Educatin and training of engineers: a case study

Abstract

Engineering and training play an important role in the technical, economic and social progress of society.A number of factors influence the education and training of engineers, from the nature and form of curricular to needs of employers and the changing patterns of professional employment. Key issues are being raised by changes in technology, in society and by the impact of developments in information technology on industry and commercial development, on the engineer profession, on the educational institutions and on education and training of engineers. The paper considers the education and training of engineers using data and information from the Faculty of Engineering and Technology(FET), University of Botswana as a case study. Historical background is introduced.Student enrolment in terms of gender and foreign students are presented.Also presented are the academic programs and staff structures.The goals of the Faculty have been highlighted and strategies to be applied to achieve these goals have been recommended. The paper could be of interest to staff of FET and UB, Engineering Institutions in Africa and also to the Botswana Ministry of Finance and Manpower Development.