# Society of Engineers (UK)

The Society of Engineers was a British learned society established in 1854. It was the first society to issue the professional title of Incorporated Engineer. It merged with the Institution of Incorporated Engineers (IIE) in 2005, and in 2006 the merged body joined with the Institution of Electrical Engineers to become the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

## History
### Establishment

Established in May 1854 in The Strand, London, the Society of Engineers was one of the oldest professional engineering bodies in the United Kingdom (after the Smeatonian Society of Civil Engineers, 1771, the Institution of Civil Engineers, 1818, and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 1847)
It promoted the interests of members worldwide and was concerned with all branches of engineering. It was founded by Henry Palfrey Stephenson and Robert Monro Christie as a means of reunion for former students of Putney College (the short-lived College for Civil Engineers, 1839–c.1851) — one of few institutions then giving technical and scientific training for engineers — with Stephenson serving as president in 1856 and 1859.

### Timeline

* 1839 – College for Civil Engineers founded
* 1854 – Society of Engineers (SoE) founded
* 1884 – Junior Institution of Engineers founded
* 1976 – Junior Institution of Engineers renamed the Institution of Mechanical & General Technician Engineers (IMGTechE)
* Early 20th century – Association of Supervisory Electrical Engineers (ASEE) founded
* 1928 – Cumann na nInnealtoiri (The Engineers Society) is founded in Ireland
* Early 20th century – Institute of Engineers and Technicians (IET) founded
* Mid 20th century – Institution of Incorporated Executive Engineers (IIExE) founded
* Mid 20th century – The Institution of Electronics and Radio Engineers (IERE) founded
* 1965 – Institution of Electrical and Electronics Technician Engineers (IEETE) founded, incorporating ASEE (with support from the IEE)
* 1965 – The Society of Electronics and Radio Technicians (SERT) founded by amalgamation of IERE with Radio Trades Examination Board (RTEB). SERT then supported RTEB renamed as the Electronics Examination Board (EEB)
* 1969 – A number of Corporate Members of the Society of Engineers founded on the 27 October 1969 The Society of Professional Engineers (SPE) that maintains a register of Engineers who have proved their competence and can be accurately described as Professional Engineers and who on Registration can use the designation "P.Eng.";
* 1969 – The Institution of Civil Engineers and Cumann na nInnealtóirí merged to form the Institution of Engineers of Ireland, now known as Engineers Ireland.
* 1978 – The Institution of Technician Engineers in Mechanical Engineering (ITEME) founded (with support from IMechE)
* 1982 – The IMGTechE and ITEME merged to form the Institution of Mechanical Incorporated Engineers (IMechIE)
* 1982 – IEETE renamed the Institution of Electrical and Electronics Incorporated Engineers
* 1990 – IEEIE and SERT merged to form the Institution of Electronics and Electrical Incorporated Engineers (IEEIE)
* 1998 – IEEIE, IMechIE and IET merged to form the Institution of Incorporated Engineers in electronic, electrical and mechanical Engineering (IIE)
* 1999 – IEExE merged with IIE
* 2001 – IIE granted royal charter and renamed the Institution of Incorporated Engineers (IIE)
* 2004 – Institute of British Engineers (IBE) wound up
* 2005 – EEB wound up
* 2005 – Society of Engineers merged into IIE. The merger ensured continued recognition of the society as its members retained their post nominal letters (MSE or MSEng), and securedg a broader membership base for the IIE.
* 2006 – IIE and IEE (Institution of Electrical Engineers) joined to form the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).
* 2018 – SPE absorbed into IET
* 2019 – The Society of Environmental Engineers (SEE) wound up
The IET now has more than 150,000 members worldwide, and incorporates all members of the Society of Engineers.

## Membership
### Examinations

To become a member the candidate was subjected to an examination divided into three parts:
* Part I: General Engineering
* Part II: Design Paper (Civil, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical/ Electronics Project).
* Part III: Management

### Membership qualifications

* ASE: Associate Engineering (Non-Corporate Member)
minimum age 21 years, a qualification BTEC, HND, HNC or GNVQ/NVQ/SNQ Level 4 in engineering or similar approved qualification and 3 years of engineering training. Pass Part I of SoE's Exams.
* AMSE: Associate Member (Non-Corporate Member)
minimum age 23 years, ASE plus CertEng or BEng / BSc or GNVQ / NVQ / SNVO Level 5 in engineering or similar approved qualification and 5 years of engineering training /experience including 2 years practical or site work. Pass Part II of SoE's Exams.
* MSE: Member (Corporate Member)
minimum age 26 years AMSE plus DipEng or BEng(Hons)or similar approved qualification or MEng with approved project study at a participating university and 5 years engineering training/experience including 2 years practical or site work plus holding a position of professional responsibility for at least 3 years. Pass Part III of SoE's Exams.
Sample of the Membership Certificate: The sensible data of the holder have been deleted for privacy reasons.
* http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/38172939
See slides 7-42-43-44 http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/aSGuest141513-1498327-technicians-engineers-challenges-possibilities/ The Society of Professional Engineers-SPE (UK) is a direct emanation of the Society of Engineers ( 1969 ). See links at the bottom of the page.
* FSE: Fellow (Corporate Member) - No Direct Entry
minimum age 33 years, Corporate Members of at least 7 years standing, who in the opinion of the Membership Elections Committee endorsed by the directors are deemed to have had sufficient experience (including major responsibility in the design, research or execution of engineering works) and who can also demonstrate continued career development. Services rendered to the society in particular or to the profession of engineering generally are also taken into account.
* HonFSE: Honorary Fellow (Corporate Member) - No Direct Entry
Honorary Fellows shall be persons of distinguished position or scientific attainments nominated and elected by the directors who shall consent to become members of the society.

### Eminent members

The society has had many eminent engineers among its membership and in receipt of its awards which include the Churchill Medal. On 27 November 1946 at the House of Commons, Sir Winston Churchill became an Honorary Fellow and approved the use of his name for the society's senior award. Another Honorary Fellow was radio pioneer Sir Guglielmo Marconi.
Churchill Medal recipients have included Sir Frank Whittle for jet engine design, Sir Christopher Hinton and Sir John Cockcroft for their work on atomic energy, Sir Geoffrey de Havilland for aircraft design, Sir Bernard Lovell for radio astronomy and Alan Wells for the Wells wave turbine.