The University of the Witwatersrand, with its international standards and values and its location at the centre of Southern Africa's industrial and business community, is ideally positioned to address the challenges of educating engineers of the highest calibre. Our base is well founded in technology - the University was established in 1922 out of the South African School of Mines, which originated in Kimberley in 1896 and then moved to Johannesburg. Post-doctoral research is encouraged. There are six other staff members who also have NRF ratings. One of the Honorary Professors was a recent recipient of a Fullbright Scholarship.
Many foreign students come to the department to work on post-graduate research.
The staff are actively involved in expert consulting to the Civil engineering industry. This leads to further research work, ensures co-operation and contact with industry and enriches the lecture content. An evaluation by the Engineering Council of South Africa in 1997 awarded the department full accreditation of the degree which carries with it international recognition. Wits Civil Engineering has enjoyed international recognition for many years. Prof Burland, who for a number of years was on the British Joint Board of Moderators and reviewed universities such as Oxford, reported to the JBM that Wits Civil Engineering degrees met the standards required of UK universities.