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Engineering education

Educational activity of teaching knowledge and principles of engineering

  • 36 min read
  • 7 chapters
View of USMA looking north up the Hudson River
USMA Public Affairs Office · Public domain

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Through Teaching, Engineering and Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in primary and secondary schools often serves as the foundation for engineering education at the university level. In the United States, engineering education is a part of the STEM initiative in public schools. Service-learning in engineering education is gaining popularity within the variety of disciplinary focuses within engineering education including chemical engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, architectural engineering, and other engineering education. The field of academic inquiry regarding the education of engineers is called engineering education research.

Africa

Ghana

Ghana's engineering profession is regulated by the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE), an autonomous body established in 1968. Its authority stems from the Engineering Council Act 2011 (Act 819) and the Professional Bodies Registration Decree NRCD143 of 1973.

Kenya

Engineering training in Kenya is typically provided by the universities. Registration of engineers is governed by the Engineers Registration Act. A candidate stands to qualify as a registered engineer, R.Eng., if they are a holder of a minimum of four years of post-secondary Engineering Education and a minimum of three years of postgraduate work experience.

All registrations are undertaken by the Engineers Registration Board which is a statutory body established through an Act of the Kenyan Parliament in 1969. A minor revision was done in 1992 to accommodate Technician Engineer grade. The board has been given the responsibility of regulating the activities and conduct of Practicing Engineers in the Republic of Kenya in accordance with the functions and powers conferred upon it by the Act. Under CAP 530 of the Laws of Kenya, it is illegal for an engineer to practice or call themself an engineer if not registered with the board. Registration with the board is thus a license to practice engineering in Kenya.

Nigeria

Engineering training is provided by universities subject to accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). A candidate can be registered as an engineer after completion of a five-year bachelor's degree (or equivalent) and four years of post-graduate work experience. Previously, postgraduate education in engineering could be counted towards work experience. A candidate trained through a polytechnic may also be certified as a registered engineer on completion of a two-year Ordinary National Diploma (OND), a two-year Higher National Diploma (HND) and a post-graduate diploma (PGD) all in the same engineering discipline with two years of work experience after the PGD. Registration allows use of the protected title, registered Engineer (Engr). An alternative version, Registered Engineer (R. Eng) is also used although it is not formally recognized by COREN. Any person not registered as an engineer may not use any title that implies that they are registered Engineers. It is illegal to carry out engineering practice without a COREN registration. All unregistered engineers must work under supervision of an Engr.

COREN also recognizes other cadres of engineering work- technologists, technicians and craftsmen. Technologists and technicians are trained by polytechnics while craftsmen are trained by technical colleges. Technologists can become registered Engineering Technologists (Eng Tech) on completion of a two-year Ordinary National Diploma (OND), a two-year Higher National Diploma (HND) and three years of post-graduate work experience. A technician can be certified as a registered Engineering Technician (Tech) after completion of a two-year OND and two-years of post-graduate work experience. A craftsman can become a registered Engineering Craftsman after passing the technical exam of the West African Examinations Council or National Business and Technical Examinations Board or a Trade Test Grade 1 from the Federal Ministry of Labour. In addition, two years of work experience are required.

South Africa

Engineering training in South Africa is typically provided by the universities, universities of technology and colleges for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (previously Further Education and Training). The qualifications provided by these institutions must have an Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) accreditation for the qualification for graduates and diplomats of these institutions to be registered as Candidate Certificated Engineers, Candidate Engineers, Candidate Engineering Technologists and Candidate Engineering Technicians. There are many benefits to these attributes.

The academic training performed by the universities is typically in the form of a four-year BSc(Eng), BIng or BEng degree. For the degree to be accredited, the course material must conform to the ECSA Graduate Attributes (GA).

Professional Engineers (Pr Eng) are persons that are accredited by ECSA as engineering professionals. Legally, a Professional Engineer's sign off is required for any major project to be implemented, in order to ensure the safety and standards of the project. Professional Engineering Technologists (Pr Tech Eng) and Professional Engineering Technicians (Pr Techni Eng) are other members of the engineering team.

Professional Certificated Engineers (Pr Cert Eng) are people who hold one of seven Government Certificates of Competency and who have been registered by ECSA as engineering professionals.

The categories of professionals are differentiated by the degree of complexity of work carried out, where Professional Engineers are expected to solve complex engineering problems, Professional Engineering Technologists and Professional Certificated Engineers, broadly defined engineering problems and Professional Engineering Technicians, well-defined engineering problems.

Tanzania

Engineering training in Tanzania is typically provided by various universities and technical institutions in the country. Graduate engineers are registered by the Engineers Registration Board (ERB) after undergoing three years of practical training. A candidate stands to qualify as a professional engineer, P.Eng., if they are a holder of a minimum four years post-secondary Engineering Education and a minimum of three years of postgraduate work experience. Engineers Registration Board is a statutory body established through an Act of the Tanzanian Parliament in 1968. Minor revision was done in 1997 to address the issue of engineering professional excellence in the country.

The board has been given the responsibility of regulating the activities and conduct of Practicing Engineers in the United Republic of Tanzania in accordance with the functions and powers conferred upon it by the Act. According to Tanzania Laws, it is illegal for an engineer to practice or call themself an engineer if not registered with the board. Registration with the board is thus a license to practice engineering in United Republic of Tanzania.

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