Professionalisation in European markets: The international order of engineering in the UK and Poland

Abstract

The paper considers the addition of a new ‘order’, the European professional federations, to be included alongside the national controlling institutions of slates, professional associations and universities, in the analysis of professional processes. Beginning with a general statement about the theoretical background, data sources and internationalisation processes, the paper considers engineering as a case study and the development of European professional engineering federations as a new order of influence on the professional regulation of engineering. Interest, influence and participation in this new international order are compared in two contrasting European nation‐state contexts: UK and Poland. The paper concludes with a discussion about the different impact of European professional federations as a new order in processes of professionalisation.