What is a Student Professional Awareness Conference (S-PAC)?

Engineers must be proficient, professionally astute, and clearly aware of their responsibility to society. Student Professional Awareness Conferences (S-PACs, pronounced "ess-paks") explore the subjects that affect engineers' careers, regardless of how well engineers prepare themselves technically. 

First introduced in 1979, S-PACs are an effective vehicle to transmit the professional awareness that enhances the technical education they receive in engineering school.  S-PACs permit students to learn from the varied experience of successful engineers.

The conferences have potential to increase student membership and to encourage ongoing participation in IEEE. S-PACs are becoming a strong force for improving the electrical engineering profession over the coming years. 

 S-PACs are structured events where students listen to experienced engineers from diverse backgrounds discuss topics from the six critical categories.  Students have a chance to interact with the speakers, usually through a roundtable discussion.  Typically, S-PACs are half a day, and involve two or three speakers.

Who Organizes and Participates in S-PACs?

The Student Branches of IEEE plan, organize, and implement S-PACs. Presenting an S-PAC allows students to gain valuable management experience and self-confidence. The initial suggestion for an S-PAC may come from the students themselves or from other IEEE members such as university professors or Section representatives. IEEE volunteers can provide experienced counsel and encouragement, but the students bear all the responsibility for producing S-PACs. 

Electrical engineering students are the primary participants in S-PACs, although students in other engineering disciplines may be invited. Students at nearby schools may also be asked to participate to ensure larger audiences. 

Professional Awareness Topics for S-PACs.

Six categories represent the professional awareness issues of concern to IEEE Student Members: 

Career Growth
Professional registration and certification, continuing education (including post-graduate degrees), changes in job responsibility (e.g., technical to management), intellectual property rights (trade secrets, patents, copyrights), oral and written communication methods, and other career maintenance and development issues. 

Working
The realities of getting a job and being successful in the working environment, including job hunting, resume-writing and job interview skills, creating one's own company, consulting careers, role models and mentors, and office climate and working conditions. 

Professional Ethics and Social Responsibility
Ethical standards and conduct of engineers in dealing with employees, colleagues, clients, and the public, professional integrity versus corporate loyalty, whistle blowing, product liability litigation, the engineer as "expert witness",the relationship between technology and society, and promoting public understanding of the engineering profession. 

Self-Management
Developing personal management skills, including financial planning for the future, insurance, pensions, investments, time management skills, and managing committees and meetings. 

Engineers and Public Policy
Shaping and directing public policy by interacting with government and regulatory agencies, drafting and introducing legislation, lobbying, being technologically competitive, and creating technical policies. 

The Importance of a Professional Society to You
How professional societies, such as IEEE, conduct volunteer activities, provide opportunities for professional development and personal growth, and report on the state of the art and practice of engineering. 

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Last Update: 22 July 2010