A recent draft report on critical skills in South Africa revealed that although engineering is broadly regarded as high-in-demand and amongst the skills deemed in short supply within the country, chemical engineering is conspicuously absent from the list. This is echoed by qualitative evidence that the attractiveness of chemical engineering as an option for tertiary studies is waning, as well as the lack of suitable entry positions within industry which would point to a saturation of the employment market for these graduates. Against this background it is therefore necessary to initiate a study into the status of chemical engineering in South Africa.
A recent draft report on critical skills in South Africa revealed that although engineering is broadly regarded as high-in-demand and amongst the skills deemed in short supply within the country, chemical engineering is conspicuously absent from the list. This is echoed by qualitative evidence that the attractiveness of chemical engineering as an option for tertiary studies is waning, as well as the lack of suitable entry positions within industry which would point to a saturation of the employment market for these graduates. Against this background it is therefore necessary to initiate a study into the status of chemical engineering in South Africa.
As a result, a group of SAIChE Council members have started this study. Aspects of the study have been undertaken by three sub-committees with oversight of a project coordinator.
