College of Science, Engineering & Technology

Maintaining the highest standards of research, innovation and training

Share

Prof Didier Nyembwe (Engineering Council of South Africa Deputy Visit Leader), Prof Bhekie Mamba (Executive Dean: College of Science, Engineering and Technology), Prof Hugh Jeffery (Engineering Council of South Africa Visit Leader) and Dr Mukondeleli Katumba (Deputy Executive Dean: College of Science, Engineering and Technology)

The College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET) has received a recommendation for full accreditation by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). The evaluation took place from 18 to 20 March 2019 at the Science Campus. The purpose of the visit was to review and consider all engineering programmes for accreditation.

The ECSA delegation consisted of six teams who conducted comprehensive investigations into the six disciplines of Engineering: Civil, Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial, and Mining Engineering.

Prof Bhekie Mamba, CSET Executive Dean, indicated that the college was excited about the outcome as it was a clear indication that the efforts of striving for excellence were bearing fruit. He said that such a visit provided an opportunity for Unisa’s engineering students to receive highly competitive training. Mamba further stated that the college’s association with ECSA is a clear indication that Unisa was willing to be constantly scrutinised in order to ensure that it remained internationally recognised and maintained the highest standards of research, innovation and training.

Dr Mukondeleli Katumba, CSET Deputy Executive Dean gave the ECSA members an insightful presentation on the status of the School of Engineering since the last visit. She congratulated the engineering team as it now has more NRF-rated scientists in the school. "Most importantly this symbolises that the university takes research very seriously as it helps to ensure that our teaching remains relevant with the issues facing society."

Members of Unisa senior management were also interviewed. With the ECSA evaluators are Prof Veronica McKay (Acting Vice-Principal: Teaching, Learning, Community Engagement and Student Support), Alice Mkuzangwe (Director: TLCESS), and Dr Eleanore Johannes (Planning and Quality Assurance: Quality Assurance and Promotion)

The ECSA team were taken on a guided tour to the labs - and they were impressed. "Unisa has the best laboratories in the country thus far," said Prof Hugh Jeffery, the ECSA team leader. Study material was investigated and intensive interviews were held with Unisa senior management and staff from the library, examination section, the RPL office, academics, students and employers. At the end of the visit, positive verbal feedback was given to Mamba, Katumba, CoDs and staff where all ECSA team leaders recommended Unisa for full accreditation. "If I were younger, I would definitely come to Unisa to do another qualification," said one of the assessors, André du Plessis.

The final outcome of the accreditation is subject to approval by the ECSA Education Committee, which will meet around June this year.

ECSA is a statutory body established in terms of the Engineering Profession Act (EPA), 46 of 2000. Its primary role is the regulation of the engineering profession in terms of this Act. Its core functions are the accreditation of engineering programmes, registration of persons as professionals in specified categories, and the regulation of the practice of registered persons. Consequently, the ECSA is the only body in South Africa that is authorised to register engineering professionals and bestow the use of engineering titles, such as Pr Eng, Pr Tech Eng, Pr Techni Eng, Pr Cert Eng, on persons who have met the requisite professional registration criteria.

* By Thembeka Ntuli-Mpapama, Communication and Marketing Specialist, College of Science, Engineering and Technology

Share

Publish date: 2019-03-25 00:00:00.0

Unisa Shop