Report on
Engineering Skills Summit 2012 &
Thought leadership Forum 2013
Outline of Presentation
• Overview of the ………..
– 1.
Engineering Skills Summit
– 2.
Thought leadership Forum
2
1.
Engineering Education Summit
• In 2011 ECSA conducted research into the
barriers preventing engineering students from
passing on the 4 year BSc Engineering progam.
• What motivated the research?
An analysis of the 2001 national intake cohort
of engineering students at SA HEIs.
Graduated within
5 years
Still registered
after 5 years
4 year Bachelor’s
(Eng)
54%
19%
National Diploma
(Eng)
17%
14%
Scott, I., Yeld, N., & Hendry, J. (2007). A case for improving teaching and learning in South African higher education.
Pretoria: Council on Higher Education (CHE) and Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC),
http://www.che.ac.za/documents/d000155/index.php.
Success rate of students on the 4 year BSc Eng
programme
African
White
4 year Bachelor’s (Eng)
32%
64%
National Diploma (Eng)
16%
28%
Scott, I., Yeld, N., & Hendry, J. (2007). A case for improving teaching and learning in South African higher education. Pretoria:
Council on Higher Education (CHE) and Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC),
http://www.che.ac.za/documents/d000155/index.php.
Research identified seven barriers or
“levers” to be addressed
1. School system
2. Student selection
3. Engineering Curriculum
4. Teaching and learning
5. Student support
6. Staffing
7. Funding
Consultation between DHE&T & ECSA
• Research findings presented to the Department of
Higher Education & Training (DHET) (Dec 2011)
• Two further areas to be addressed were identified
8. Workplace Integrated Learning (WIL) ……… Nat. Diploma
9. Articulation between FET Colleges and Universities
Engineering Skills Summit Partnership
ECSA worked with the following partners:
 Department of Higher Education & Training,
 merSETA,
 SASEE
Purpose of the Engineering Skills
Summit 2012
• National debate on barriers to student success
• Share ECSA’s 2011 research report:
“ Throughput study in the Engineering Bachelors Degree”
• Develop Recommendations & Resolutions to present
to the Minister of Higher Education
• Impact Policy & Practice i.r.o. Engineering Education
9
Summit Delegates
• A total of 230 delegates attended the Summit on the
16 October in Kempton Park
• Conference Delegates included a wide range of
stakeholders:
– Higher Education Institutions,
– Further Education and Training (FET) Colleges,
– industry and commerce,
– Government department at all three tiers .
Summit Themes and Discussion Groups
1.
School system &
Student Selection
Prof Almarie van Heerden
2.
Curriculum aspects
and interventions
Prof Ian Scott
3.
Teaching and learning
Prof Jenni Case
4.
Student support
Chantyl Mulder &
Dr Dianne Grayson
Summit Themes and Discussion Groups
5.
Staffing
Dr Allyson Lawless
6.
Funding
Prof Ian Scott
7.
WIL
Prof Tshilidzi Marwala &
Dr Raymond Patel
8.
Articulation
Dr Keith Jacobs
Post Engineering Skills Summit
• Detailed report containing recommendations form each of the
eight discussion groups
• The final Summit Report containing recommendations was
presented to the Minister of HE & T in January 2013
• Recommendations aim to influence policy and practice of
Engineering education which in turn will lead to increased
engineering graduate output
Engineering Skills Summit
recommendations
• 15 recommendations were made and 4 strategic
interventions emanated from the recommendations
as follows:
 A national talent Pipeline and student support
initiative
 Flexible curriculum for first degrees and Diplomas
in Engineering
 Improving Teaching and Learning
 Funding of Engineering Programmes
14
Post Engineering Skills Summit
• A joint Engineering Education working Group was
constituted by DHE&T in April 2013 between:
ECSA
DHET
Vocational and Continuing Education &
Training
Skills branches
Universities
15
Joint Engineering Education Working
Group Mandate
• Operationalise recommendations from the Summit
• Investigate Programme Accreditation at FETs
• Approval of Candidacy phase learning Programme
regulations for Professional Recognition.
• FET lecturer capacity in Engineering studies
16
2.
Thought leadership Forum
• Though leadership forum was hosted on the 12
April 2013 flowing from ECSA strategic objective 3:
 Advance ECSA’s relevance in SA society through
promotion of its role, Mobilisation and have influence on
matters pertaining to the Engineering Profession
• Eight (8) Engineering discipline groupings
participated at the Forum:
• Agriculture, Chemical, Electrical, Civil, Industrial,
Mechanical, Metallurgical and Mining
17
Consolidated Key Issues for further
Development/Research
1. Activities and role of the different Engineering
disciplines in utilisation of natural resources (Soil
and water) and the impact
2. Development of an integrated multi and inter-
disciplinary Engineering practices in Agriculture
for contextual understanding of food security, bioresources, Rural Development, Conservation and
optimal use of natural resources.
18
Consolidated Key Issues for further
Development/Research
3. Exploration of design role in Nuclear Engineering in the
South African context.
4. Development of systematic approaches in energy
efficiency
5. Appropriate energy mix for South Africa
6. A national integrated smart- Grid strategy in electricity
provision
19
Consolidated Key Issues for further
Development/Research
7. Automated water leaks management system
8. Problems associated with supply chain and
procurement
9. Minerals beneficiation strategy for the country
10. Human capital development strategy for Engineering
11. An integrated national bulk transportation strategy
20
Project Rollout Process
• Publish the Thought Leadership Report by 28 May
2013
• Invite Working Group Members from VAs by 30 May
2013
• Set up joint working groups per Engineering
discipline by 10 June 2013
– VA representatives
– ECSA representatives
Project Rollout Process
• Each working group to develop an
implementation plan
– Prioritise the issues (S/T; M/T; L/T)
• Advocacy agenda
• Position papers
• Messages and agree communication vehicles
– Agree the research program
– Identify spokespersons/champions
• Working groups to submit the final
implementation plans by 31 August 2013
Thank you - Enkosi - Ha khensa - Re a leboga - Ro livhuwa Siyabonga - Siyathokoza - Dankie