University of the Witwatersrand Faculties of Engineering
About Us
Look around you. No matter where you are, what you will see is the evidence of the activity of Engineering and the Built Environment professionals. We often take for granted our roads, bridges, buildings, cities, cars, aeroplanes, fuels, energy, financial systems, television, telephones, medical devices – but none of these would be possible without these professionals.
Development of Scarce Skills
There is a critical shortage of skills in South Africa. The production of Engineering and the Built Environment graduates in South Africa needs to increase dramatically in the next few years in order to allow us to respond to the challenge posed by the National Development Plan. This continent, and the world, faces challenges in all sectors of the economy, where these young professionals will assist in solving the problems that plague development, sustainability and progress.
Research
The Faculty has the highest number of endowed professorships or chairs in the University. Large volumes of contract research are conducted for local and international companies. The Faculty also works intensely with the private and public sectors to tackle national problems like energy generation, deep-level mining, mining safety, water purification systems, transport, and urban development, amongst others.
Engineering
Engineering has high caliber academic and support staff, purpose-built laboratories, and computing and library facilities which enable Wits to provide the opportunity for advanced skilling in specialist areas and training in leading research.
Engineering offers undergraduate professional degrees, postgraduate diplomas, Masters by coursework, Masters by coursework and research report, Masters by research, and Doctor of Philosophy.
There are also special options which permit science graduates to undertake postgraduate study in engineering. The variety and quality of the postgraduate qualifications in engineering ensure that capable and committed students, with good first degrees, can equip themselves for leadership roles in technology and related fields.
Built Environment
The first two decades of the 21st Century have seen dramatic changes in the global economy, politics, and social environment which have immense influences on cities and planning within the developing world.
Climate change and sustainability are becoming major concerns in designing cities and buildings. The delivery of affordable housing and the development of more inclusive cities are also critical challenges. Creative responses to these and other challenges form the basis of the teaching and research programs in both the School of Architecture and Planning and the School of Construction Economics and Management.
Live city studios, examining and developing proposals to shape change in key areas such as inner cities form the basis for some postgraduate student projects in the School of Architecture and Planning. Other projects include studies of declining towns, informal settlements, street traders, provincial and metropolitan policies, inter alia. These issues are relevant to the South African context but draw on internationally accepted disciplinary principles.
Recently completed doctoral theses range from studies on township economies to architectural education to studies on film and the city.
Accreditation
All of our first degrees in engineering are fully accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa under the Washington Accord. Career opportunities for engineers are limitless, extending beyond the engineering sector.
The BSc (Construction Studies) is accredited by the South African Institute of Building, the Chartered Institute of Building, UK (CIOB), the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), UK, the South African Council for Quantity Surveying Profession and the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions.
The Bachelor of Architectural Studies and Master of Architecture (Professional) are accredited by the South African Council for the Architectural Professions (SACAP) and the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA). The Bachelor of Science, Urban and Regional Planning (Hons) and Masters of Science in Development Planning are accredited by the South African Council for Planning (SACPLAN).
University of the Witwatersrand Faculties of Engineering and the Built Environment Contact
University of the Witwatersrand Faculties of Engineering and the Built Environment Departments
