IEC: Becoming an Engineer

In this episode, we explore the BambaSonke Design Challenge , a collaborative initiative developed with Engineers Without Borders South Africa that brings real community challenges into engineering classrooms. Joined by Robyn Clark , Nicky Wolmarans , Bronwyn Swartz , and Disa Mogashana , we hear how the challenge has been adapted across three South African universities to develop students’ techni...

In this episode, we speak with Prof. Schalk Els , whose nearly three decades with the University of Pretoria’s Baja team have shown that building a vehicle can be about much more than engineering design. Schalk reflects on creating student-led environments where aspiring engineers are trusted with real responsibility, learn from one another, take managed risks, and discover what they are capable o...

In this special episode, our hosts Prof. Lelanie Smith and Dr. Reuben Govender turn the conversation towards themselves, sharing the personal and professional journeys that brought them from mechanical engineering into engineering education. They reflect on teaching, mentorship, curriculum design, and the experiences that shifted their understanding of engineering from a primarily technical discip...

In this episode, we speak with Prof. Corrinne Shaw , whose work bridges engineering management, systems thinking, and engineering education. Drawing on her research and experiences in South Africa, Corrinne explores how systems shape the way we teach, learn, and practise engineering, challenging us to question assumptions about power, transformation, and responsibility. Together, we discuss what i...

In this episode, we speak with Prof. Zach Simpson , whose work explores the evolving nature of engineering education, academic development, and the everyday complexities of curriculum practice. Drawing on a journey that began in educational linguistics, Zach reflects on questions of identity, belonging, and the often invisible work involved in supporting engineering academics through change. Toget...

In this episode, we are joined by Prof. Jenni Case , whose work has played a foundational role in shaping Engineering Education Research in South Africa. From her early experiences in academic development at UCT to her leadership in establishing initiatives such as CREE and SASEE, Jenni reflects on the evolution of the field and the complexities of teaching and learning in engineering. Drawing on...

In this episode, we speak with Dr Disa Mogashana, whose work explores how identity, structure, and access shape success in engineering education. Drawing on her own experiences as a student and her research on cultural capital and student agency, Disa reflects on the often invisible systems that determine who thrives in university spaces and who must work harder simply to belong. Our conversation...

This episode explores how engineering students navigate the emotional, institutional, and cultural realities of university life. Our guest, Prof. Curwyn Mapaling — a psychologist working in Engineering Education — shares insights from his research into student resilience in South African institutions. Together, we examine how identity, emotion, and institutional culture shape the learning journey,...

In this episode, Prof. Karin Wolff, a distinguished researcher and educator in the field of engineering education, joins us to discuss the current landscape of engineering education research in South Africa, the intersection of academic and industry expectations, and emerging opportunities for growth in the field. Links: Epistemic Plane: https://youtu.be/igUFNGQIw98 Semantic Wave & Cumulative...

In this episode, we speak with Prof. Bruce Kloot about the complex relationships between engineering, society, history, and ethics. Drawing on his background in engineering, anthropology, and critical sociology, Bruce explores how power, identity, and historical context shape both engineers and the worlds they create. From extended degree programmes to engineers’ roles under apartheid, this conver...