Measuring Public Confidence in Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO)

Our research project gathered feedback from key stakeholders about their perceptions of Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), along with suggestions for driving improvement.

About The Project

Building on a significant transformation of its organization and operations, Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), identified a need for research to establish where it stands in the eyes of the public, including among key stakeholder groups. It aimed to establish a baseline measure of public perceptions of PEO as the regulator of the engineering profession and to explore variations in – and drivers of – trust. PEO planned to use these insights to guide its outreach and communications efforts, seeking to reinforce its reputation as a trusted, modern regulator.

Goals

PEO required evidence-based insight into how it is perceived by the public and its key stakeholders. The research was designed to:

Establish a clear baseline

Measure current levels of public confidence in PEO’s regulatory role and overall performance, and in the quality of its service delivery – creating a reference point for future measurement.

Identify the key factors

Understand the factors influencing trust in the organization, including perceptions of transparency, fairness, responsiveness, communication practices, and broader systemic issues.

Explore levels of confidence

Examine how confidence in PEO varies across stakeholder groups, such as municipalities, engineering students, and employers, as well as across regions, and demographic segments.

Establish a benchmark

Develop a benchmark that enables PEO to monitor shifts over time in its reputation and success in earning public confidence.

Our Approach

Environics developed a robust methodology designed to illuminate perceptions of PEO and monitor those perceptions over time. The approach included a quantitative survey to engage the general Ontario public and assess their awareness and perceptions of PEO. Qualitative research was undertaken with three key stakeholder groups: employers of engineers (in-depth individual interviews, or IDIs), municipalities who hire engineers and engineering firms (IDIs), and engineering students (focus groups).

Application of Insights

The results of this program have supported internal decision making, marketing, and communications strategy development. For each audience, the research captured insights across several dimensions: awareness and familiarity, confidence in PEO’s effectiveness, and visibility and communications. The findings allow PEO to develop tailored strategies to maintain and/or increase public confidence.

Environics’ recommendations focused on the distinct needs of PEO’s various audiences. Key recommendations included:

Promoting the value of licensure to students.

Informing employers of engineers about the requirements and opportunities for continuing professional development Raising awareness among buyers of engineering services regarding standards, monitoring, and enforcement.

Raising awareness among buyers of engineering services regarding standards, monitoring, and enforcement.

Promoting the role of engineering in public safety and raising awareness about when and how to file a complaint.

About The Client

Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) is the licensing and regulating body for professional engineering in the province. PEO regulates the practice of professional engineering and governs its members to serve and protect the public interest by ensuring all professional engineers meet rigorous qualifications for licensing and that only properly qualified individuals practise engineering.

As part of its mandate, PEO also establishes, maintains and develops: standards of knowledge and skill; standards of practice for the profession; standards of professional ethics; and promotes public awareness of its role.

PEO’s mission is to regulate and advance the practice of engineering to protect the public interest. Its vision is to be the trusted leader in professional self-regulation. Engineering safeguards life, health, property, economic interests, the public welfare and the environment.

Tony Coulson

Group VP – Corporate & Public Affairs

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