One in a series of frequently asked questions from North West ICE members - on sponsoring someone for professional review.
I have been asked to sponsor somebody for professional review. What does it involve and what do I need to do?
This is one of those questions that doesn’t have a quick answer!
The sponsor’s role
As a sponsor you are being asked to protect the values and standards of the Institution and your profession.
You should be aware of the attributes[1] of the different grades of members and must be convinced that an applicant is a fit and proper person to be elected to ICE membership.
You are required to complete a Sponsor's questionnaire (ICE 3123). This is a key element in the review of a candidate's application for Membership of the Institution. Sponsors need to:
- take their responsibility seriously
- understand the requirements and attributes
- and provide useful, in-depth comments about the candidate and their abilities.
ICE 3123 gives full detailed description of the requirements.
Can I be a sponsor?
Any application for membership must be sponsored by three (two for Technicians TMICE) sponsors. One sponsor, the lead sponsor, has to be a member of the ICE. The other two sponsors can be ICE members, or members of another Engineering Council licensed Professional Institution. All three (two for TMICE) sponsors must be of least the equivalent grade of membership to that for which the candidate is applying. So if you satisfy these requirements you are eligible to be a sponsor.
Additional responsibilities for the lead sponsor
If you are the Lead sponsor you must also certify, “I have scrutinised the candidate’s submission”. This means that you have examined the professional review submission and believe it does demonstrate the required attributes. The lead sponsor should know the candidate well and be available to help the candidate in the run up to submission.
Who can / should be sponsors?
When you are asked to be a sponsor you must ensure that you can verify the range of the candidate’s experience and attributes from different viewpoints. It is not about saying XXX ‘is a very nice person’ or that they are ‘satisfactory’. The reviewers are looking at sponsor forms for specific evidence that you, as a sponsor, know the candidate personally and know their work in enough detail to verify that the candidate meets the required attributes for professional qualification.
(Examples of relevant sponsors would include the candidate’s SCE, DE or mentor. Alternatively the client for a project the candidate has worked on or who was their manager when they were seconded to a consultant/contractor).
What should you say?
Sponsors’ questionnaires are requested to support and give breadth to the application. Ultimately they need to help the reviewers gain a picture of the candidate. Specific comments, rather than generic statements, against each of the attributes are much more useful.
Notes
1. See Appendix A ICE 3001A Routes to Membership, ICE 3002A Route to Technician Membership, ICE 3003A Route to Associate Membership.
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