Engineering Organizations Are Important for Professional Development
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Every field of study depends on several factors to become more developed. Factors such as continuous research, conferences, publications, and professional societies help different professions grow.
The engineering field is no exception. This field relies on continuous practice and hard-earned experience. So to become better as an engineer, you must learn how to seize opportunities.
Professional engineering societies have existed for a long time. To be more accurate, they’ve existed since the Industrial Revolution.
This article will be your guide to knowing more about the importance of these societies. Also, we’ll give you some insight about the top organizations.
What are Engineering Societies?
An engineering society is a professional organization for engineers with different specialties.
Some societies or organizations include many engineering disciplines. Others only focus on one engineering field. However the case, no one could deny the value of these societies, and how they impact the field.
Many of these societies are worldwide. Some others are limited to certain continents, countries, or states. Also, some are more specific, like women-only organizations.
Some of these organizations are run by students, mainly at universities or technical colleges.
Why are Professional Engineering Societies Important?
There are many reasons why a society is important on so many levels. They work to benefit both individuals -professional engineers- and the entire field of study. Professional engineering societies develop canons of ethics and guidelines for professional conduct for their members and the profession at large (read more here).
The following sections will help you know more about why we need these societies.
Importance for Individuals
The impact of a society or organization directly affects its members. Through hard work and pressure, these members have earned their positions. Therefore, they benefit greatly.
The following list will help you understand a society’s multiple benefits to its members.
Continuing Education
Many engineering societies provide professional development courses as a benefit of membership. If you are a civil engineer, electrical engineer, or a mechanical engineer, you can find CEU opportunities specific for your discipline.
Support
With the endless support an engineer could find through an organization, they’ll get more confidence in their work. Also, meeting people with the same profession helps boost one’s self-esteem. The share of knowledge benefits everyone.
Opportunities
Each and every engineer’s career depends on opportunities. These societies offer different career opportunities, allowing members to use them to their benefit.
Also, they provide much-needed courses and classes in the case of student-run societies.
Connection with Community
Engineers highly benefit from communications with each other, and also with the community as a whole.
Sharing experience and learning from senior engineers, more and more engineers will get the sense that they belong.
An Advocate to Engineers
Another important advantage of these societies is that they represent engineers. They help solve their problems and provide guidance.
Also, they work as a backbone to members. They connect with their environment and make sure their members get their rights as civilians and as professional engineers.
Importance for the Field
There’s no doubt that these associations help the whole engineering field a great deal. For example, providing the right guidance to a group of junior engineers will be an advantage to the entire profession in the long run.
Here’s why we think engineering societies are essential.
Sharing Technical Knowledge
Of course, working alone doesn’t encourage progress. But working with a group of engineers with various experiences and backgrounds is highly beneficial.
Sharing technical knowledge helps build and shape the whole profession. It keeps incorrect practices away and encourages progress.
Sponsoring Conferences
Conferences help bring engineers together to discuss various crucial cases.
The professional engineering societies host and sponsor important conferences, leading to a positivity-filled atmosphere for engineers from all over the world.
Setting Standards
If you’re an engineer, then you must know that anything made or built in this field has specific standards.
As most engineers know, standards help better shape their practices, and are a must to their jobs.
These organizations work together for these professional or educational standards to be decided.
Top Engineering Societies
There are many organizations to consider joining, and some might be more appealing than others. It’s all based on your preference and what you’re looking for in an organization.
These organizations are our top picks, and each one is unique in its own way.
1. World Federation of Engineering Organizations
This leading, non-governmental organization has been around since 1968. It’s a worldwide organization that works to bring together many engineering organizations.
Its practices include hosting an annual conference that changes location every year.
Also, it includes many committees that specialize in different fields of engineering or take care of specific practices.
2. National Society of Professional Engineers
This USA-based association was formed in 1934. It’s appraised for being one of the few engineering organizations that focus on non-technical concerns of professional engineers.
Mainly, it addresses their various problems and helps them make a change for the better in their careers. For instance, it provides engineers with more education in the field.
Also, the NSPE helps them find more opportunities.
3. Society of Women Engineers
There’s no denying that women bring a lot to the engineering field. Many award-winning engineers were females, who were as hardworking as their male equivalents.
This society empowers women engineers even further. To get out there and compete in the engineering world, it provides a strong education as well as valuable workshops.
The Society of Women Engineers offers many opportunities to a member: endless resources, recognition programs, publication opportunities and much more.
Engineering Discipline Based Groups
Many engineering societies and organizations are available for specific engineering disciplines. These groups help engineers engaged in specific practice areas by bringing them together to share best practices, develop new standards, and network. The following engineering disciplines benefit from national societies.
Civil Engineering Societies
American Society of Civil Engineers, founded in 1852, is the oldest national engineering society in the United States. Its stated purpose is the advancement of civil engineering, enhancing human welfare, facilitating the advancement of technology, promoting professionalism, and encouraging lifelong learning.
Chemical Engineering Societies
American Institute of Chemical Engineers supports chemist and chemical engineers in over 110 countries. Its chapters, which include professionals as well as students, support members through networking opportunities, continuing education, and technical standards development.
Electrical Engineering Societies
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is a New York based organization that supports electronic engineering and electrical engineering. It is the world’s largest technical association with more than 423,000 members. IEEE’s stated goals are to advance education and technical standards for electrical, computer, telecommunications, and electronic engineers.
Environmental Engineering Societies
American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists serves its members and the public by providing continuing education courses, developing standards, and advocating for environmental engineering and science through various outreach programs.
Mechanical Engineering Societies
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers has more than 100,000 member worldwide. ASME was initially formed to address steam boiler pressure vessel explosions. Today, it provides training and professional development for its members, develops codes and standards, and conducts research to further the profession.
There are many more discipline-based engineering groups in the United States and throughout the world.
To Wrap Up
Professional engineering societies are important to both members, and the entire field. Through hard work and devotion, engineers all over the world try their best to become members.
If you’re a long-experienced engineer or a fresh graduate, it’s an excellent idea to consider joining an organization.
It’ll enrich your technical knowledge, help solve your everyday problems as an engineer and be the best representative you can ask for.
It’s only a matter of choosing what best suits you. Whether it’s an international organization or any other choice, it’s entirely up to your preference and ambition.