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 practising technician. It is also to train technicians who will meet the criteria for registration as a candidate engineering technician 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 judgement in the identification and solution of well-defined civil engineering problems. This qualification is intended for technician 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 well-defined Civil Engineering problems, perform procedural design functions in a familiar context, be able to use appropriate terminology, style and structure to communicate effectively with superiors and subordinates, apply management concepts to projects and operations and exhibit an awareness of ethics, professionalism, safety and consideration of the social and natural environment.

A thorough grounding in mathematics, natural sciences, engineering sciences, engineering design, complimentary studies (such as technical communication and computer skills) 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 Diploma in Engineering in Civil Engineering Qualification contributes to the 12 graduate attributes. At the lower levels, (NQF Level 5), students are merely exposed to the development of graduate attributes, while these graduate attributes are assessed at selected exit level modules (NQF Level 6).

(b) Minimum Admission Requirements

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

• NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE (NSC)

A National Senior Certificate (NSC) with a diploma or bachelor's endorsement and achievement in the subjects as follows:

• English at Level 4 [as a Home Language or First Additional Language level]
• Mathematics at Level 4 (not Mathematical Literacy)
• Physical Science at Level 4

 SENIOR CERTIFICATE

An E-symbol for English (2nd language) on the Higher Grade. In addition, an E-symbol on the Higher Grade or a D-symbol on the Standard Grade for Mathematics and Physical Science may satisfy the minimum admission requirements.

NATIONAL CERTIFICATE

An N3 certificate with C-symbols for at least four subjects including Mathematics and Engineering Science or a D-symbol at N4 level as well as the language requirements as specified for the Senior Certificate.

NATIONAL CERTIFICATE (VOCATIONAL)

Requirements as defined in Government Gazette 32743 dated 26th November 2009 with specific requirements as set out below:

Must obtain 50% in the three fundamental subjects which in the case of this qualification are required to be:

English, as it is the university’s language of learning and teaching (LOTL); Mathematics (not Mathematics Literacy)

Life Orientation.

60% for three of the following compulsory vocational modules (in any combination):

• Construction Planning
• Construction Supervision
• Materials
• Concrete Structures
• Roads

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Applications from international students are considered in terms of:

HESA/Institutional guideline document, “Exemption Requirements: Foreign School Qualifications” institutional equivalence reference document

(where required) submission of international qualification to SAQA for benchmarking in terms of HEQF.

APS Score

24 [APS determined on WSU classification table (six NSC subjects: English and one other language subject) plus 4 NSC subjects in which the student scored the highest marks excluding life orientation)]

(c) Exit Level Outcomes / Graduate Attributes

The following are the twelve graduate attributes and exit level outcomes of this qualification:

Graduate Attribute 1:

Problem solving: Identify, formulate, analyse and solve well-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 well-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.

Graduate Attribute 12:

Workplace practices: Demonstrate an understanding of workplace practices to solve engineering problems consistent with academic learning achieved

(d) Articulation rules

Horizontal Articulation	Students who have successfully completed the Diploma in Engineering in Civil Engineering at NQF level 6 or who have completed courses towards the completion of this qualification may transfer credits towards a Diploma qualification in this field of study or related field of study (Built Environment, eg Building technology, Quantity Surveying, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Architecture) at NQF level 6. (Refer to Figure 1).
Vertical Articulation	Students who have successfully completed a Diploma in Engineering in Civil Engineering at NQF level 6 may gain admission to Advanced Diploma in Engineering in Civil Engineering at NQF level 7. (Refer to Figure 1)
Professional Articulation	After graduation, a candidacy programme toward registration as a Professional Engineering Technician can be followed as laid down by Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).

 

 Figure 1: Pathway to the HEQSF qualifications (Source: ECSA Document E-23-P, July 2022)

Each pathway is identified by the notation Px.y where the first number, x, is the Benchmark (Bx as shown in the Figure) and the second, y, is the pathway to that Benchmark.