TRANSFORMATION

Transformation Statistics

The Engineering Council of South Africa is a statutory body established in terms of the Engineering Profession Act, 2000 (Act No 46 of 2000), and derives its powers and responsibilities from that Act. The main focus of the Act is on the promotion of public safety, health and interests in relation to the actions of registered persons. Since its inception in 1969, the Engineering Council (then the SA Council for Professional Engineers) has been involved in transformation, initially rather slowly but later gaining momentum exponentially. A quick historic overview illustrates this:

(1)  1969 - Promulgation of the Professional Engineers’ Act. The SA Council for Professional Engineers (SACPE) only provided for the registration of professional engineers. This did not address the aspirations of the other members of the engineering team, i.e. technologists, certificated engineers and technicians. SACPE accepted the need for recognition of the other categories and started formal negotiations with representatives of the three groups.

(2)  1979 - Amendment of Professional Engineers’ Act. After extensive negotiations the Act was amended to provide for the establishment of Boards of Control. These Boards were to be autonomous, although administered by SACPE.

(3)  1984 to 1987 - Establishment of Boards of Control1984 - the Board of Control for Engineering Technicians;1985 - the Board of Control for Professional Technologists (Engineering);1987 - the Board of Control for Registered Certificated Engineers. It became evident soon that the categories of registration had much in common and that unification under one umbrella body (ECSA) should be pursued. Steps were taken to plan this unification and a new Act was drafted.

(4)  1990 - Promulgation of Engineering Profession of SA Act. The Engineering Council of South Africa was established and performed, under one roof, the functions of SACPE and the Boards.Many of the principles contained in the Professional Engineers’ Act, 1968 were incorporated in the new Act. One of the important principles was the fact that persons who did not hold an acceptable qualification, but who achieved the levels of competency through self-development and experience, could be registered in the relevant category. Parliament, at the time of debating the Bill, expressed its appreciation for the fact that ECSA was already registering persons who had achieved their competency via the alternative route.Within a few years ECSA adopted an even wider view by accepting the principle that recognition of competence could be extended beyond the four categories registered at the time. The concept of "specified scope" was developed for purposes of registering persons who did not comply with the registration requirements for the existing categories, but who performed essential functions in the area of public safety and health.

(5)  1994 - Registration of Lift Inspectors. After comparatively short discussions with the Department of Labour the first persons were registered as Lift Inspectors. This is a most significant development because these registrations were effected within the framework of the current legislation, which was in a strictly sense of the word rather outdated to accommodate this form of registration comfortably. It should be borne in mind that this development took place before the Government expressed its desire that the professions should adopt a more inclusive approach towards recognising practitioners who had not previously been registrable.Industry responded to this new development and approached ECSA with the view to establishing categories of registration for other vocations, such as non- destructive testers, materials testers, clinical engineering personnel, timber roof truss inspectors, etc..At the same time the Department of Labour approached ECSA to investigate taking over the DOL functions of certification of Certificated Engineers, which was followed by DOL’s request to investigate the registration of Pressure Vessel Inspectors, Gas Fuel installers and Installation Electricians. ECSA responded positively to these and appointed project managers to do the developmental work.

(6)  1995 - Forum for the Professions in the Built Environment. After the elections in 1994, Minister Jeff Radebe established a Forum for the Professions in the Built Environment which was aimed at reviewing the professions of engineering, architecture, quantity surveying and valuing. From the outset of the review process, the Ministry aimed at creating a regulatory framework for the professions that would -

• take cognisance of the context in which the professions developed in South Africa;
• promote and protect the public against exploitation by the professionals and practitioners;
• take due cognisance of the need to promote and maintain sustainable built and natural environments;
• promote a culture of mutual accountability within the professions, their clients and the public;
• facilitate the professions’ participation in integrated development in the context of national goals;
• maintain healthy professions in terms of standards, competence and performance;
• promote ongoing human resources development by providing for the necessary diversity of professional skills;
• make it possible for all persons with the required competence to obtain professional recognition;
• make professional services available to the public and state; and
• promote sound governance of the professions.

(7)  1999 - Publication of the Engineering Profession of SA Bill. The Engineering Profession of S A Bill was published in the Gazette on 9 July 1999 together with the "Policy Document on the Statutory Regulation of the Built Environment Professions". In addition the Council for the Built Environment Bill as well as Bills for Architects, Quantity Surveyors and Valuers were published for general comment. The Bill contains all the principles referred to in item (6).

(8)  2000 - Promulgation of the Engineering Profession Act, 2000 (Act No. 46 of 2000)

·          Engineering Profession Act, 2000 (Act No. 46 of 2000) 

·          View Executive Summary of the Implications of the Act

In ECSA’s context, transformation has two aspects to it, namely "transformation in a professional context" and "transformation in a political context".

(1)  Transformation in the "Professional Context"

Many of the developments highlighted under Introduction are regarded as falling under the above heading. The significant changes that have taken place over the years have been inspired by a progressive mindset which was rarely, if at all, evident in the other professions.The trend of ever-expanding relevance for ECSA is continuing exponentially, the main driver being an appreciation of the pivotal role which ECSA is playing in establishing a greater awareness of the need for professionalism in industry and the State.

ECSA is invited regularly by employers in industry to address their engineering employees on registration and its advantages.ECSA is also enjoying significant recognition by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and the Council for Higher Education (CHE). Universities and Technikons who have been accredited by ECSA for many years, are very appreciative of the quality and value of work done by ECSA in maintaining standards.ECSA identified 15 Sector Education and Training Authorities who are charged with skills development of engineering personnel. ECSA is in the process of developing a close relationship with these SETAs and has so far signed a Memorandum of Understanding with four SETAS.

The MoU provides for cooperation in the area of standards generation and quality assurance in the higher education band. Although ECSA’s main focus is on the higher education levels of the NQF, it realises fully the need for continuity from levels one to four through levels five to eight. ECSA is fully aware of the need to help create a framework which will enable a person to develop progressively through the levels of competency in a structured way, devoid of artificial obstacles.While ECSA sees its future role still very much focused on public safety and health through a process of registration, it is likely to become even more involved in performing broader functions for the benefit of the country.

ECSA is represented on National Standards Bodies 6 and 12 and has been recognised by SAQA as the body responsible for facilitating and co-ordinating the Engineering Standards Generating Body (ESGB). (View agreement with SAQA) ECSA intends applying to SAQA for registration as an Education and Training Quality Assurer (ETQA), which will be submitted once the NQF review process is completed.ECSA has a good working relationship with the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) of the Council on Higher Education (CHE).  The HEQC recognises ECSA as an accrediting body for engineering higher education programmes.ECSA has entered into an "Agreement of Understanding" with the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) in terms of which ECSA assists the mining industry with standard setting and quality assurance of personnel in mining and to register those practitioners who perform work which is critical in terms of health and safety.

(2)  Transformation in the "Political Context". ECSA has never discriminated between colour, creed or gender, and will naturally not do so in future. ECSA, and the engineering societies are fully aware of the need to promote engineering among all population groups as an attractive career.ECSA sees itself in partnership with the main stakeholders namely the State, the profession, the industry and the educational sector.

Whilst ECSA cannot deviate from its statutory obligations to ensure public safety through the maintenance of standards, it can play an important role in the area of human resource development. It is our experience that industry in general is responding positively to government initiatives to promote transformation in engineering. ECSA’s function will be largely to support this positive trend and to ensure that entry into the profession is facilitated, without compromising standards.For example, ECSA provides the power-base and mechanism for the setting and maintenance of standards in education, training and professional conduct, in collaboration with stakeholders. The professional associations and industry, with the full support of ECSA, must take responsibility for recruitment of candidates into engineering, the establishment of developmental programmes by industry and the provision of adequate training facilities for these candidates.

ECSA, in turn, provides the quality assurance functions to ensure that the standards are being maintained, in the national interest. This will be done in partnership with SAQA and the CHE, and is already evident in a number of areas.An important example of ECSA’s positive influence is the University of Durban Westville (UDW). In 1992 ECSA was compelled to withdraw recognition of an engineering degree programme at the UDW, because the programme did not meet ECSA’s requirements. ECSA established a special system of examination of graduates who were affected by the withdrawal of the accreditation and many were subsequently registered.

ECSA also provided indirect assistance to the faculty to rectify the deficiencies. It was very reassuring that the University committed itself to co-operate fully and to develop a faculty which not only meets ECSA’s minimum requirements but compares favourably with the rest of the country’s engineering faculties.In the meantime ECSA was admitted as a co-signatory to the "Washington Accord" subject to verification of ECSA’s standards and procedures by the other member countries, i.e. USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. The accord provides for the mutual recognition of university degree programmes accredited by the registering authorities in the respective countries. In 1996 representatives from Australia, USA and Canada observed an accreditation visit to the UDW and all the member countries ratified ECSA’s admission to the Washington Accord, except the USA and Canada.  The "grape-vine" had it that a concern existed about ECSA’s ability to resist political pressure on standards. 

Whilst ECSA adopted a "constructive engagement" strategy by providing an environment within which the University could improve its standards, ECSA’s full admission to the Washington Accord was apparently delayed because of this.During 1999 representatives from America and Canada again observed an accreditation visit to UDW and it was found that the university had managed remarkably well to improve its standards. The result of this was that ECSA was able to accredit all the programmes offered by the UDW. More significantly, ECSA achieved full membership of the Washington Accord using the UDW as the yardstick. ECSA succeeded in striking a balance between the need for upliftment of the previously disadvantaged and the need for international recognition.

In respect of Council’s employment policy, ECSA supports current legislation in respect of employment equity, labour relations and skills development. Active steps have been taken in this area and significantly increased staff levels from the categories recognised as "previously disadvantaged" have been achieved.As far as Council itself and its committees are concerned, active steps have been taken to identify registered individuals from the disadvantaged groups to participate in ECSA’s activities. We have communicated directly with individuals from these groups and invited them to participate with ECSA. We had discussions with the SA Black Technical and Allied Careers

Organisation (SABTACO) and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) the object being to establish closer relationships with them and to promote their integration into the organised profession. Even before the end of the term of the current Council arrangements were made with the Minister of Public Works to appoint a representative from SABTACO as a member of the Council. A representative was accordingly appointed and is now serving as a member of the Council.It is perhaps appropriate to mention that in preparation for the re-appointment of a Council for the second four-year term of ECSA, letters were addressed to all the nominating societies during 1994 requesting them also to consider gender and race when identifying nominees.We are experiencing some difficulty retaining committee members on a more permanent basis. These candidates are over-extended at their work place and find it very difficult to donate more of their free time to ECSA.

Experienced persons are readily appointed as full members of committees, and those who are less experienced are invited to participate actively as observers until they are ready for full membership. The committees are very appreciative of he valuable contribution made by these individuals.

Conclusion

ECSA is proud of its achievements over the years.  The  Forum for the Professions in the Built Environment recognised that ECSA had been in a process of transformation long before the establishment of the Forum in 1995. The outcome of the deliberations of the Forum was that the draft legislation simply reinforced and amplified the principles which ECSA had already accepted and provided the legislative empowerment to proceed accordingly. 

The Registration Statistics provided with this submission indicate the positive trend which is already evident in industry.
 

Statistics : Comparative Registration trends by Race Group 

All Categories

• 1994 to 2006
• 2007 to 2008

Professional Engineers

• 1996 to 2006
• 2007 to 2008

Professional Engineering Technologists

• 1994 to 2006
• 2007 to 2008

Professional Certificated Engineers

• 1994 to 2006
• 2007 to 2008

Professional Engineering Technicians

• 1994 to 2006
• 2007 to 2008

Candidate Engineers

• 1994 to 2006
• 2007 to 2008

Candidate Engineering Technologists

• 1994 to 2006
• 2007 to 2008

Candidate Engineering Technicians

• 1994 to 2006
• 2007 to 2008