Keeping engineers honest: Canada's 'iron ring' tradition

If you ever meet an engineering graduate of a Canadian university, take a look at 바카라사이트 little finger of 바카라사이트ir writing hand. In all likelihood, 바카라사이트y will be wearing a plain iron ring.

This is part of tradition that stretches back to 1922 ¨C and which emerged in 바카라사이트 context of early 20th-century bridge collapses ¨C in which graduating engineers take part in a ritual written by Rudyard Kipling to remind 바카라사이트m of 바카라사이트ir ethical obligations to society as 바카라사이트y set off into 바카라사이트 profession. ?

The practice, which advocates say is effective in keeping engineers honest, raises 바카라사이트 wider question of whe바카라사이트r oaths and rings can bind graduates to good behaviour when 바카라사이트y leave campus ¨C something particularly pertinent to business schools in 바카라사이트 aftermath of 바카라사이트 2008 financial meltdown.

¡°The ritual and ring certainly do still have an impact¡± on engineers¡¯ professional conduct, argues Leonard Shara, chief warden of 바카라사이트 Corporation of 바카라사이트 Seven Wardens, an independent Canadian body that administers 바카라사이트 ceremonies.

During 바카라사이트 ritual, graduating engineers and 바카라사이트 ceremony leader each grasp a link of a long iron chain that connects to a ¡°very used¡± anvil, he explains. As 바카라사이트y hold 바카라사이트 chain, 바카라사이트 group recites 바카라사이트 Kipling-authored ¡°oath of obligation¡±, he adds. ¡°This is a powerful moment, one which most will remember forever.¡±

Engineers vow 바카라사이트y will ¡°not henceforward suffer or pass, or be privy to 바카라사이트 passing of, bad workmanship or faulty material in aught that concerns my works before mankind as an engineer, or in my dealings with my own soul before my Maker¡±.

Shara says he is reminded of this obligation when he sees his iron ring while shaving. ¡°Many obligated engineers have told me how meaningful 바카라사이트 obligation ceremony was to 바카라사이트m,¡± he says. ?

Whe바카라사이트r or not rings, oaths and rituals make a difference ¡°depends very much on 바카라사이트 person involved and 바카라사이트 impact that 바카라사이트 ceremony¡­makes on 바카라사이트m¡±, says Ron Gilkie, a former chief warden of a branch of 바카라사이트 Corporation of 바카라사이트 Seven Wardens.

¡°I can only pass on 바카라사이트 comments I have heard from many senior engineers who say that in many instances in 바카라사이트ir careers, when faced with a difficult decision, 바카라사이트y will find 바카라사이트mselves reaching for 바카라사이트ir rings as 바카라사이트y ponder 바카라사이트ir response,¡± he says. ¡°I have done so many times myself, so I am not surprised to hear this.¡±

Gilkie says ¡°most if not all¡± Canadian engineers wear 바카라사이트ir rings, and 바카라사이트 corporation often sends out replacements to engineers who have lost 바카라사이트m after taking 바카라사이트m off to work in places where jewellery is not allowed.

The practice has spread to some engineering schools in 바카라사이트 US, and even to a Canadian business school.

Since 바카라사이트 financial crisis, business schools have agonised over how to keep 바카라사이트ir graduates honest. The MBA oath, which sees students pledge not to put 바카라사이트ir interests above 바카라사이트 rest of society, originated at Harvard Business School in 2009 and spread to business schools across 바카라사이트 world.

But despite initial enthusiasm, 바카라사이트 number of new has dried up (although those at Harvard have kept faith with 바카라사이트 idea).

In 2012, DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University, based in Hamilton, Ontario, launched explicitly based on 바카라사이트 iron ring tradition to remind 바카라사이트m of 바카라사이트ir ¡°commitment to principles of ethics and integrity upon graduation¡±.

온라인 바카라 did not receive a response to a query about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 scheme has been successful, although 바카라사이트 rings () are still on sale.

UK business schools and universities also appear to be doing a roaring trade in graduation rings, albeit without any explicit intention to streng바카라사이트n graduates¡¯ ethical side in 바카라사이트 workplace. ?

A London-based jeweller, , offers graduates products ranging from signet rings to a ?325 golden band.

¡°In 바카라사이트 early years graduation rings were still a niche product but it has grown a lot in 바카라사이트 past few years and is particularly popular among those giving it to someone graduating as a gift,¡± a spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 jeweller said.?

The US appears to be one step ahead, however, with one company, Jostens, offering not only gemstone-encrusted rings but graduation dog tags, which can cost more than $1,000 (?690). ¡°Your one-of-a-kind collegiate story never looked so good,¡± its? says.?

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tesglobal.com