Bachelor of Engineering Technology Honours in Civil Engineering
Physical Planning and Construction - Civil Engineering Construction
Purpose and Rationale
Qualification Overview
Purpose
The primary purpose of the qualification is to prepare learners for industry and research in the field of Civil Engineering. The profession plays a crucial role in the country's development by providing infrastructure in the built environment, fostering socio-economic growth, and ensuring sustainability. This specialized qualification targets recent graduates of the undergraduate Bachelor of Engineering Technology program who are interested in advancing academically through postgraduate studies. It aims to develop high levels of theoretical engagement and intellectual independence in learners, fostering research capacity and expertise in Civil Engineering. Graduates will acquire specialized skills to enter the labor market in the civil engineering sector and contribute to national development and the economy. The qualification also serves as a pathway to the Master of Engineering (MEng) degree, meeting the educational requirements for registration as a Candidate Professional Engineer with Engineering Council South Africa (ECSA).
Rationale
- The National Development Plan (2010-2030) identified a shortage of qualified professionals in Civil Engineering, including Engineers, Technologists, and Technicians.
- The Human Resource Development Council of South Africa (2013) emphasized the need for engineering professionals.
- Civil Engineering is listed among the top 100 professions with high salary and wage growth.
- Civil Engineering is designated as a scarce skill by the Sector for Education and Training Authority (SETA).
- The qualification meets the demand for skilled Civil Engineering professionals in the growing economy of South Africa.
- South Africa has a shortage of Engineers compared to international norms, with one engineer serving a much larger population.
- The government aims to produce more engineers annually to address the skills shortage in the country.
- The qualification offers specialization in Civil Engineering to improve technical proficiency and address critical skills shortages.
- Stakeholders such as Civil Engineering Construction Companies, Consulting Firms, and Government Departments require highly skilled professionals for ongoing projects.
- The qualification was developed based on feedback from the Industrial Advisory Board to bridge the skills gap and enhance graduates' competitiveness in the job market.
- The program is designed to cater to adult learners in employment, offering flexible delivery modes to accommodate work and family commitments.
- Learners will have the opportunity to select from a variety of core courses, electives, and research topics to tailor their learning experience to their interests and career goals.
Outcomes
- Identify, formulate, analyze, and solve complex engineering problems creatively and innovatively.
- Demonstrate competence to apply knowledge of mathematics, natural science, and engineering sciences to the conceptualization of engineering models and to solve complex engineering problems.
- Demonstrate competence to perform creative, procedural, and non-procedural design and synthesis of components, systems, engineering works, products, or processes of a complex nature.
- Demonstrate competence to conduct investigations of complex engineering problems including engagement with the research literature and use of research methods including design of experiments, analysis and interpretation of data and synthesis of information to provide valid conclusions.
- Demonstrate competence to use appropriate techniques, resources, and modern engineering tools, including information technology, prediction, and modelling, for the solution of complex engineering problems, with an understanding of the limitations, restrictions, premises, assumptions, and constraints.
- Demonstrate competence to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with engineering audiences and the community at large.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the impact of engineering activities on society, economy, industrial and physical environment.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the application of engineering management principles.
- Demonstrate competence to engage in independent and life-long learning through well-developed learning skills. The learning context is complex and ill-defined. Information is also drawn from the research literature.
- Comprehend and apply ethical principles and commit to professional ethics, responsibilities, and norms of engineering practice.
Assessment Criteria
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:
- Apply numerical methods in solving complex problems in the design of Civil Engineering structures.
- Solve gradual and rapidly varied flow problems and link them with design aspects of spillways and weirs.
- Derive a groundwater flow model, calibrate, and test with actual data.
- Apply computational Techniques in solving complex Civil Engineering problems.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:
- Apply and develop advanced wastewater treatment models for design purposes.
- Understand the operation of nutrient bioreactors.
- Model completely mixed reactors and apply the models in the design of water and wastewater treatment plants.
- Use modern engineering tools, including information technology, prediction and modelling and mathematical models to solve complex wastewater treatment problems.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:
- Design foundations for Civil Engineering infrastructure taking into consideration the various soil and geotechnical.
- Design advanced activated and biological nutrient removal reactors.
- Design a pipe network system, concrete and earth-fill embankment using relevant hydraulic principles.
- Apply geotechnical knowledge in the analysis and design of foundations, multi-storey buildings, and highways.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:
- Establish the parameters of an aquifer and use them to compute the yield of the aquifer.
- Develop a conceptual model and use rainfall data to analyse its outputs.
- Identify and define a research problem and compile a methodology to solve the problem.
- Interrogate with literature to design experiments to solve a research problem.
- Collect and analyse data and come out with conclusions and recommendations to solve complex engineering problems.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:
- Evaluate the biological nutrient removal processes, systems, and configurations.
- Model completely mixed reactors for biological nutrient removal.
- Formulate a research proposal based on research gaps identified during a literature review.
- Apply relevant computer applications in the dynamic analysis of civil engineering structures to solve complex structural design problems.
- Predict the behaviour of civil engineering structures under various loading conditions through modelling and computational techniques.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:
- Write a research project on advances in the design of wastewater treatment processes, multi-storey buildings, hydraulic structures and highways/transportation systems.
- Disseminate the outcomes of the research to a wider audience based on the analysis of the results in the form of a presentation, conference or journal paper or technical report.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:
- Design a pipe network to supply a large settlement.
- Satisfy all the design criteria to suit the recommended parameters and economic considerations.
- Evaluate the environmental impacts of a civil engineering project and recommend appropriate migratory measures.
- Assess the financial risks of a civil engineering project.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 8:
- Design civil engineering infrastructure as a team to solve a specific problem or societal need.
- Identify the different design components of the project.
- Assign the different components to be designed to individuals in the group and compile one design/technical report (design concepts, alternatives, feasibility, economic analysis, environmental considerations).
- Outline how the project will be executed and managed including maintenance plan.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 9:
- Interrogate with literature to compile a research proposal to solve a complex Civil Engineering problem.
- Conduct research work to find solutions for a complex Civil Engineering problem and conceptualise the application of the solution to future problems.
- Develop mechanisms on how to adapt current Civil Design methods to future use.
Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 10:
- Produce a technical report on the design of a Civil Engineering infrastructure like roads, hydraulic structures, buildings, and foundations.
- Identify and evaluate professional ethics, responsibilities, and norms of engineering practice.
Qualification Details
- Type
- Honours Degree
- NQF Level
- 08
- Min. Credits
- 120
- 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.