Purpose of the Qualification

The purpose of this qualification is to build the necessary knowledge, understanding, abilities and skills required for further learning towards becoming a competent practicing Civil Engineering Technologist.

It is also to train technologists who will meet the criteria for registration as a Professional Engineering Technologist by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), and who will display competence as part of the engineering team in the execution of technical tasks under remote supervision by using and applying their knowledge in independent judgment in the identification and solution of broadly-defined Civil Engineering problems. This qualification is intended for technologist level employment in industry within the range of planning, design, construction and maintenance of Civil Engineering operations.

Diplomats achieving this qualification should, after initial supervision, be able to apply engineering principles, techniques and instruments to systematically diagnose and solve broadly-defined Civil Engineering problems, perform procedural design of broadly-defined elements/components to meet desired needs within applicable standards, codes of practice and legislation, follow developments in Civil Engineering and critique the status of current knowledge, apply the knowledge gained to new, broadly-defined, situations, both concrete and abstract, in the workplace/community.

Also, they must be able to gather evidence from primary sources and journals using appropriate retrieval skills, and organise, synthesise and present the information professionally in a mode appropriate to the audience, use basic methods of enquiry in a Civil Engineering environment to contribute to a project, demonstrate the capacity to explore and exploit educational, entrepreneurial, and career opportunities, and to develop him / herself professionally, make independent decisions taking into account the relevant technical, economic, social, safety and environmental factors, work independently, as a member of a team and as a supervisor and relate Civil Engineering activities to environmental, safety, cultural and economic sustainability.

Thorough grounding in mathematics, natural sciences, engineering sciences, engineering modelling, engineering design and the ability to enable applications in fields of emerging knowledge together with an appreciation for the world and society in which engineering is practiced.

The Advanced Diploma in Engineering in Civil Engineering Qualification contributes to the 11 graduate attributes. In the first year modules, students develop the graduate attributes, while these graduate attributes are assessed at selected second year modules all at NQF Level 7.

(b) Minimum Admission Requirements

The minimum admission requirements into the Advanced Diploma in Civil Engineering are listed under each pathway into the qualification as shown below:

NQF Level 6 qualification with 360 credits in a cognate discipline with achievement not less than 60% (average) in the level III courses.

• DIPLOMA IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

(i) A 360 credit Diploma in Civil Engineering at NQF Level 6.

• NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

(i) A 360 credit National Diploma in Civil Engineering at NQF Level 6

OR

(ii) A 240 credit National Diploma in Civil Engineering at NQF Level 6, with the 120 Work Integrated Learning credits.

• HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA

A National Higher Diploma: Civil Engineering (T4) with the appropriate courses at this level for the field of specialisation the candidate wishes to pursue.

NOTE: Candidates should have accumulated at least one year of appropriate post diploma experience

Additional requirements are:

National Diploma in Civil Engineering graduates who wish to proceed directly to the Advanced Diploma programme without the appropriate post diploma experience requirements may be admitted if they obtained an average of at least 60% in the following Level 3 (P2 & S4) modules:

•  Structural Analysis III
•  Geotechnical Engineering III
•  Reinforced Concrete & Masonry Design III 
•  Transportation Engineering III 
•  Documentation III
•  Civil Engineering Practice II
•  Water Engineering III

 

• Diploma in Civil Engineering graduates who wish to proceed directly to the Advanced Diploma programme without the appropriate post diploma experience requirements may be admitted if they obtained an average of at least 60% in the following Level 3 modules:

•  Structural Analysis III
•  Geotechnical Engineering III
•  Reinforced Concrete & Masonry Design III 
•  Transportation Engineering III 
•  Documentation III
•  Civil Engineering Practice III
•  Civil Engineering Project III

 

(c) Exit Level Outcomes / Graduate Attributes

The exit level outcomes and graduate attributes of the Advanced Diploma in Civil Engineering qualification are as listed below:

Graduate Attribute 1:

Problem solving: Identify, formulate, analyse and solve broadly-defined engineering problems

Graduate Attribute 2:

Application of scientific and engineering knowledge: Apply knowledge of mathematics, natural science and engineering sciences to applied engineering procedures, processes, systems and methodologies to solve broadly-defined engineering problems.

Graduate Attribute 3:

Engineering Design: Perform procedural design and synthesis of components, systems, engineering works, products or processes.

Graduate Attribute 4:

Investigations, experiments and data analysis: Demonstrate competence to design and conduct investigations and experiments.

Graduate Attribute 5:

Engineering methods, skills and tools, including Information Technology Demonstrate competence to use appropriate engineering methods, skills and tools, including those based on information technology.

Graduate Attribute 6:

Professional and technical communication: Demonstrate competence to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with engineering audiences and the community at large

Graduate Attribute 7:

Sustainability and Impact of Engineering Activity: Demonstrate critical awareness of the sustainability and impact of engineering activity on the social, industrial and physical environment.

Graduate Attribute 8:

Individual, Team and Multidisciplinary Working: Demonstrate competence to work effectively as an individual, in teams and in multidisciplinary environments

Graduate Attribute 9:

Independent Learning Ability Demonstrate competence to engage in independent learning through well- developed learning skills.

Graduate Attribute 10:

Engineering Professionalism: Demonstrate critical awareness of the need to act professionally and ethically and to exercise judgment and take responsibility within own limits of competence

Graduate Attribute 11:

Engineering Management: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of engineering management principles and economic decision-making.

(d) Articulation rules

Horizontal Articulation	Students who have successfully completed the Advanced Diploma in Engineering in Civil Engineering at NQF level 7 or who have completed modules/subjects towards the completion of this qualification may transfer credits towards a qualification in this field of study or related field of study at NQF level 7 (e.g. Bachelor of Engineering Technology (BEng Tech in Civil Engineering), NQF Level 7. (Refer to Figure 1).
Vertical Articulation	Students who have successfully completed an Advanced Diploma in Engineering in Civil Engineering at NQF level 7 may gain admission to Post Graduate Diploma in Civil Engineering, NQF Level 8, or Bachelor of Engineering Technology Honours (BEng Tech Hons) in Civil Engineering, NQF Level 8. (Refer to Figure 1).
Professional Articulation	After graduation, a candidacy programme toward registration as a Professional Engineering Technologist can be followed as laid down by Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).