Key interventions in improving the throughput rate of Industrial Engineering undergraduates: a case study at the University of Johannesburg

Industrial engineering has moved beyond traditional manufacturing and its scope has expanded to include consulting, banking and healthcare. The demand for Industrial Engineers has increased significantly in South Africa and the Department of Home Affairs has classified Industrial Engineering as a critical and scarce skill. Currently, the fewest number of professionally registered engineers, technologists and technicians are in Industrial Engineering. The throughput of Industrial Engineering undergraduates has therefore become a primary focus of higher institutions in South Africa. This paper presents the key interventions employed by the Department of Industrial Engineering Technology at the University of Johannesburg to improve the throughput rate of its´ undergraduate students. Strategic interventions employed by the department increased the throughput rate of students in the National Diploma program by 100% in 2008; these included the development of an academic strategy for the department, appropriate curriculum redesign and an enabling student academic performance management system.