Institution of Electrical Engineers: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The Institution of Electrical Engineers or IEE (pronounce: eye-double-e) is a professional body of electrical engineers. Founded in 1871, IEE is the largest professional engineering society in Europe and has a worldwide membership of just under 140,000. A similar organisation IEEE exists in the United States.

"These men and women, who have joined together to promote the advancement of electrical, electronic and manufacturing science and engineering, range from students to the most distinguished and highly qualified members of the profession."

One of its most famous standards is the UK Wiring Regulations, now adopted as BS7671.

A few years ago, there was much excitement that the IEE would merge with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Institution of Incorporated Engineers (IIE), the latter championing the cause of technicians and the more technical-oriented engineers. The new instituion was to have been known as the Institution of Engineers, effectively ending the prestigious pasts of the IMechE and the IEE. The merger was called off after some outstanding issues could not be resolved. There has been much speculation that the IMechE was not happy with some of the suggestions put forward by the IEE and the IIE. However, in the failed effort, the IEE found a new professional ally in the IIE. Indeed, when the merger failed, there was a joint press release by the IEE and the IIE. The IMechE issued its own statement announcing the failure. More recently though, marriages and mergers are in the air again as the IEE and the IIE consider a bipartite merger, united under the proposed new institution to be known as the Institution of Engineering and Technology. The membership is to be balloted for their approval of the new merger. If it does come into fruition, other engineering institutions will be invited to join the newly formed institution. Indeed, some have already been invited by the IEE and the IIE to join them as founding members of the new institution.

The society promotes professional electrical engineering and many of its members are accredited with the Chartered Engineer title. However, now the society has also been given a license by the Engineering Council of the United Kingdom (EC(UK)) to nominate its members to the Incorporated Engineer (IEng) and the Engineering Technician awards. Chartered Engineers (CEng) are considered to be more involved in the innovative and creative side of engineering. Incorporated Engineers are promoted as the more practical-oriented group of engineers.