INNOVATION March-April 2018

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F E B R U A R Y 9 , 2 0 1 8 Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s council of elected members and government representatives meets throughout the year to conduct the business of association governance. The following are the highlights of the February 9, 2018, meeting. WHOLE BUILDING ENERGY MODELLING GUIDELINES APPROVED Council has approved Professional Practice Guidelines—Whole Building Energy Modelling for final editorial and legal review prior to publication. These guidelines were developed by the association and the Architectural Institute of BC to set the standard of practice for architects and engineers who provide energy modelling services. DIVISION TERMS OF REFERENCE UPDATED The association’s divisions provide a forum for the exchange of ideas by members on a particular area of professional interest. Council has approved updates to the General Division Terms of Reference, which is applicable to all five divisions, and to each division’s specific Terms of Reference. These updates have been made to provide clarity on the relationship between the association and the divisions, update the reporting structure for professional practice–related matters, and reflect current division operations. REGISTRATION POLICIES UPDATED Council has approved revisions to the registration policies on Currency of Experience and Non-Accredited Reputable International Programs, as well as the inclusion of a new policy on Remote Video Conference Interviews. Updates to the policy on Currency of Experience indicate that applicants will need to ensure that two of their four years of experience have occurred in the past four years and that all of their experience has occurred in the last seven years. The Non-Accredited Reputable International Programs Policy was revised to add or remove a number of programs from the attached List of Non-accredited Reputable International Programs according to their current status on the International Institutions and Degrees Database and three other international source lists. NATIONAL COMPETENCY BASED ASSESSMENT PROJECT UPDATE Engineers and Geoscientists BC is working on agreements with a number of Canadian engineering regulators to make its Competency Based Assessment Framework and online tool available as a Software as a Service for competency- based assessment on a cost-recovery basis. This is an important step toward standardization of application for

engineering licensure at a national level. Council received an update on the progress of this project. Engineers and Geoscientists BC expects to roll out its first project deliverable in April 2018, transitioning BC applicants, validators, and assessors to the pan-Canadian system. At that time, participating regulators will be able to begin using the Competency-Based Assessment Framework and online tool with full multi-jurisdictional applicant support but no multi- jurisdictional administration, no integration with the regulators’ back-end systems, and no French language support. Future releases will incrementally increase the tool’s functionality. CONSULTATION UPDATE ON LIFE, HONORARY, HONORARY LIFE, AND NON-PRACTISING MEMBERSHIP Council received an update about the consultation on proposed changes to the Life, Honorary, Honorary Life, and Non-Practising membership bylaws. To date, members who would have been eligible for Life Membership have been engaged through focus groups and surveys, and via email, and the general membership has been engaged through a survey and a webinar. The association has also sought feedback from the Standing Awards Committee (which is responsible for recommending Honorary Membership recipients), current Life and Honorary Life members, and sister associations. A report is scheduled to go to Council in April 2018 with the full results of the consultation and proposed revisions to the bylaws. (For more information, see page 10.) CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: ASSESSMENT AND NEXT STEPS Engineers and Geoscientists BC has a responsibility to protect the public interest where engineering and geoscience regulation is concerned, and maintaining public confidence in practising professionals is vital to the association’s ability to deliver on this obligation. Council endorsed the Continuing Professional Development Committee’s assessment that a CPD program will enhance public safety and confidence in the professions, as well as supporting member competence. Council then passed a motion endorsing elements identified by the committee as ones that should be considered in the development of a new program in concert with the association’s other regulatory initiatives. Council directed staff to work with consultants to support the CPD committee’s development of a new program. Program development will involve member engagement and consultation.

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