engineering degrees. This is in addition to their recent re-accreditation by the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED) and Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). Professional membership of engineering institutions requires formal assessment and recognition of the level of experience and qualifications achieved.
Michael Hush, Design and Engineering Programme Director at The
Open University said: "These new accreditations confirm the high
standing of our engineering qualifications and provide a boost to
the many thousands of students currently studying with us
part-time. Professional membership has over recent years become a
requirement for senior posts in many engineering companies, and
this will be an additional benefit to our students."
IMechE is a licensed body of The Engineering Council, which
determines the requirements for accreditation. There are three
classes of membership: Engineering Technician, Incorporated
Engineer and Chartered Engineer. The Open University's MEng and MSc
in Engineering fully satisfy the chartered engineer requirements
with the BEng(Hons) also fully satisfying the academic requirements
for Incorporated Engineer status.
The Open University's integrated MEng degrees were first
accredited for CEng by the IED and CIBSE in June 2008. It recently
introduced a Foundation Degree in Engineering to help accommodate
the demand for education and skills at the associate professional
and higher technician level. Students on the Foundation Degree can
progress to the BEng (Hons) and MEng and seek to become a qualified
engineer.
The Open University has around 7,000 students registered on
engineering degrees. James Lockwood, 25, graduated with a BEng in
April 2011. After finishing his A-levels, he turned down the
opportunity to study engineering at a traditional university. "I
must admit that I was a bit sceptical when I started and thought it
might not be academically demanding as a traditional university,
but I was proven wrong very quickly," says James, who welcomed the
support network the OU offered to students. He set himself the
challenge of completing his degree in four years and was
successful, despite undertaking a number of modules simultaneously
to finish within his own imposed deadline. He is now planning to
pursue his career in construction engineering.