Participants at the FEIIC pose for a group photo in Makkah.

Experts and heads of the 21-member Federation of Engineering Institutions of Islamic Countries (FEIIC) met in Makkah recently.

The meeting was significant in view of the massive developmental projects currently being undertaken in the Kingdom’s key cities, asserted Ghazi Saeed Alabasi, secretary-general of the Saudi Council of Engineers (SCE).

“The participants in the meeting discussed the standardization and adoption process of professional accreditation systems in the Kingdom and in the other participants’ respective countries,” Alabasi said.

A team of experts from Malaysia, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was formed under a project called “Engineering Qualification, Accreditation and Professional System (EQAPS),” explained the secretary-general.

He noted that the meeting also came as part of a series of meetings initiated for the purpose of standardizing the accreditation system in Islamic countries to help engineering graduates attain recognition.

“Aside from recognition, there’s also the need to facilitate mobility between member-states and help the graduates practice their engineering professions with ease,” Alabasi added.

The meeting, which was headed by Prof. Megat Johari of the Malaysian Society for Engineering and Technology, adopted the recommendations issued during a meeting in Madinah in Dec. 2013.

“The Madinah Accord is expected to improve the professional level of engineers in member countries and enable them to receive international recognition,” said Alabasi.

On the sidelines of the meeting, the FICC’s executive council agreed to form the Young Engineers Group to motivate and strengthen professional relations among the Islamic countries’ young engineers.

A number of other topics were discussed during the meeting, including strengthening fraternity ties with international engineering organizations.

Mohammed Zhgoul attended as an honorary guest representing Iayad Madani, secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Hamad Nasir Alshagawi the federation’s president chaired the meeting.

Ibrahim Aldhobaie, executive council member and deputy secretary general of the SCE, commended the formation of the Young Engineers Group, which he considered a “milestone in the FEIIC activities and a move in the right direction.”

He also urged Saudi engineers to respond to this initiative and participate in establishing a branch in the Kingdom.