The PEGG

April 2001

Chinese Delegation Learns
All About APEGGA

APEGGA Deputy Registrar Al Schuld, P.Eng., speaks to the delegation. Middle right is Dr. Fred Otto, P.Eng., CCPE director, and far right is Mark Tokarik, P.Eng., APEGGA's director of registration.

As China baby steps toward a free market society, its industry leaders have been scouring North America for the world's best examples of how business and industry should operate outside of government. In March APEGGA staff were the hosts and teachers for four Chinese chemical engineers faced with the task of helping China develop a licensing system for their industry.

"In Canada we feel we have good working models for appropriate regulation of the engineering and geoscience professions. While there are significant differences in law and culture between us and many of the countries with whom we have discussions, the request for sharing information on the Canadian systems fits well with the mandate of the newest standing board of the CCPE, the Canadian Engineering International Board," said APEGGA Deputy Registrar Al Schuld, P.Eng., a member of the CEIB. Dr. Fred Otto, P.Eng. the APEGGA CCPE director assigned to the CEIB, also spent the day with the delegation, along with Mark Tokarik, P.Eng., APEGGA's director of registration.

Alberta's was the first Canadian association visited in a tour that began when the delegation landed in Vancouver March 9. The visitors received a crash course in APEGGA and the Alberta chemical industry on March 12 in the Edmonton offices, then headed east to meet with CCPE officials at the headquarters in Ottawa. The group flew to Atlanta on March 17.
Three of the Beijing residents represent government committees. Sun Yonliang, a senior engineer, is the deputy director of the Certificate Administration Division of the China Chemical Engineering Survey and Design Association, as well as commissioner of the Preparation Group of China Administration Committee of Chemical Engineering Licensed Engineers of Survey and Design. Liu Zhiyun, a senior engineer and professor, is vice-secretary of the association and deputy director of the committee. And Gong Renwei, also a senior engineer, is office administrator of the committee. The fourth member of the delegation was Zhang Jia Zhen, planning and business engineer and area business manager for the China Huanqiu Chemical Engineering Corp.

Mr. Zhang interpreted for the group. China sought information on registration, education, examinations, powers, organization and more.

"The delegation had not visited North America prior to this visit, but seemed pleased and favorably impressed with the information and details provided to them about the interface between the engineering professional association and the chemical industry in Canada," said Mr. Schuld.