SAIEE Western Cape Centre Initiative: Engineering the Future - School Group Project to promote Electrical Engineering, Science and Technology

SAIEE Western Cape Centre Initiative: Engineering the Future - School Group

Project to promote Electrical Engineering, Science and Technology

 

Engineering skills shortage has been identified as one of the aspects that

might hinder economic growth in South Africa. The paper compiled by Allyson

Lawless "Engineering Institutes look at the skills shortage that threatens

to affect the economic growth of South Africa", suggests increasing the

number of high calibre graduates from South Africa's tertiary institutions.

This can be done by increasing the number of engineering trained graduates

through our tertiary institutes.

 

Specific concern to the SAIEE is the shortage of electrical engineers. The

SAIEE needs to stimulate the appeal for electrical engineering amongst young

ones to choose electrical engineering as a career. The SAIEE needs to be the

authority in providing all information relating to studying electrical

engineering in South Africa. This information needs to be packaged in a

manner to appeal to the young ones.

 

The SAIEE Western Cape approached the MTN Sciencentre for an enrichment or

informative learner experience specifically geared to promoting careers in

electrical engineering. This will be done via a program of school group

visits to the MTN Sciencentre. Amongst the schools that this program target

are the Dinaledi schools, which were formed in 2001 to improve participation

and performance in maths and science, particularly among previously

disadvantaged learners.

 

To address the skills shortage will require intervention measures at high

school level. For this reason the SAIEE Western Cape Centre has embarked on

a project that aims to:-

 

* Encourage learners to take electrical engineering as a career

 

* improve the appreciation of engineering, science and technology

amongst educators

 

* To market the SAIEE as the authority in providing any details

regarding studying electrical engineering in SA

 

With the School Group Project, the SAIEE made it possible for 11 Schools to

be bussed into the MTN Sciencentre at Canal Walk, Cape Town. Each school

group consisted of 55 learners and 5 educators. The MTN Sciencentre contains

a floor of science and technological exhibitions. These exhibitions explore

science and technology like, wave propagation, gravity, forces, hydraulics,

electricity, magnetism, etc. They even have the largest working cellphone in

the world, as confirmed by the Guinness Book of World Records.

 

Each school was given an opportunity to spend an hour on the MTN Sciencentre

floor and interact with the Science and Technology exhibitions. The school

group was then separated into two groups. The one group participated in a

workshop to build an electric motor, while the other group is engaged in

science and technology activities at the centre; this would last for an hour

then the two groups would swop activities. After this both groups would

congregate at the MTN Sciencentre auditorium and they will be shown a video

on electrical engineering followed by a talk from one of the SAIEE members

(an electrical engineer) on what electrical engineering is about.

 

In the motor building workshop the school learners, including the teacher,

are introduced to concepts in magnetism, electromagnetism, working in teams,

communication and following instruction. The kids were working in small

groups of two or three and they build a small dc electric motor from kits

that were provided by the MTN Sciencentre. We had more that 50% success in

getting the small dc motor to run. It was great joy to see the smiles in the

learners' faces when their motors started running. For those whose motor

could not run would appreciate that in engineering we still need to work in

teams, communicate and follow instructions because their motor would fail

because they did not follow instructions or communicate.

 

The video and talk by an electrical engineer covered the following:-

 

* What is Electrical Engineering

 

* What is the work of an electrical engineer

 

* Where do you study Electrical Engineering

 

* What do you study

 

* What are the criteria

 

* Where can I go if I need assistance - SAIEE

 

The learners would be given an opportunity to ask questions. Most of their

questions were around the tertiary institution's entry levels; whether

electrical engineers are paid well; and study bursaries. After all is done,

the learners were treated to some lunch and sent (bussed) home.

 

605 learners from 11 schools participated in this project in the months of

April, May and June (before the World Cup). The list of such schools is

available below:-

 

A project like this would not be possible without the excellent partnership

between SAIEE, MTN Sciencentre and UCT SAIEE/IEEE Student Chapter.

 

1.MTN Sciencentre

 

*Busi, Ryan and Carmen for the putting the program together.

*John (a retired electrical engineer and part of MTN Sciencentre

staff), Fikiswa and Michael for facilitating the workshop and safely looking

after the learners without any hassles.

 

2.UCT SAIEE/IEEE Student Chapter

 

*Ragesh, big thanks for arranging UCT electrical engineering students

to come and assist with the facilitation of building the electrical motor.

The involvement of the students, makes the learners realise that with hard

work their dreams of going to tertiary education can be made real; with

determination and hard work, off-course.

*Michael Nyarko, Francis Masuabi, Benson Chan, Eric Chen, Denis Wong,

Ragesh Pillai, Leen Remmelzwaal, Chris Fourie and Derrick Marumo, for taking

the time from your hectic varsity lives to facilitate the workshops. Your

contribution will go a long way in the minds of the young learners.

 

3.SAIEE members

 

* Mr Larry Khuvutlu, for putting the program together and

participation with most of the school visits; facilitating and giving the

talk at times.

 

* Mr Wilfred Fritz, Mr Jaime Mabota (SAIEE WCC Chairman), Mr Rod

Harker and Ms Unati Nombakuse, for facilitating and giving the talks.

 

The SAIEE has committed an investment of R 30 544; an investment that our

country needs, if it to achieve its desired economic growth and development;

half poverty by 2014; build and maintain power stations. We need more of

projects like these.

Done