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CONSTRUCTION WORLD
APRIL
2017
work to do on racial transformation, but the
current actual numbers show remarkable
progress in the built environment, consider-
ing that it takes about 10 to 12 years, exclud-
ing basic education of another 12 years, for
any individual to accumulate the necessary
education and training before they are ready
to register as professionals. There is no
quick-fix solution, but we can build on the
existing successes.”
One such success is the work done by
the MD of SAICE Professional Development
and Projects (PDAP), Dr Allyson Lawless,
SAICE CEO, Manglin Pillay and MD of SAICE Professional
Development and Projects, Dr Allyson Lawless.
another professionally registered engineer.
Thousands of black graduate engineering
practitioners are now registered profession-
als through PDAP’s Candidate Academy and
Road to Registration programmes.
Dr Lawless says, “There is a need to
re-engineer local government capacitation
and professional development for gradu-
ates. Assuming that an applicant with a
tertiary engineering qualification can grow
into a senior post, without working in a
community of expert practice, is a fallacy.
Since 2005, a dramatic loss of staff over
50 years of age occurred in municipali-
ties – they would typically have been the
strategic planners and leaders, also acting
as mentors and coaches. Where senior
technical design staff is not available,
training should be sought through second-
ment and tapping into the pool of retirees to
offer their expertise until in-house staff have
been adequately trained.” Only by doing so,
the next generation of engineers will grow
into skilled, competent, experienced and
responsible candidates capable of filling
senior posts.