Example engineering dissertation topic 7:

The uptake rate of the International Professional Engineer (IntPE) qualification, 2002-2012

Unlike professions such as medicine and law, regulation and licensure in engineering varies globally, and, in the UK, the title of ‘engineer’ is not protected legally. Institutions such as the Engineering Council and the Institution of Engineering and Technology seek partial redress with qualifications such as ‘Chartered Engineer’. This dissertation charts the uptake rate and motivation of the new denomination of International Professional Engineer (IntPE) since its introduction in 2002, and speculates whether there is a likelihood that such nomenclature will indeed result in greater respect for the engineering profession.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Allan, M. and Chisholm, C. (2009) The formation of the engineer for the 21st century – A global perspective. 20th Australasian Association for Engineering Education Conference University of Adelaide, 6-9 December 2009.
• Wall, K. (2010) ‘Developing and implementing norms and standards’, Guidebook for Capacity Building in the Engineering Environment, pp 50-57.