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SLIE and PERC discuss the new CPD Framework with AI Networks and EDA Consulting Company

On Monday 6, September 2021, a team consisting of the CPD Committee of the SLIE/PERC met virtually with the CEO of AI Networks. The purpose of the meeting was to engage AI Networks on their membership of SLIE and inform the company of the new Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Framework. The SLIE team consisted of Ing. Louise Chaytor, team Lead for the CPD Committee, Ing. Abdul Rahman Conteh, Conference Committee chair, Thomas Salankole and Abdul Kaadiru Kallon, graduate engineers. They were later joined by the President of SLIE, Ing. Trudy Morgan. The CEO of AI Networks, Ing. Alvin Emerson Thomas said that he had two companies and was unsure which one was registered with SLIE/ PERC. However, he said that he endeavours to maintain his company’s membership of SLIE/PERC. He said the company had two engineers who are not yet registered with SLIE and 25 technicians. Ing Chaytor shared the purpose of the meeting and gave a short explanation of the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Framework, including the CPD process and her hope that CPD would be incorporated into their performance appraisal system. Ing Emerson Thomas said he had no problem with this but had not yet seen the CPD Framework to review it. He promised to ensure that his engineers are registered with SLIE/PERC. Ing Chaytor shared the location of an online copy but promised a hard copy of the CPD Booklet. Thomas Salankole shared with the CEO the training needs survey and asked questions relating to the employer’s perspective of the training requirements of his company. The CEO indicated his willingness to work with SLIE/PERC to ensure compliance with the CPD Framework. However, he expressed concern about the training needs and recognition of the technicians. He promised to ensure his engineers are registered with SLIE/PERC. SLIE/ PERC met with the Technical Director and Human Resources Officer of EDA Consulting company later the same day. The meeting was a virtual Zoom meeting which was attended by Ing. Louise Chaytor, CPD Lead, Ing. Abdul Rahman Conteh, Conference Committee Chair, Thomas Salankole and Abdul Kaadiru Kallon, graduate engineers. Ing Chaytor explained that the purpose of the meeting was to engage EDA on the new CPD requirements for registered engineers and to see how CPD could be incorporated into the performance appraisal of EDA. The Technical Director, Ing. Sybil Harleston, said her company was registered with SLIE and had about 8 engineers and several contractors. Ing. Chaytor gave a short explanation on the CPD and the activities that contribute to professional development units. She said that a Booklet was available online but a hard copy could be delivered to their office. She said that CPD would be required for annual renewal of membership. She also explained that the team was interested in asking questions to determine the training needs of the company in order to create an annual curriculum which would be made available to all engineers. Ing. Harleston said she was familiar with CPD for licensing as it is done in the United States, however, she was confused about whether the onus was on the employer rather than the employee. Ing. Chaytor clarified that the intention was to encourage CPD to be part of the performance appraisal of employers but it was not a requirement. Thomas and Abdul proceeded to ask some questions on the survey. Ing. Harleston said that while she was willing to cooperate with SLIE , she needed to be sure it was a legal requirement. She could not impose on her engineers to be registered with SLIE unless the Ministry of Labour required it. The career path an engineer takes is up to the engineer individually and not the company. However, she indicated that they would consider including the professional development units in their performance appraisal. She also asked if there was an examination that graduates were required to take before being admitted as professional engineers and confirmed for membership. Ing. Chaytor replied that the process had changed a bit over time but she had to present a paper and be interviewed before admission as a corporate member. Graduate engineers, Thomas and Abdul later made a presentation to the Technical Director in person.