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The need to building a diverse and representative Engineering Profession Dr Ossie Franks Pr Eng CEO Engineering Council of South Africa Gibb Offices Sunning hill, Johannesburg 24 June 2011 Engineering Millstones of the 20th Century Electrification Intercity highways Automobile Space flight Airplane Internet Water supply & distribution Imaging Electronics Household appliances Radio and television Health technologies Agricultural mechanization Petrochemical technologies Computers Laser and fiber optics Telephone (fixed & mobile) Nuclear technologies Air conditioning/refrigeration High-performance materials 2 Engineering’s Contribution 1) Benefits were largely universal 2) Depended on timely parallel accomplishments of science, mathematics, and medicine 3) Resulting devices were affordable by large numbers of people 4) Engineering qualifications/profession offers social mobility 3 Engineering Grand Challenges Provide access to clean water Improve urban infrastructure Engineer better medicines Make solar energy economical Provide energy from fusion Advance health informatics Develop carbon sequestration methods Counter nuclear terror Manage the nitrogen cycle Secure cyberspace Advance personalized learning Enhance virtual reality 4 Globalization of Engineering: Boeing 787 Dreamliner 5 So then how does South Africa rank against its global competitors? 6 Competitiveness Model Countries at each stage South Africa’s Global Competitiveness Ranking Source: The Global Competitiveness Report 2010-2011 South Africa’s Global Competitiveness Index 10 Problematic factors for doing business 11 What then are the big challenges we face ? 12 Our Challenges: Political 13 Our Challenges: Political 14 Our Challenges: Economic 15 Our Challenges: Economic 16 Our Challenges: Social 17 Our Challenges: Health 18 Our Challenges: Health & Skills 19 Our Challenges: Education 20 Our Critical Challenges 21 Further challenges at local government level • Lack of basic infrastructure • Housing backlog • Poor access to water and electricity • Ageing cohort of engineering professionals • Corruption • Lack of engineering skills contributes to these challenges and lack of delivery to communities. 22 WEF Global Competitiveness Report Fifth Pillar: Higher Education and Training So how are we doing in the area of engineering skills to support the national economy? 23 Report on SA’s Infrastructure 24 Infrastucture’s contribution to socio – economic development “It’s not our wealth that created our infrastructure, but our infrastructure that created out wealth!” John F Kennedy Comparison of Citizens per registered Engineer 3500 3166 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 543 500 130 157 227 China India Brazil 311 389 0 Allyson Lawless: Numbers and Needs (2005) UK USA Malaysia South Africa 26 Actual & Targeted graduate output Engineering Life and Physical Sciences Animal and Human Health Teacher Education 16000 15000 14000 12000 12000 10000 8082 7888 8000 8000 5939 6000 4000 3400 2000 0 Actual Target 2008 2014 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. % of Eng. students who graduate within 5 yrs Black 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. Why regulate the Engineering profession? • Engineering work...... is accompanied by risks to health, safety, environment, sustainability, consequently … • Engineering work must therefore be carried out by competent & accountable registered professionals. • Engineering Professions Act, No. 46 of 2000 • ECSA is thus deemed a Statutory body. 30 Vision Statement ECSA’s vision is to ensure that South Africa enjoys all the benefits of a strong competent, growing, sustainable and representative engineering profession, able to provide all the expertise necessary for the socio-economic needs of the country and to exert a positive influence in South Africa. 31 Mission Statement Our mission is to create the circumstances in which society is confident that the engineering profession in South Africa is able to carry out the functions necessary for socio-economic growth. 32 ECSA’s Core Functions • Set Standards for Engineering Qualifications • Accreditation of Engineering programmes • Recognise and Evaluate Qualifications • Register Engineering Professionals • Renew Registration & Continuing Professional Development • Define and Enforce a Code of Conduct for Registered Professionals • Define guidelines fees for Professional Engineers Services 33 Professional Development Model Practice Observe Code of Conduct and Maintain CPD Professional Registration Training And Experience Meet Standard For Professional Competency Candidate Registration Graduation Accredited Programme Meet Standard for Engineering Education 34 Relationships in the Profession ECSA Functions: •Register •Accredit •Regulate Professional Conduct •Set Standards •Act in the interests of the public •Advise government Recognition Nominate Council and Committee Members Provider Peer Assessors, Accreditors, Investigators Presidents Forum Engineering Voluntary Associations AeSSA SAIAE SAIChE SAICE SAIEE SAIIE SAIMechE SAIMM CESA IPET COET + ….. 35 Engineering Practitioner Lifecycle School (MSE) Basic Education Complete Basic Education with Math, Physical Science & English Higher Education Engineering Practice Management Candidacy Registered Experienced Expert Professional Formation Stage 1: Complete Engineering Education Stage 2: Complete Registration Requirements RetiredActive RetiredInactive Professional Practice Experienced Eligible for International Register* Expert: shows Leadershi p in field Manage enterprises that depend on engineering ECSA Register of Engineering Professional: ~ 35 000 Practitioners contributes after normal retirement Some Registration Statistics (as at 28 February 2011) • Professional Engineers: 14827 • Professional Engineering Technologists 3704 • Professional Engineering Technicians 3532 • Professional Certificated Engineers 1047 • Specified Categories 970 • Candidate Engineers: 5789 • Candidate Engineering Technologists 2071 • Candidate Engineering Technicians 2971 • Candidate Certificated Engineers Total 215 35126 37 ECSA Registration Statistics Female 2000 2005 2010 736 (3.1%) 1 149 (4.2%) 2 950 (8.4%) Male 24 556 25 978 TOTAL 25 352 27 127 Pr Eng Female 305 32 184 35 134 420 (~ 1.2%) Note: In 2010 Females represented 9% of Canadian Pr Eng 38 The need to retain Engineering Skills • The Economy and service delivery is being constrained due to a shortage of engineering skills • Vital that we retain qualified engineers within the profession 38 Retaining and advancing females in the Engineering Profession There is limited empirical research undertaken in South Africa to identify barriers to women remaining and advancing in the Engineering Profession. 40 Reasons for women leaving the Engineering Profession – Work place climate¹ – Culture not supportive of women¹ – Challenges of Work/Life balance – Working Conditions 41 ___________________________________ What needs to be done to build a more diverse and inclusive Engineering Profession? • Support women in Engineering initiative: SA Womeng • Conduct research to better understand the challenges women face in building careers in Engineering • Awards for support of women in the Engineering Profession • Advisory group for women in engineering 42 How has ECSA done business in the past? • Emphasis fell on discharging mandatory functions: – Accreditation of Programmes – Evaluation of qualifications – Registration – Investigating complaints, conducting tribunals – Requiring Continuing Professional Development – Setting guideline fees 43 So what is ECSA’s new approach? • ECSA’s Strategic and Business Plans have two thrusts: 1. Continue to discharge mandatory functions – To improve processes and efficiency where this is necessary High priority for the “Registration process” 2. To emphasize strategic functions empowered by S14 of EPA – Engage in those initiatives which have national relevance and which are in the best interest of the engineering profession and broader society. 44 Examples of initiatives of national relevance and in the interest of the engineering profession. • Determine engineering skills requirements for the country and provide direction and solutions to the pipeline for engineering skills development; • Determine barriers to registration of all categories of professionals and addressing these; • Ensure the marketing of the profession to educate and attract learners to build the future engineering skills pipeline (Engenius, Career Advice, SAWomeng); 45 Examples of initiatives of national relevance and in the interest of the engineering profession (continued) • Intervening to influence the numbers of engineering graduates to promote diversity and representivity ; • Improved liaison and lobby with: • Government (DoHE&T, DoFA, DST, DPW, DPE, DM&E, DoH); • university sector (staff & students); 46 Examples of initiatives of national relevance and in the interest of the engineering profession (continued) • Contributing to the nation planning debate • Establish collaboration with industry & chambers of commerce to develop programmes aimed at • Improved mentoring of graduates • Increasing volunteerism by black professionals • Addressing specific sector matters (non payment) • Play a regional in promoting the profession (World Bank) 47 Regional Influence • Namibia: Engagement with Engineering Council of Namibia and Higher Education Institutions on accreditation of programmes • Botswana: Workshop on accreditation of programmes • Zimbabwe: – commitment to assist Engineering Council of Zimbabwe develop its accreditation system and improve engineering education (MoU pending) – Reconstruction of Zimbabwe Infrastructure Conference London 48 Concluding Remarks We reviewed • Engineering developments of the 20th Century • Effects of Globalization • Key national challenges including Dinokeng • South Africa’s competitiveness in the world • Our national skills situation • Reviewed ECSA’s role and its contribution to improved competitiveness African Proverb “ If you want to walk fast, walk alone. If you want to walk far walk together.” 49 Dankie - Enkosi - Ha khensa - Re a leboga - Ro livhuwa - Siyabonga Siyathokoza - Thank you 50