Potential impact of scarce skills shortages, identification of engineering work regulations and recruitment criteria on the quality and sustainability of academic programmes in South Africa

Abstract

South Africa is experiencing a shortage of engineering practitioners, with a typical engineer to population ratio of ±1: 3 000. Similarly, a shortage of engineering academics is also evident at higher education institutions (HEIs), where the situation is further aggravated by the minimum academic recruitment criteria required. The Identification of Engineering Work (IDoEW) regulations also require engineering academics to be professionally registered in accordance with the Engineering Profession Act (46/2000). This article investigates the potential impact of scarce skills shortages, the IDoEW regulations, and professional registration and academic recruitment criteria on the quality and sustainability of engineering programmes offered at HEIs in South Africa. A qualitative research design was adopted by focussing on the critical review of relevant policies and a benchmark comparison of employment and professional registration statistics at 13 HEIs. It was evident that the non-implementation of scarce skills policy procedures and unrealistic academic recruitment criteria are directly linked to the high level of vacancies and/or long turnaround time to fill vacancies. The high percentage of non-registered engineering academics is regarded as a potential risk, both in terms of academic programme sustainability and quality of offering. Therefore, by implementing the recommended scarce skills allowances and academic recruitment criteria, the professional registration and IDoEW requirements will automatically be included to contribute towards safeguarding the future international accreditation statuses of engineering programmes offered at HEIs in South Africa.