The University of South Africa's (Unisa) College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET) has received a recommendation for full accreditation by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).
In March 2019, a delegation from ECSA visited the Unisa Science Campus in Florida, Johannesburg, and conducted comprehensive investigations with the purpose of reviewing the following six Engineering programmes for accreditation: Civil, Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial, and Mining Engineering.
Prof Bhekie Mamba, the Executive Dean of CSET, 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 monitored in order to ensure that it remained internationally recognised, and maintained the highest standards of research, innovation and training.
Dr Mukondeleli Katumba, the Deputy Executive Dean of CSET, gave the ECSA delegation an insightful presentation on the status of the School of Engineering. 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."
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.
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, 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 meet the requisite professional registration criteria.
* Statement issued by Unisa Media Affairs
Publish date: 2019-03-26 00:00:00.0