ABOUT ACCREDITATION
The ECSA’s functions relating to engineering education stem from the education requirements for registration. The criteria to be met with, in order to register in a professional category with the ECSA, are twofold:
- The applicant must meet the education requirement(s) as defined by the ECSA for that relevant category; and
- The applicant must demonstrate competence against standards determined by the ECSA for the category.
Quality engineering education is therefore an essential part of professional development.
The educational requirements for registration may be met in several ways:
- Accredited qualification: The attainment of a qualification accredited by the ECSA for the category of registration is the first step towards becoming registered in the category;
- Recognised Qualification: Holding a qualification accredited by a signatory to an international educational agreement;
- Educational Evaluation: The applicant submits detailed documentation of his or her qualification(s) to the ECSA for evaluation, in order to establish whether this qualification(s) is substantially equivalent to an ECSA accredited qualification. If the qualification does not meet all the requirements, this process may be extended to an interview of the applicant by the ECSA.
In terms of the EP Act and in
partnership with the Council on Higher Education (CHE), ECSA mandated to
accredit engineering programmes offered by South African higher education
providers; to establish international educational recognition agreements; and
to evaluate qualifications that are neither accredited nor recognised by ECSA.
In addition, ECSA promotes the quality of engineering education programmes and
policies and practices to increase the number of graduates to meet national
needs.
The accompanying pages give detailed information on the following engineering education topics: