IEM PI A501

Guidance Notes for Training & Experience Report (Portfolio of Evidence)

April 2016
1. These guidance notes are intended for the Professional Interview Applicant who has to fill
up the Training & Experience Report in terms of Portfolio of Evidence on professional
engineering competencies in support of his application to sit for PI.
2. The Applicant is required to submit two (2) copies of Training & Experience Report
(Portfolio of Evidence) together with the PI Application Form.
3. Applicant is required to provide a portfolio of evidence regarding the competencies
required as a condition to be assessed for his eligibility or readiness to sit for the
Professional Interview.
4. Applicant is advised to refer to the attached Competency Framework regarding the
description of Competency Categories and Competency Elements.
5. Applicant is required to provide evidence for each of the five (5) Competency Categories
A, B, C, D and E.
6. The evidence should indicate how the Applicant has gained or obtained the required
competency citing specific examples from projects or works he has undertaken in the
ordinary course of the Applicants work.
7. Applicant should provide the evidence in a clear and concise manner detailing only the
essential facts as proof of competencies, and sign on every page of the report / form.
8. Applicant may attach relevant documentation to support the evidence of competency, and
initial/sign on every page of the attached documentation. The supporting documentation
should also be clearly referenced.
9. The evidence written for each Competency Category (A, B, C, D, and E) should typically
be around 500 words, excluding appendices and attachments.
10. Applicant should take note that the right-hand column denotes revision and date of the resubmission of evidence; hence the column should be left blank in the first submission.
When the Applicant is asked to re-submit the evidence regarding certain Competency
Category, the relevant column(s) for that Competency Category should indicate
Rev01/Date of the first re-submission. The same applies to all subsequent re-submissions,
namely Rev02/Date of second re-submission .. Rev0N/Date of Nth re-submission. This
serves to help tracking all re-submissions of evidence for a particular Competency
Category.

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IEM PI A501
Guidance Notes for Training & Experience Report (Portfolio of Evidence)
April 2016
11. Applicant should get the Supporter to endorse the evidence and initial/sign on every page
of the report / form, including the supporting documentation.
12. Applicant should understand that the documentary evidence is important in his application
in that it will help IEM PI Assessor to assess the adequacy of competence in each of the
Competency Categories A, B, C, D and E in order to determine whether the competency
profile of the Applicant as a whole is sufficient to make him eligible or ready to sit for the
professional interview.
13. This form should be word-processed and submitted electronically. A minimum font size
of 9 should be used. Alternatively, the form should be type-written using black ink.
14. If you choose to submit hard copy, do not bind or glue sheets together as your application
will be scanned. Additional sheets could be used if the space provided is not adequate.
15. Declare that you do not plagiarise in this submission. You should understand that
plagiarising will render your application null and void and you may be barred from the
Professional Interview.

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IEM PI A501
Guidance Notes for Training & Experience Report (Portfolio of Evidence)
April 2016

Competency Category A
Use a combination of general and specialist engineering knowledge and understanding to
optimise the application of existing and emerging technology.

A1

Maintain and extend a sound theoretical approach in enabling the

introduction and exploitation of new and advancing technology and other
relevant developments.

A Professional Engineer will have progressed from the formal educational base to having
the breadth and depth of knowledge, understanding and technical skills necessary to exploit
new and developing technologies from their own and allied fields. They should be able to
identify their own personal limits, strive to extend their own technological capability and
broaden and deepen their own knowledge base through new applications and techniques.
A2

Engage in the creative and innovative development of engineering

technology and continuous improvement systems.

A Professional Engineer will have the ability to use their knowledge base and experience as
the basis for the creative or innovative development of technology, products or services.
They will also use their knowledge and understanding to improve products or services.

A3

Apply engineering knowledge related to local practices, codes, standards,

specifications, materials, products, environmental plans and other
requirements; and where appropriate, apply engineering knowledge
contributed by others including suppliers, consultants, contractors,
manufacturers, technologists, researchers and independent experts.

A Professional Engineer will have the ability to use local practices, codes, standards,
specifications, materials, products, environmental plans and other requirements; and where
appropriate, the engineering knowledge contributed by others including suppliers,
consultants, contractors, manufacturers, technologists, researchers and independent experts
as a basis for developing solutions appropriate to local context and requirements.
Collectively, this is referred to as local engineering knowledge.

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IEM PI A501
Guidance Notes for Training & Experience Report (Portfolio of Evidence)
April 2016

Competency Category B
Apply appropriate theoretical and practical methods to the analysis and solution of
engineering problems
B1

Identify potential projects and opportunities

A Professional Engineer will have identified and reviewed new opportunities within their
field, using creative problem solving methodology. Have been involved with or led
marketing, tendering and specification for new products or systems; will have devised
action plans, targets and schedules to bring projects to maturity.
B2

Conduct appropriate research and undertake design and development of

engineering solutions.

A Professional Engineer will have carried out theoretical or applied research to evaluate
potential options, considering cost, resource, safety and environmental implications. Will
have produced concept and finalised engineering design, presented proposals and gained
approvals. This may involve the application of cross disciplinary techniques, technology
and unusual methods of working.
B3

Implement design solutions, and evaluate their effectiveness.

A Professional Engineer will have implemented the design strategy through to final
solution, and devise and apply appropriate criteria for monitoring and evaluating progress
and outcomes. Will ensure that design performance, cost benefit and project milestones are
met or devise appropriate measures or design modifications. Carry out a project review,
assessing the performance against the original specification, using the results to improve the
future design process and build into established procedures.

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IEM PI A501
Guidance Notes for Training & Experience Report (Portfolio of Evidence)
April 2016

Competency Category C
Provide technical and commercial management.
C1

Plan for effective project implementation.

A Professional Engineer plans projects using an understanding of the drivers and objectives
of the business or organization involved. This requires the ability to define and agree work
objectives, estimate timescale and resource requirements, both human and material, identify
plan deviations and take necessary corrective actions.
C2

Plan, budget, organise, direct and control tasks, people and resources.

A Professional Engineer, using an understanding of the drivers, objectives and work plans
of the business or organisation involved, will prioritise and manage the use of available
resources. This requires the capability to manage their personal time, and that of any staff
for which they have full project responsibility, general or project budgets, facilities and
contractor resources under their control.
C3

Lead teams and develop staff to meet changing technical and managerial
needs.

A Professional Engineer will be able to demonstrate leadership whether of technical

programmes, project teams or specialist staff. They will be able to develop staff to their full
potential in an environment of technical and managerial change.
C4

Bring about continuous improvement through quality management.

A Professional Engineer will be responsible for continuous improvement in productivity

through quality management using best practice methods. Direct project evaluation and
make recommendations for improvement.

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IEM PI A501
Guidance Notes for Training & Experience Report (Portfolio of Evidence)
April 2016

Competency Category D
Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills
Interpersonal skills are to be assessed in three areas: general communications at all levels:
presenting and discussing proposals; and people skills. These skills are of increasing
importance in modern engineering practice, and ideally a good engineer will be highly
competent in all aspects.
D1

Communicate in English with other at all levels.

A Professional Engineer will have written and oral skills enabling communications in
English with a wide range of customers and suppliers, peers, seniors and juniors within
and outside their employing organisation at all levels. They should be able to contribute to,
chair and record meetings and discussion and exchange information with technical and nontechnical colleagues in a clear and concise manner.
D2

Present and discuss proposals.

It is important that a Professional Engineer can present proposals for work programmes and
projects in a clear and authoritative manner, and be persuasive when discussing details,
variations and implementation. They should be able to prepare and deliver appropriate
presentations and manage debates with audience.
D3

Demonstrate personal and social skills

A Professional Engineer will be able to create, maintain and enhance productive working
relationships and resolve conflict. They must be able to apply diversity and antidiscrimination legislation and be confident and flexible in dealing with new and changing
interpersonal situations. They should know, and manage their own emotions, strengths and
weaknesses, and be aware of the needs and concerns of others.

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IEM PI A501
Guidance Notes for Training & Experience Report (Portfolio of Evidence)
April 2016

Competency Category E
Demonstrate a personal commitment to professional standards, recognizing obligations to
society, the profession and the environment
E1

Comply with relevant codes of conduct / practice

A Professional Engineer will be able to show how they comply with the rules of
professional conduct and mage their work within all relevant legislation and regulatory
frameworks, including social and employment legislation.
E2

Manage and apply safe systems of work.

A Professional Engineer must be able to identity and take responsibility for their own
obligations for health, safety and welfare issues. They should be able to manage systems
that satisfy H&S and welfare requirements, and implement appropriate hazard identification
and risk management systems.
E3

Undertake engineering activities in a way that contributes to sustainable

development.

A Professional Engineer should operate and act responsibly, taking account of the need to
progress environmental, social and economic outcome simultaneously. They should also
understand and encourage stakeholder involvement in sustainable development.
E4

Carry out continuing professional development necessary to maintain and

enhance competence in own area of practice.

A Professional Engineer will keep up to date in an environment of rapidly advancing

technology and organisational change. They should undertake reviews of their own
development needs and prepare action plans to meet personal and organisational objectives.
They should maintain evidence of competence development and keep a current, up to date,
CPD plan.
E5

Understand the legal matters pertaining to engineering profession and be able

to communicate with legal personnel on these issues

A Professional Engineer must be able to understand relevant legal matters that are related to
the engineering work and services. He must possess knowledge on overview of laws having
relevance and impact on the practice of engineering professional services. With the legal
knowledge, he should be able to communicate effectively with legal personnel on these
legal issues.

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