IES UPDATE
IES-SIAE collaborate to support aerospace engineering development in Singapore The two institutions sign an MoU to join hands in enhancing professional development for aerospace engineers and in nurturing young engineering talents
Mr Lim Yeow Khee, SIAE President (left) and Er. Edwin Khew Teck Fook, IES President (right) exchanging handshakes after signing the MoU.
On 25 November 2016, IES and the Singapore Institute of Aerospace Engineers (SIAE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in aerospace engineering, focusing on professional development for engineers and promoting the profession as a career to students. Held as part of the 2016 graduation ceremony of the Air Transport Training College (ATTC), SIAE’s professional development centre, the MoU was signed at ATTC by Er. Edwin Khew Teck Fook, IES President and Mr Lim Yeow Khee, SIAE President. Under this MoU, IES and SIAE will exchange knowledge, expertise and networks to springboard a suite of activities such as conferences, seminars and workshops in aerospace engineering. The Singapore Airshow Aerospace Technology and MRO Conference, to be held in 2018, is one of the activities already in the pipeline. The institutions will also combine their expert resources to develop
and deliver training programmes and specialist courses for engineers and technicians, in partnership with ATTC. The MoU will also see both parties cooperate on developing and organising competitions and educational programmes for students, with partners such as Science Centre Singapore. IES will also work with SIAE to drive adoption of the IES Chartered Engineer Programme amongst aerospace engineers. The only professional accreditation programme in Singapore, it serves as an essential external validation of the experience, expertise and practising competence of qualified aerospace engineers, differentiating their professional standing and raising engineering standards in Singapore. “As our fast-growing aerospace industry aspires to make Singapore one of the top aerospace hubs in the world, it is crucial that we take action now to ensure that both the current and next generation of engineers and
technicians are ready to take on the challenges of the future. “As the national society of engineers in Singapore, IES looks forward to working with SIAE to complement Singapore’s physical infrastructure expansion for the aerospace industry by attracting more engineers into the sector, developing technicians into master craftsmen and engaging the interest of the young,” said Er. Khew. Adding on, Mr Lim noted that a strong aviation culture could only be achieved through proper education, training and development infrastructure, which would in turn attract talents to the profession. “This joint effort with IES to organise activities to encourage young Singaporeans to become engineers is timely, in view of the projected shortage of engineers to support critical industries in the coming years. It will also enhance SIAE’s mission to build a strong aviation culture for the Next Generation Aviation Professionals to grow on”, he said. TSE
December 2016 THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER
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