The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) is leading the revolution in engineering education in South Africa through a ground-breaking capacity-building initiative funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering. This effort is part of the Higher Education Partnerships for Sub-Sahara Africa (HEPSSA) programme, which aims to enhance educational practices and foster collaboration across the continent.

Delegates from various universities at the TUT and Royal Academy of Engineering workshop hosted at the Durban University of Technology.

To support this initiative, a two-day workshop on project-based learning curriculum design was hosted by the Durban University of Technology (DUT) under the leadership of Professor Rendani Maladzhi. The event brought together esteemed academics from various institutions to share insights and best practices for driving engineering education forward in the sub-Saharan region.

Day One Highlights
The workshop commenced with a welcome from Dr Nomcebo Mothombeni, Acting Deputy Dean at DUT, followed by a keynote address from the project’s Principal Investigator, Dr Grace Kanakana-Katumba, Executive Dean at the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment.  

She emphasised the importance of revisiting and revitalising existing teaching methodologies at universities across the region, while highlighting the project’s goal to create a collaborative network that facilitates knowledge sharing between institutions in the UK and South Africa.

Dr Kanakana-Katumba explained: “This initiative is designed to equip academics with the skills to develop industry-relevant modules through project-based learning, fostering a more hands-on and practical approach to education.”

Dr Shoba Rathilal, Acting Director for DUT’s Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT), accentuated the transformative potential of project-based learning, noting its impact on enhancing student experiences and preparing future engineers to solve real-world challenges.

Dr Tabbi Wilberforce Awotwe from King’s College London led a hands-on session to introduce participants to the CDIO (Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate) framework and the critical role of communication in engineering education. This was followed by insightful presentations by Profs Ndivhuho Ndou of UNISA and Rouxzeta Van der Merwe from TUT, showcasing successful coveted project-based learning implementations at their respective institutions.

Willy Ngitech from CPUT and Dr Avinash Ramsaroop from DUT also presented key projects and capstone initiatives. Prof Amit Jariwala from Georgia Institute of Technology continued to share insights on design thinking and their capstone projects.

Day Two Highlights
The second day featured presentations from Marco Rossi and Jon Esteves of MathWorks, who demonstrated how their software packages support the development of project-based learning modules in engineering education. Ms Krishna Keerthana presented her innovative vehicle dynamics simulation app, a project deliverable that participants can further develop and utilize. Prof E Rapoo, keynote speaker for day two, encouraged participants to embrace this new teaching philosophy but should also acknowledge that it will come with some challenges. Project based learning according to Prof Rapoo is the future of engineering education.  

Dr Kanakana-Katumba thanked the international collaborators from the University of Warwick, Aston University and King’s College London for their invaluable support. She announced the acquisition of a hydrogen fuel cell EV automotive trainer, set to be commissioned soon, which will equip students with essential skills in project-based learning. Dr Kanakana -Katumba urged all partners to expand their infrastructure to accommodate this new teaching philosophy.

In closing, Dr Kanakana-Katumba revealed the development of a new EV platform for continuous professional development for higher education staff within the sub-region. She also inaugurated a new community of practice on project-based learning in South Africa, with workshop participants signing up to join. The next phase of the project will involve a knowledge exchange visit to the UK by South African academics and community members. 

About the Royal Academy of Engineering
The Royal Academy of Engineering is committed to advancing and promoting excellence in engineering for the benefit of society. Through initiatives like HEPSSA, the Academy supports capacity building and fosters collaborative efforts to enhance educational practices and innovation across the globe. 

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