CPUT ND: Engineering: Electrical (Control Systems Stream) 

The engineering industry contributes to the technical, social, economical and environmental infrastructure of the country, leading to socio-economic growth. These qualifications are intended for technician and technologist level employment in industry. The framework of engineering qualifications develops the human resources essential for sustaining this profession.A person achieving a qualification will:

• Demonstrate well-rounded general engineering knowledge, of the main terms, procedures, principles and operations in the field of electrical and electronic engineering.
• Be able to follow developments in the field and critique the status of current knowledge.
• Be able to apply the knowledge gained to new situations, both concrete and abstract, in the workplace/community.
• Be able to gather evidence from primary sources and journals using effective retrieval skills, and organize, synthesize and present the information professionally in a mode appropriate to the audience.
• Have the ability to develop him/herself professionally.
• Be capable of independent decision-making taking into account the relevant technical, economic, social and environmental factors.
• Be able to work independently, and as a member of a team.
• Be equipped for further studies.
• Have met the academic requirements for registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).

Areas of Specialisation
The student will receive the NATIONAL DIPLOMA: ENGINEERING: ELECTRICAL, with subjects in the Control Systems stream:

Control Systems deals with theoretical and practical concepts in the measurement, acquisition and control of various manufacturing and/or refining processes. This sub-discipline places emphasis on the use of industryrelated techniques and tools such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), classic and modern control strategies and industry-standard software development tools in order to bring a level of optimisation and efficiency to the process at hand. Students have access to modern laboratory facilities allowing for the immediate application of theoretical concepts.

Purpose and Rationale of the qualification
A qualifying learner will be competent to apply technical knowledge, engineering principles and problem-solving techniques in the field of Electrical Engineering by operating within the relevant standards and codes in collaboration with other members of the engineering team. The qualified person will be able to register with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) as a Technician-in-Training in the field of Electrical Engineering.

Graduates apply proven techniques and procedures to the solution of practical engineering problems and carry a range of technical responsibilities. The career route offers challenging work in all areas of electrical engineering. Graduates are usually placed in one of five main areas, namely, Manufacturing, Commissioning and Maintenance, Design and Development, Consulting, and Sales.Graduates find employment at the following organisations:

MTN, Eskom, Tellumat, Caltex, Siemens, Vodacom, Telkom, Transtel, Grand West Casino, South African Weather Service, South African Observatory, Air Traffic and Navigation Services, Spoornet, amongst others.

Whilst the demand for Electrical Engineering graduates is high, the University encourages an entrepreneurial spirit amongst its students through the integration of appropriate business skills and incentives within the mainstream programme. The technical skills acquired should enable entrepreneurial minded individuals to identify and develop viable business entities.

Professional Registration
The ND: Engineering: Electrical is accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). Graduates will comply with the academic requirements for registration as a Professional Technician.

Note:
A system of pre-requisite subjects applies. Subjects at each level are compulsory.

Experiential learning may also be undertaken after completion of ten academic subjects.

Full-Time / Three years, including one year experiential learning

Course is offered on Bellville Campus.

Contact: Ms Cindy Engel (nee Davy)

Telephone: +27 21 959 6246

Fax: +27 21 959 6117

Email: engelcl@cput.ac.za