Engineering education


Engineering education is the activity of teaching knowledge and principles to the professional practice of engineering. It includes an initial education and or, and any advanced education and specializations that follow. Engineering education is typically accompanied by additional postgraduate examinations and supervised training as the requirements for a professional engineering license. The length of education, and training to qualify as a basic professional engineer, is typically five years, with 15–20 years for an engineer who takes responsibility for major projects.
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education in primary and secondary schools often serves as the foundation for engineering education at the university level. In the United States, engineering education is a part of the STEM initiative in public schools. Service-learning in engineering education is gaining popularity within the variety of disciplinary focuses within engineering education including chemical engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering, architectural engineering, and other engineering education.
The field of academic inquiry regarding the education of engineers is called engineering education research.

Africa

Ghana

Ghana's engineering training landscape bridges the gap between theory and practice, equipping students with the technical knowledge and hands-on skills valued by the engineering industry. Students interested in engineering can enter the field at different levels.
  • Traditional Secondary Technical Schools: These schools offer programs leading to the West African Senior Secondary School Certificate, which prepares students for university-level engineering programs.
  • STEM Secondary Schools: Specialized senior high schools providing specialized training in Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical and Agricultural Science
  • Technical and Vocational Education and Training Schools: These schools provide vocational training, awarding the National Vocational Training Institute certificate. This prepares students for immediate entry into specific technical trades.
  • Polytechnics and Technical Universities: Offer Higher National Diplomas in engineering disciplines, typically lasting three years. These programs have a strong emphasis on practical skills and application, preparing graduates for immediate employment. Some polytechnics have also transitioned to offering four-year Bachelor of Technology degrees.
  • Universities: Offer four-year Bachelor of Science degrees in various engineering fields like civil, mechanical, electrical, or computer engineering.
Ghana's engineering profession is regulated by the Ghana Institution of Engineers, an autonomous body established in 1968. Its authority stems from the Engineering Council Act 2011 and the Professional Bodies Registration Decree NRCD143 of 1973.

Kenya

Engineering training in Kenya is typically provided by the universities. Registration of engineers is governed by the Engineers Registration Act. A candidate stands to qualify as a registered engineer, R.Eng., if they are a holder of a minimum of four years of post-secondary Engineering Education and a minimum of three years of postgraduate work experience.
All registrations are undertaken by the Engineers Registration Board which is a statutory body established through an Act of the Kenyan Parliament in 1969. A minor revision was done in 1992 to accommodate Technician Engineer grade. The board has been given the responsibility of regulating the activities and conduct of Practicing Engineers in the Republic of Kenya in accordance with the functions and powers conferred upon it by the Act. Under CAP 530 of the Laws of Kenya, it is illegal for an engineer to practice or call themself an engineer if not registered with the board. Registration with the board is thus a license to practice engineering in Kenya.

Nigeria

Engineering training is provided by universities subject to accreditation by the National Universities Commission and the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria. A candidate can be registered as an engineer after completion of a five-year bachelor's degree and four years of post-graduate work experience. Previously, postgraduate education in engineering could be counted towards work experience. A candidate trained through a polytechnic may also be certified as a registered engineer on completion of a two-year Ordinary National Diploma, a two-year Higher National Diploma and a post-graduate diploma all in the same engineering discipline with two years of work experience after the PGD. Registration allows use of the protected title, registered Engineer. An alternative version, Registered Engineer is also used although it is not formally recognized by COREN. Any person not registered as an engineer may not use any title that implies that they are registered Engineers. It is illegal to carry out engineering practice without a COREN registration. All unregistered engineers must work under supervision of an Engr.
COREN also recognizes other cadres of engineering work- technologists, technicians and craftsmen. Technologists and technicians are trained by polytechnics while craftsmen are trained by technical colleges. Technologists can become registered Engineering Technologists on completion of a two-year Ordinary National Diploma, a two-year Higher National Diploma and three years of post-graduate work experience. A technician can be certified as a registered Engineering Technician after completion of a two-year OND and two-years of post-graduate work experience. A craftsman can become a registered Engineering Craftsman after passing the technical exam of the West African Examinations Council or National Business and Technical Examinations Board or a Trade Test Grade 1 from the Federal Ministry of Labour. In addition, two years of work experience are required.

South Africa

Engineering training in South Africa is typically provided by the universities, universities of technology and colleges for Technical and Vocational Education and Training. The qualifications provided by these institutions must have an Engineering Council of South Africa accreditation for the qualification for graduates and diplomats of these institutions to be registered as Candidate Certificated Engineers, Candidate Engineers, Candidate Engineering Technologists and Candidate Engineering Technicians. There are many benefits to these attributes.
The academic training performed by the universities is typically in the form of a four-year BSc, BIng or BEng degree. For the degree to be accredited, the course material must conform to the ECSA Graduate Attributes.
Professional Engineers are persons that are accredited by ECSA as engineering professionals. Legally, a Professional Engineer's sign off is required for any major project to be implemented, in order to ensure the safety and standards of the project. Professional Engineering Technologists and Professional Engineering Technicians are other members of the engineering team.
Professional Certificated Engineers are people who hold one of seven Government Certificates of Competency and who have been registered by ECSA as engineering professionals.
The categories of professionals are differentiated by the degree of complexity of work carried out, where Professional Engineers are expected to solve complex engineering problems, Professional Engineering Technologists and Professional Certificated Engineers, broadly defined engineering problems and Professional Engineering Technicians, well-defined engineering problems.

Tanzania

Engineering training in Tanzania is typically provided by various universities and technical institutions in the country. Graduate engineers are registered by the Engineers Registration Board after undergoing three years of practical training. A candidate stands to qualify as a professional engineer, P.Eng., if they are a holder of a minimum four years post-secondary Engineering Education and a minimum of three years of postgraduate work experience. Engineers Registration Board is a statutory body established through an Act of the Tanzanian Parliament in 1968. Minor revision was done in 1997 to address the issue of engineering professional excellence in the country.
The board has been given the responsibility of regulating the activities and conduct of Practicing Engineers in the United Republic of Tanzania in accordance with the functions and powers conferred upon it by the Act. According to Tanzania Laws, it is illegal for an engineer to practice or call themself an engineer if not registered with the board. Registration with the board is thus a license to practice engineering in United Republic of Tanzania.

Asia

Bangladesh

To be educated in engineering education in Bangladesh, one has to study for a long time. This length of time is required because a fashion engineer in Bangladesh has to acquire technical education from an early age.
In Hong Kong, engineering degree programmes are offered by public universities funded by the University Grant Committee. There are 94 UGC-funded programmes in engineering and technology offered by City University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and the University of Hong Kong. For example, the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Hong Kong has five departments providing undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees in civil engineering, Computer Science, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, as well as Mechanical Engineering. All programmes of Bachelor of Engineering under the Joint University Programmes Admissions System code 6963 being offered are accredited by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers. With that standing, the professional qualification of HKU engineering graduates is mutually recognized by most countries, such as the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa. Applicants with other local / international /national qualifications such as GCE A-level, International Baccalaureate or SAT can apply through the Non-JUPAS Route.
The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers accredits individual engineering degree programmes. The process of professional accreditation also considers the appropriate Faculty in terms of its overall philosophy, objectives and resources. The professional accreditation of engineering degree programmes in the universities is normally initiated by a university issuing an invitation to the HKIE's Accreditation Board to carry out appropriate accreditation exercises.
To become a professional engineer, senior secondary school students start by choosing science and technology related subjects, while at least passing English and Mathematics in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education examinations. Secondary school graduates have to enroll in an HKIE accredited engineering programme, join the universities' engineering students society and join the HKIE as a student member. After completing a bachelor's degree in engineering, graduates undergo two to three years of engineering graduate training and gaining another two to three years relevant working experience. Upon passing the Professional Assessment, the candidate will be conferred member by the HKIE, finally becoming a Professional Engineer. The engineering profession in Hong Kong has 21 engineering disciplines, namely Aircraft, Biomedical, Building, Building Services, Chemical, Civil Control, Automation & Instrumentation, Electrical, Electronics, Energy, Environmental, Fire, Gas, Geotechnical, Information, Logistics & Transportation, Manufacturing & Industrial, Marine & Naval Architecture, Materials, Mechanical, as well as Structural engineering.
In 2019, the Asian Society of Engineering Education is founded in Hong Kong by Dr. Cecilia K.Y. Chan and over twenty founding members around Asia. AsiaSEE is the first Asian regional network of higher educational institutions leaders with commitment to improve engineering education. The vision of AsiaSEE is to be the trusted body in Asia to facilitate communications and cooperation in engineering education between members, institutions, industries, stakeholders and like-minded societies in the world. The mission of AsiaSEE is to contribute to the advancement and enhancement in engineering education via research and practice for the future generation.
RankUniversity
18The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
35The University of Hong Kong
57The Chinese University of Hong Kong
70Hong Kong Polytechnic University
79City University of Hong Kong
451–500Hong Kong Baptist University