Postgraduate Diploma in Engineering

• To equip candidates in possession of a BEng qualification in a branch other than Industrial Engineering, with the outcomes of the BEng in Industrial Engineering or

To prepare candidates in possession of an appropriate bachelor's qualification other that the BEng for postgraduate study in the Faculty of Engineering, or

To equip candidates in possession of a suitable BSc qualification with specialised engineering skills in order to create more opportunities for them in the job market, or

To equip candidates in possession of a BEng qualification with specialised theoretical knowledge in the engineering sciences for specific job markets and

To serve as an early exit point from the MEng or MScEng programmes.

Senior Certificate with Matriculation Exemption or equivalent university admission qualification.

First degree: BEng; BSc or BTech or qualification approved by Senate for this purpose. Depending on the chosen filed of study, additional work and or proof of competency may be required.

GENERIC / CRITICAL CROSS FIELD OUTCOMES

A person in possession of the PDE is

1. Competent to identify, assess, formulate and solve convergent and divergent engineering problems creatively and innovatively
2. Competent to work effectively as an individual, in teams and in multidisciplinary environments showing leadership and performing critical functions
3. Competent to prioritise tasks and manage own time effectively
4. Competent to acquire and evaluate the requisite knowledge, information and resources: apply correct principles, evaluate and use design tools
5. Aware of and understands the requirements to maintain continued competence and to keep abreast of up-to-date tools and techniques
6. Competent to exercise judgement commensurate with knowledge and experience
7. Competent to apply scientific and technological knowledge critically and responsibly
8. Competent to view the world holistically and understand it as a set of related systems.

GENERAL OUTCOMES

A person in possession of the PDE is

Competent to apply knowledge of engineering sciences from first principles to solve engineering problems, involving the following performances:

a. Use the techniques, principles and laws of engineering science at a fundamental level and in at least one specialist area to:

i. Identify and solve open-ended engineering problems

ii. Identify and pursue engineering applications

iii. Work across engineering disciplinary boundaries through cross-disciplinary literacy and shared knowledge.

B. Competent to do investigations, experiments and data analysis, involving the following performances

a. Plan and conduct investigations and experiments using appropriate equipment

b. Analyse, interpret and derive information from data

c. Communicate the results of investigations and experiments effectively.

1. The assessment used for the PDE ensures that the purpose of the qualification is achieved.
2. A range of formative and summative assessment methods, such as simulations, demonstration of implemented designs, laboratory assignments, written and oral examinations is used.
3. The required range of modalities is used integratively to assess whether the specified outcomes have been achieved.
4. From the assessment of samples generalising to a domain takes place in a judicious and planned way in order to endure reliability.
5. The criterion used to assess the outcomes is largely whether the information and conceptual content of work the student submits for marking is accurate and valid and demonstrate the indicated performances adequately.
6. The student must demonstrate adequate integration of knowledge and the ability to pass engineering judgement in the capstone project.
7. The assessment used meets the standard and level of achievement for NQF level 7.

INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT

The programme is capped by an engineering project, which requires an integration of acquired knowledge.

The outcomes are assessed on the basis of practical demonstrations of results achieved, a written report and an oral presentation, which must clearly show that a thorough scientific process was followed arrive the results.