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SAICE ESSAY TOPICS FOR PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION

The current process of registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa has been implemented in January 1998. The ECSA "Discipline-Specific Guidelines for Civil Engineering" of February 2003, Clause 6.5, indicates that two essays will have to be written by candidates:

    The first essay will be on one of two technical subjects set by the reviewers in the context of the training report and the interview.

    The second essay will be on one of two topics selected by the interviewers from a list published in advance by SAICE.

Guidance notes for the assessment of essays are set out in the Guidelines for Professional Registration of Civil Engineers, available from the Institution.

The topics for the second essay for 2007 are listed below, and have been approved by the Professional Advisory Committee on Civil Engineering at ECSA:

  1. Discuss the importance of standard contract law in the built environment with specific reference to the various standard conditions of contract.
  2. Discuss whether the civil engineer of the future should become more of a specialist or a generalist
  3. Discuss the way in which the resources required for a design project or a construction contract should be organized and managed in order to ensure that technical objectives are met and that work is completed on time and within budget. Refer to your own experience where appropriate.
  4. Many civil engineers would call themselves managers but few become leaders of their organisations. Discuss the qualities, which enable a manager to develop into a leader.
  5. Globalization presents new challenges and opportunities to the engineering profession in South Africa. Discuss the implications for South African civil engineers and their employer firms.
  6. In projects for developing countries emphasis is often placed on the need for transfer of technology. How can this best be achieved in practice?
  7. Discuss the effect of environmental regulations on the design, documentation, and construction of civil engineering projects.
  8. Discuss appropriate and sustainable engineering solutions, having regard to the environment and to the use of unskilled and semi-skilled workers. (for example roads, arch masonry bridges, soil-cement etc.)
  9. Although failures may be a disaster for the individuals concerned, many have led to advances in theory, design, and construction methods. Discuss how failures should be dealt with so as to ensure the maximum benefit to society and the engineering community
  10. Increasingly South African industrial and infrastructure projects are being evaluated according to the impact on communities within which they are located. Discuss the opportunities and threats inherent in such projects and the role civil engineers can play in delivering value to society through their involvement in such projects
  11. To what extent should the public be involved in the decision-making process for Infrastructure projects? What role should civil engineers play in such consultations?
  12. Discuss the problems involved in meeting the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act in the design, construction, upgrading and maintenance of civil engineering projects, and discuss health aspects which may not be covered by the Act (e.g.. skin-cancer, malaria, Aids, TB etc.)
  13. Discuss the difference between 'Quality Control ' and 'Quality Assurance'. Discuss the requirements for quality management by clients, designers and contractors, and their respective contributions to the success of a project.
  14. Industrial relations affect activities on a construction site. How can they influence flexibility in working practices, incentive schemes, quality of work and safety?
  15. Risk is inherent in most civil engineering work. Discuss the ways in which such risks can affect the employer and the contractor, and how they can influence the form of contract and the contract price.
  16. "The estimation of costs of schemes and their budgetary control is one of the key functions of the engineer". How should engineers be trained to fulfil this function in design and construction?
  17. Identify the areas in which disagreement between a Resident Engineer's staff and the Contractor's staff may develop. How can good relations be achieved between these parties? Illustrate where possible from your own experience.
  18. Describe the power of the Engineer to delegate decisions to the Engineer's Representative under the General Conditions of Contract (GCC 1990 / Colto GCC 1998) In what circumstances could an Engineer vary the level of delegation during the construction period?
  19. What impact will the “Knowledge Economy” have on the Civil Engineering profession in South Africa?
  20. Discuss how the application of ethics in civil engineering projects or contracts should be managed in order to ensure that the negative impact of corruption and similar practices are minimised.

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E-Mail Carla de Jager SAICE