Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology - Engineering and Related Design
Purpose and Rationale
Purpose:
The qualification focuses on a transformational journey for the learner to achieve the following:
- Develop an enquiring mindset.
- Achieve personal and societal development.
- Develop a personal and professional ethical compass.
- Integrate a stakeholder approach to problem-solving.
- Appreciate the challenges and opportunities of globalization including the need to enhance global communication skills and cultural awareness.
- Facilitate personal and professional development, including the ability to understand and practice all the professional competencies defined in the outcomes.
- Enhance strategic thinking.
- Develop scientific and business research skills through undertaking an individual research project.
The purpose of the qualification is to build the necessary knowledge, understanding, abilities, and skills required for further learning towards becoming a competent practicing engineer.
In the first two years, learners will focus on establishing a mindset embracing fundamental formulae and laws required to approach any engineering problem or challenge, applying such principles to structured problems, and gaining practice and experience to tackle real-world problems with certainty and confidence.
The qualification combines academic and practical laboratory-based activities designed to display principles learnt in a physical environment and exposes learners to engineering's role in the real world, emphasizing the value of engineering science and mathematics in improving communities' quality of life. Learners will interact with various community stakeholders, considering non-engineering aspects like social, environmental, safety, and financial factors.
In the final year, learners undertake a research-based project to demonstrate the effectiveness of the four-year program, involving an investigation in an industry to identify improvement or optimization opportunities.
Rationale:
The qualification addresses the engineering skills shortage in South Africa, impacting economic productivity, societal knowledge development, and global competitiveness. It aims to deepen learners' understanding of managing the built environment through applying tertiary phase principles, ensuring international recognition through compliance with the Washington Accord.
Graduates can pursue careers in large corporations, small/mid-size companies, non-profits, consulting, or entrepreneurship. The program provides a prescribed level of knowledge in the electrical discipline closely associated with Mechanical Engineering.
Key benefits of the Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering include:
- Preparation for careers in Engineering and Related Areas.
- Educational requirement towards registration as a Professional Engineer.
- Thorough grounding in mathematics, natural sciences, engineering sciences, design, and emerging knowledge application fields.
- Ability to proceed to Postgraduate studies.
- Potential for rewarding careers contributing to the economy and national development in technical and managerial roles.
Outcomes
- Identify, formulate, analyse and solve complex engineering problems creatively and innovatively.
- Apply knowledge of mathematics, natural sciences, engineering fundamentals and an engineering speciality to solve complex engineering problems.
- Perform creative, procedural and non-procedural design and synthesis of components, systems, engineering works, products or processes.
- Design and conduct investigations and experiments.
- Use appropriate engineering methods, skills and tools, including those based on information technology.
- Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with engineering audiences and the community at large.
- Demonstrate critical awareness of the sustainability and impact of engineering activity on the social, industrial and physical environment.
- Work effectively as an individual, in teams and in multidisciplinary environments.
- Engage in independent learning through well-developed learning skills.
- Demonstrate critical awareness of the need to act professionally and ethically and to exercise judgment and take responsibility within own limits of competence.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of engineering management principles and economic decision-making.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Demonstrate in-depth fundamental and specialized engineering knowledge through application in solving a complex engineering problem within the field of study.
- Present the solution as a physical or simulation implementation based on suitable mathematical analysis and step-by-step synthesis.
- Demonstrate creativity, innovation, and good engineering decision-making ability based on principles especially in cases where no practice-precedent is available.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Demonstrate the ability to solve complex engineering problems through the application of mathematics and the principles of natural and engineering sciences.
- Apply models, numerical analysis, statistics, and computer programs as needed to present the solution.
- Demonstrate use of specialist engineering science knowledge which includes cutting-edge and currently researched concepts.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Design an engineering project by synthesis of various sub-systems down to the component level.
- Apply procedural and non-procedural design and synthesis steps based on solution feasibility.
- Verify that the solutions meet the requirements through demonstration or simulation.
- Present a complete document summarising the design.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Conduct experiments appropriate to the discipline.
- Design and conduct engineering discipline-specific investigations aimed at producing knowledge and understanding of a phenomenon.
- Research discipline-related engineering issues by documenting pertinent information from a literature study or through applying research methodology.
- Write a report on a proposed investigation, the findings of the analyzed data and the recommended course of action.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
- Demonstrate knowledge of and ability to effectively apply a range of methods and tools applicable to specific engineering tasks.
- Apply the most effective information technology tools through use of programming languages, computer-aided design packages, and computer networks.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
- Demonstrate the ability to communicate academic and professional material to a range of audiences, including engineering peers, management, and lay persons.
- Write formal professional reports which include tables, diagrams, engineering drawings, and technical descriptions appropriate to the field of study.
- Present orally on findings of investigations and analyses, and design synthesis using appropriate audio-visual tools.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
- Demonstrate an awareness of the impact of engineering solutions on the social, industrial, and physical environment.
- Identify and elaborate on the issues of health, safety, and environmental protection, risk assessment and management in relation to engineering activity.
- Demonstrate application of methods leading to reduced economic, social, cultural, and environmental impact and leading to sustainable solutions.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:
- Demonstrate the ability to perform engineering work across or beyond engineering disciplinary boundaries.
- Demonstrate the ability to work effectively both individually and as a team member.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9:
- Demonstrate the ability to self-learn required content to solve engineering problems or complete analysis or synthesis work.
- Apply the most effective means of independent learning to fit the time constraints of the task.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10:
- Demonstrate professionalism in decision-making, bearing cognizance of own ability and competence.
- Show awareness of applying the code of professional ethics in engineering work and interaction with others.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 11:
- Apply economic, business management, and project management principles to engineering related projects.
- Demonstrate ability to manage projects within field of work as well as in multidisciplinary environments.
Integrated Assessment:
- The Degree is based on an integrated system of assessment, where learners are assessed on an ongoing basis throughout the qualification.
- Both formative and summative assessment methods are used.
- Detailed feedback is provided to enable learners to learn from their first attempts and improve on their performance in subsequent assessments.
- Various assessment methods are used including portfolios, simulations, written assignments, case studies, peer group evaluation, face to face contact with learners, and quality assurance by external moderators.
Qualification Details
- Type
- National First Degree(Min 480)
- NQF Level
- 08
- Min. Credits
- 480
- SAQA Source
- More Information
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This page includes information from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) . Builtneat Pty Ltd trading as Study Start, has modified all or some of this information. SAQA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.