By Foday Moriba Conteh
As part of their efforts towards enhancing the competence of engineers in the country, the Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers (SLIE) in partnership with Engineers for Change Sierra Leone (EfCSL) and with funding from the Royal Academy of Engineers (RAE), Africa Catalyst Phase 4 (ACP4) has on Thursday 2nd November, 2023 concluded a one-day Accredited Standards and Pathways for Professional Engineers (ASPPEng) Dissemination and Validation Workshop. The collaborative event, which brought together engineers from across the country, was held at the Sapphyre Court, off King Harman Road in Freetown.
Speaking during the event, the President of the Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers, Ing Trudy Morgan said that the SLIE is a voluntary institution established by the practitioners of the profession and was formed in 1970 by a Memorandum and Articles of Association as a corporate body, adding that SLIE promotes the continuing professional development of its members to ensure their relevance and currency in the practice of engineering.
She emphasized on the main objectives of the Institution which includes; fostering the advancement of engineering in all its branches for the improvement and development of Sierra Leone, promoting and maintaining the unity, public usefulness, honour and interest of its members, fostering linkages between engineering institutions and industry, promoting environmentally sound engineering practice, engineering education in schools and gender participation in engineering and advising Government on all engineering matters.
Furthermore, she said that the vision of SLIE is to become an influential and competent engineering institution, serving the needs of the citizens of Sierra Leone by driving high standards in engineering, empowering students, engineering technicians and engineering professionals in the training and practice of engineering at all levels to advance the development of Sierra Leone.
Ing Trudy Morgan maintained that the mission of SLIE is to continue to work to advance and promote innovation, excellence and access to opportunities for all professionals engaged in the practice of engineering including all technicians, technologists and engineers.
She also pointed out that the core values of the SLIE include professionalism, excellence, integrity, innovation and engagement.
The President said that the strategic objectives include demonstrating the value of maintaining registration with SLIE as a professional institution, supporting the continuing professional development of all engineers, promoting diversity and inclusion at all technical levels in engineering etc.
She ended by stating the Accredited Standards and Pathways for Professional Engineers (ASPPEng) Dissemination and Validation Workshop, which is an answer to the call of members of engineers in the country, will enhance the competence of engineers in the country.
The Chairman of the Professional Engineering Regulatory Council (PERC), Ing Badamasi Savage, said the PERC Act review started in 2009 with meetings and consultations, and the Act was finally published in 2022 as a supplement to the Sierra Leone Gazette.
He stated that the PERC Act being an Act to repeal the 1990 Act and makes provision for the establishment of the PERC with responsibility to regulate the practice of engineering in Sierra Leone, including the regulation and discipline of professional engineers and provide for other related matters.
The Chairman revealed that the revised Act has ten (10) parts and one (1) schedule compared to seven (7) parts and two (2) schedules in the old Act and three (3) new parts have been added specifically for administration, registers, offences and penalties.
Commenting on the responsibilities of the Council, he said the Council is responsible for registering professional engineers and engineering institutions in the country, adding that the Council also issues practicing certificates to registered professional engineers and institutions.
He said that the Council also determines and regulates the standards of practice, competence, conduct and ethics of registered professional engineers and monitor compliance thereto: prescribe professional fees based on qualification and experience subject to the approval of the Minister, issues accreditation to practicing facilities etc.
The immediate past President, SLIE Education Focal Point, Ing Prof. Jonas Redwood Sawyer, said the Royal Academy for Engineering (UK) is a delivery partner for the Global Challenges Research Fund, adding that RAE launched a new capacity-building programme referred to as the Africa Catalyst Programme in 2016.
He stated that the sole aim is to ensure there is sufficient and appropriate skilled, local engineering capacity to participate in and drive national and regional development in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ing Prof. Jonas Redwood Sawyer said that the Africa Catalyst helps achieve this by focusing on better connecting PEls to the engineering research, policy and business communities, and supporting them in taking a leadership role in ensuring appropriate accreditation, professionalism and opportunities for engineers.
Project Manager- ACP4 ASPPEng, Ing Jacob A. Lahai-Tarlowoh, said that under the project ACP4 embarks on a transformative journey to address the gaps in Sierra Leone’s engineering sector.
He maintained that the project, which is initiated by the SLIE and EfCSL, aimed to establish structured training programs for Engineers, young and old, aligning them with international standards and paving the way for recognition as Professional Engineers.
Key participants, including Ing Afriyie Assamany, Managing Director of Nimo Consultation/Construction and Ing Magdalene Remilekum Peters, a Council Member of SLIE commended the workshop for keeping engineers updated on global trends and safety regulations and providing opportunities to learn about new technologies.
Ing Magdalene Remilekum Peters maintained that the workshop has enabled them to keep them as Engineers abreast with trends and safety regulations around the world and also helped them to learn different technologies.
She encouraged other engineers to join the Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers in order to push the vision of SLIE regarding the professional continuous development of engineers in the country.
The workshop featured presentations on SLIE’s Company Scheme by Ing Trudy Morgan, Individual Scheme by Ing Afriyie Assamany, Continuous Professional Development by Ing Louise Chaytor, followed by plenary sessions (group work).
