Basic Requirements for an Engineer Science/STEM Good Communication Skills Curiosity or explorative attitude Ability to relate life to Science Technical skills Documentation Encouragement from infancy for talented kids

Tertiary Requirement Risk Assessment skills Economics Project based learning Practical training Practical based assessment Lecturers with industry expertise/ experienced professionals Need for quality control in Universities Mentoring Final year projects centered on solving practical industry/institutional problems Use of industry experts in Final Project Supervision

Sharing of experience by successful past graduates Use of Technology to give practical exposure

Industry Problems with Graduate Engineers Lack of soft skills Relevance of acquired Knowledge to industry needs. Lack of commitment to job. Focus on financial rewards (making money quick) Poor collaboration between Industry and Academia Disinterest in moving through the institutional ranks Absence of analytical thinking

Challenges in Academia Lack of feed back from Industry High student to lecturer ratios Government quotas Conflict of parental interest versus student interest in course selection Industry not big enough to absorb Engineer Graduates Poor funding

Proposed Solutions Good collaboration between Industry and Academia Need for practical exposure for Lecturers Inclusion of total interpersonal skills development in course modules On the job mentoring by experienced Engineers Clear Career development paths for young Engineers at the work place Use of Technology to provide practical experience eg. Simulators Increase funding to Tertiary Institutions National policy on industry attachment or internships Safety and ethics training to include in courses