Opleiding van chemiese ingenieurs in Suid-Afrika

Abstract

The demand for chemical engineers in South Africa is discussed in terms of the number of chemical engineers required and the type of training that would meet the needs of employers. The objective of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Pretoria is to provide a balanced system of training, with no undergraduate specialisation. The training programme is seen as consisting not only of undergraduate lectures and associated contact, but also of undergraduate practical training, post-graduate practical training, as well as post-graduate specialisation where required. The main problems experienced in the training of chemical engineers are discussed and possible solutions are investigated for these problems, which include the shortage of chemical engineers, the failure rate, post-graduate specialization, research at universities, and the staff shortage.