CUT Hosts The 4th Annual UNESCO Africa Engineering Week
In this rapidly changing world, innovation, technology, and engineering plays a major role in economic growth and development of the country and the world and there is a great reliance on technology to solve environmental problems around globally.
The Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) in collaboration with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) hosted the 4th Annual UNESCO Africa Engineering Week from 18-19 October 2024. This year’s theme is “Engineering: a catalyst for socio-economic development.”
The conference aims to increase the visibility of engineering and celebrate its role in sustainable development. It is also envisaged to encourage more learners to consider engineering as a career of choice. It is a platform for like-minded engineering academics and professionals to interact and share ideas in contributing to the growth and development of the broader engineering profession.
The pertinent issue discussed during the engineering week includes the state of the engineering profession in South Africa, the role of engineering in achieving the sustainable development goals and why does South Africa need more women engineers.
On day one of the conference, various engineering academics and professionals delivered presentations including: Mr Cyril Gamede, President of ECSA, Mr Yashin Brijmohan, Vice President at World Federation of Engineering Organisation, Prof. Hubert Gijzen, Director and Representative of the UNESCO Regional Office for South Africa, and Mr Daan du Toit, Deputy Director General at DST.
Exhibitors from various organisations also attended to showcase their respective programmes and the services at no cost to delegates and learners from local schools.
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Front row, from left: Mr Sipho Madonsela, Chief Executive Officer: Engineering Council of South Africa; Mr Cyril Gamede, President of Engineering of South Africa; Prof. Alfred Ngowi, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement and Prof. Fidelis Emuze, Acting Dean: Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology.
Back row, from left: Mr Daan du Toit, Deputy Director-General: Department of Science and Technology; Mr Yashin Brijmohan, Vice President: World Federation of Engineering Organisation, and Prof. Hubert Gijzen, Director and Representative: UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa.