Purpose of the Technical Report Option
The purpose of the Technical Report Option (TRO) is to improve accessibility to registration with the Engineering Council whilst maintaining standards. These standards are detailed in the UK Standards for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC).Â
The TRO is one of several possible options, and the ILP will advise you whether this is an appropriate one for you. If invited to proceed with the TRO you should be able to show that you have gained the same level of knowledge and understanding of engineering as someone who has the exemplifying qualifications.
The TRO Process
1
Prepare
2
Write
3
Checklist
4
Assessment
5
Interview
6
Decision
1. Prepare: Submit a synopsis & arrange a mentor.
- Set out clearly how you intend to demonstrate your technical competence
- Identify the lighting principles involved
- Find the right topic by considering a project or activity that you found challenging, interesting or enjoyable. Did you cover the lighting principles involved? Is there scope to consider other solutions? If applicable, is there sufficient engineering content to allow you to demonstrate the outputs of a Chartered or Incorporated Engineer (refer to the EC UKSPEC)
- Prepare a maximum of 750 words
Focus on demonstrating your understanding of lighting principles with regard to the following:
- how you have developed an appropriate level of experience in your particular field.
- what technical judgements you have used when applying lighting principles and your ability to locate & use new research.
- what you have used by way of established analytical or design techniques to solve problems.
- your ability to apply methods that may be indeterminate or non-routine.
The ILP Assessment Panel will review your synopsis to ensure that you are on the right path and are covering the relevant areas. You should not be put off by the fact that nearly all synopses are commented on requiring further work – this is the whole purpose of the initial assessment – it is there to help you.Â
2. Write the Technical Report
Your report should:
- be between 3,000-10,000 words. Focus on quality rather than quantity – be as concise as possible
- offer an ordered and critical exposition of some aspect or aspects of lighting practice in which you have played a major part
- define the technical problems involved and demonstrate how you resolved them by the application of lighting principles and knowledge
- show that your experience fully compensates for the lack of your formal academic qualifications
- be framed with an introduction, aim, discussion and evaluation
- be self-contained, and not rely on other papers unless they are provided in appendices.
- flow logically from start to finish
- be typed in English
- be signed by you and your mentor
- not be stapled or bound
- be either the product of your original thoughts and work or referenced to the original author. It must be clear what elements of the work are your own.
Submissions may take a variety of forms including:
- a collection of reports on design or maintenance projects, with a commentary and connecting dialogue indicating how the material meets the objectives for the Review
- a specialist paper based on a design or maintenance project(s)
- a report on original work carried out by you.
You are not expected to demonstrate advanced mathematical or computing abilities. Your report may include calculations and drawings. Your report does not need to demonstrate management experience or skills.
Subdivisions of the report typically might be:
- Title
- Introduction – What the report is about.
- Aim – How does the report meet the requirements?
- Background – Setting the scene. Where does the project lie in relation to the ‘total picture’?
- Technical Content and Description – Draws out the fundamentals underlying the subject(s). The report must not simply demonstrate the application of codes and standards but must illustrate your understanding and application of lighting principles. Appropriate mathematical analysis should be included. Diagrams or drawings should preferably be close to the relevant text.
- Conclusions- In relation to the application of lighting principles, what were the successes and failures?
- Evaluation and Reflections / Lessons Learned – What were they?
- Appendices- For supporting detail, if appropriate.
- Bibliography- If appropriate
3. Checklist
You are strongly encouraged to ask yourself the following questions before the final submission:
- Have I kept to the original topics?
- Have I covered all the main points?
- Have I gone into sufficient depth to demonstrate that I understand the underlying engineering principles and can apply them in a rigorous and logical manner?
- Does the report describe what contribution I made, what I did and why IÂ did it?
- Are the points that I make relevant to the topic, argument or outcome?
- Is the material that I use relevant?
- Have I supported my themes, calculations and arguments adequately by using relevant theory, examples and references?
- Have I set out my thought processes, what decisions I made and why?
- If I instigated any changes, have I explained why?
- Have I described and analysed the results, good or bad?
- Have I acknowledged all sources and references?
- Have I exposed any confidential sources, copyrights or industrial secrets?
- Have I written clearly?
- Have I adhered to the presentation guidelines?
4. Assessment of Technical Report
Your report will be assessed against the following criteria:
Underpinning Knowledge
- Lighting principles
- Understanding of design concepts including solutions to problems
- Knowledge and understanding of analytical methods and tools
- Awareness of appropriate developing technologies
Analysis and Application
- Use of relevant lighting standards
- Application of technical standards
- Appropriate design methods including the use of IT
- Knowledge of the limits of the given process/es
Abilities
- Creativity and innovation
- Use of theoretical principles to solve problems
- Communication skills including Presentation and Technical Report
The assessment outcome will be:
Applicant invited for further interview.
OR
Further supplementary information or action required by applicant.
5. Interview
If your Technical Report is assessed by the ILP as satisfactory, you will be invited to discuss it at a Technical Report interview.
At the interview you will be invited to make a brief presentation, after which you will be asked questions about what you have written. The assessment criteria above will be used in this process. This interview will be carried out by two interviewers who will have been appointed by the ILP Membership Committee to carry out this task. The interviewers are experienced and trained professional engineers, who are also registrants in their own right. They have received additional specific training in the application of the Technical Report Option and in interviewing applicants.
If you are successful at the Technical Report Interview, you will then be asked to attend a Professional Review Interview. This may take place on the same day. At this interview, your Professional Review will be considered again and you will be invited to update it by talking about recent developments in your career, together with updated and projected CPD achievements. Again interviewers are experienced and trained registered engineers with specific training in interviewing and the requirements of both UK-SPEC and EngC.