Higher engineering education in the 21st century. (June 2003)

The national system of innovation (NSI) framework resulted from a need to understand the determinants for success in regions and countries. Higher education institutions (HEIs) are one of the most important actors in an NSI, and are linked into a web with other structures and organisations. The triple helix model captures the interaction and co-development between government, industry, and tertiary institutions and it can have positive implications for the whole region, if implemented successfully. University systems developed differently in different countries, with culture, local politics, financial environments and personalities playing an important part. Even in "new world" countries, the ethos and traditions of universities can be traced back thousands of years. Even a superficial investigation shows that universities worldwide underwent dramatic upheavals during the past decade. The paper outlines the forces impacting on universities and on the different strategies developed to ensure sustainability. The role of HEIs in the NSI changed, with new responsibilities added to teaching and research. The paper highlights the new responsibilities, and shows to what level HEIs in South Africa are fulfilling their (new) expected roles. A recent QFD study provides interesting insights into the requirement for tertiary engineering education in South Africa. Some findings of the study are presented and the implications for engineering programmes discussed