Fully fledged Unizulu engineering department is on the cards
Unizulu has responded to industry's call for a greater focus on engineering
TAKING advantage of its proximity to heavy industry, the University of Zululand (Unizulu) has established an engineering advisory board forum and plans to overhaul its engineering courses.
The board will serve as a liaison entity between Unizulu and the industrial sector, and its members will bring important insights and expertise to the Richards Bay campus in initiating and reviewing critical issues.
The specialists involved are respected and seasoned engineers.
Among those represented are Isizinda Aluminium, MoreCare Engineering, Foskor, the City of uMhlathuze, RBCT and academics from the University of Cape Town (UCT).
‘There was a call for Unizulu to undergo a transition from its standing as a traditional university into a comprehensive university in 2002 when higher education institutions were merged,’ said Professor Muzi Ndwandwe, Executive Director of the Unizulu Richards Bay campus.
‘In 2009 when the Richards Bay campus opened its doors, it was earmarked as the university’s flagship campus owing to its proximity to major industrial hubs and the mining sector in Richards Bay.
‘This is also clearly defined in the university strategy for 2016-2021.’
In keeping with this strategy, specific engineering qualifications will be rolled out.
These are four diplomas in electrical engineering (electronics communication systems), electrical engineering (computer systems), mechanical engineering (process instrumentation and control) and mechanical engineering (mechatronics).
Also offered will be one diploma and one BSc degree in marine engineering, two higher certificates in engineering technology and marine engineering, and six BSc degrees in engineering programmes in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering and mechatronics.
The complete curriculum for the first two programmes to be offered will be completed this month. The courses will then undergo Unizulu Faculty Board approvals and be accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa.
The proposed Unizulu engineering curriculum will be benchmarked using the UCT curriculum with refined improvements.
The complete Engineering Faculty roll-out is scheduled for 2019 with the first intake of students.
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