Developing a structured professional development program for engineering professionals within the public sector environment

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa is currently experiencing a time in which existing infrastructure isreaching its design life end. With a growing economy and the increased level ofsocial development, existing infrastructure is under extreme pressure. South Africa isalso facing a challenge in which a need exists for engineering capabilities. Thesecapabilities include engineering skills to maintain and manage existing infrastructure,plan for new infrastructure and construct new needed infrastructure.This study looks at a possible solution towards the above mentioned challenges. Asa solution, the study proposes a professional development program to prepareengineers to work in the environment of infrastructure development. More specificallythe program prepares civil engineers to work in public sector organisationsresponsible for basic service infrastructure.The research for the proposed professional development program is done bycomparing literature with feedback received from various industry professionals. Bydoing this, the components for the proposed program were researched and identified.The components for the proposed program are professional work experience,professional training and structured mentorship. A further deliverable of the proposedprogram is to assist candidates taking part in the program to register as professionalengineers on completion of the program. The study further showed the proposedprogram should be structured in such a way that all the components mentionedabove work together interactively and should be centrally managed to ensure all thegoals for the program are being reached.It is further stated that if the proposed program could successfully be implementedand if all the stakeholders commit towards the goal of the proposed program, theprogram could have a significant positive impact towards the challenges mentionedabove.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University