Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Engineering programmes at the University of Zululand (UNIZULU) got an inside look into the world of engineering this week as the second Engineering Week programme was held in the Richards Bay Campus.
From receiving advice on how to navigate the workspace as young professionals to interacting with industry personnel and gaining knowledge on fail-safe study tips, the engineering students have been exposed to it all.
Among the salient points that were shared was that one’s character far outweighs their academic accolades when entering the workplace. This was expressed by Ellen Shezi, an electrical engineering expert with 18 years of experience.
She said, “One thing that I realised when I entered the workplace is that nobody cares about your accolades. Nobody cares whether you have a first-class honours degree, whether you were at the bottom of the class or in the middle or were average. What we care about in the workplace is your attitude. Do you have a teachable spirit? What do you bring to the table?”
Shezi further advised the attendees to focus on five areas that will give them an edge over their counterparts:
- Strong critical thinking ability. This entails looking ahead and formulating a contingency plan to avoid taking decisions under pressure.
- Adaptability and level of resilience. When trouble strikes or one encounters a situation that forces you out of your comfort zone, logical thinking and agility need to apply.
- Ethics. Decisions engineers make can have a lasting impact on society. Therefore, it is paramount that their decision making is based on good ethical principles- no shortcuts.
- Decisiveness. This speaks to making decisions when prompted to and not being equivocal. If the decision one makes has adverse results, the key is to learn from the mistake and ensure it is not repeated.
- Communication. This involves communicating with clarity across multiple disciplines and diverse cultures.
From three other women engineers, the students learned about the importance of identify career mentors who will help steer them in their desired paths. Self-confidence and strong interpersonal skills also featured prominently during the talks this week.
Tomorrow’s sessions will include a networking opportunity followed by an exhibition.
About Engineering Week
The annual Engineering Week was initiated by the Department of Engineering in 2024. It seeks to motivate students in the University’s various engineering academic programmes by inviting experts in either the electrical, mechanical, mechatronic or computer engineering spaces to share important industry insights as a way of preparing the future engineers for their dynamic fields.
– Naledi Hlefane
Pictures: Samkele Sokhela
