Sabinet | The future training of municipal engineers
oa Civil Engineer in South Africa - The future training of municipal engineers
Author J.A. Stewart
Source : Civil Engineer in South Africa, Volume 25, Issue 9, Sep 1983, p. 517 - 519
Based on his extensive municipal experience the author has attempted in this paper to indicate the direction in which civil engineers who desire to make a career in local authority should be guided. It is not suggested that the four year academic curriculum should be tailored in any way to provide specifically for municipal engineering, but that more emphasis in the academic training should be given to the comprehension of the full implications of the use of capital and the financing and feasibllity of engineering projects as well as an awareness of the environmental impact of public works.
It is suggested that during the three-year post graduate professional training, the young engineer should become increasingly aware of the need to acquire the skills of &apos;political&apos; manipulation, public and social communication and the ability to translate the technical dream into a project which becomes meaningful to the politician, the layman, the ratepayer and the holders of the purse strings. The professional institutions, particularly the lnstitution of Municipal Engineers of South Africa, should accept the responsibility for the subsequent training through courses, seminars, workshops, lectures etc in municipal financing, the art of &apos;marketing&apos; civil engineering projects to Councils and the public, and in public participation. Municipal engineers must get fully involved in the manipulation to the &apos;political&apos; decision-making processes to guide local authorities to ensure the optimal quality of life of all its citizens.
Op grond van sy uitgebreide munisipale ervaring poog die skrywer in hierdie referaat om die rigting aan te dui vir siviele ingenieurs wat graag &apos;n loopbaan in plaaslike bestuur sal wil volg. Dit word nie aan die hand gedoen dat die akademiese leergang van vier jaar enigsins gewysig moet word om in die besonder vir munisipale ingenieurswese te voorsien nie, maar dat groter klem in die akademiese opleiding geplaas moet word op begrip vir wat opgesluit lê in die besteding van kapitaal en die finansiering en uitvoerbaarheid van ingenieursprojekte, sowel as &apos;n bewustheid van die invloed van openbare aanlegte op die omgewing.
Dit word aan die hand gedoen dat die jong ingenieur gedurende die drie jaar van nagraadse professionele opleiding toenemend bewus gemaak moet word van die noodsaak vir vaardigheid in &apos;politieke&apos; hantering en in openbare en maatskaplike kommunikasie, en vir die vermoë om die tegniese droom in &apos;n projek te omskep wat vir die politikus, die leek, die belastingbetaler en die beskikkers oor die geld betekenisvol sal wees. Die professionele vereniging, in die besonder die lnstituut vir Munisipale lngenieurs in Suid-Afrika, behoort die verantwoordelikheid te aanvaar vir die opvolgende opleiding deur middel van kursusse, seminare, opleidingsgeriewe, lesings, ensomeer, ten opsigte van munisipale geldwese, die kuns om siviele ingenieursprojekte aan stadsrade en die publiek te &apos;bemark&apos; en ten opsigte van openbare betrokkenheid. Munisipale ingenieurs moet volkome betrokke raak by die hantering van die &apos;politieke&apos; besluitnemingsprosesse om plaaslike owerhede te lei om vir hul inwoners oor die algemeen die hoogste lewenswyse te besorg.
Persistent Link : http://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC24922