Projects As Socio-technical Systems in Engineering Education

This book presents the case for Project-Based Learning within Socio-Technical Systems in Engineering Education. The book highlights the importance of projects as Socio-Technical Systems as a means for supporting and enhancing international accreditation of engineering programs. Practical examples illustrate how Socio-Technical Systems are brought into the educational environment through Project-Based Learning. The book goes on to discusses the impact this may have on Engineering Education practice.

The work presented will enable engineering educators to develop curricula that can respond to societal needs, while also enhancing teaching and learning. It offers an approach to engineering education that centers on engaging scholars in projects that are located within socio-technical systems. University, government and industry leaders will gain from this book as it provides insight into strategic planning and partnership-building for Engineering Education.

We hope this book will further foster deep scholarship of research to ready engineering faculties for engaging responsibly with their surrounding communities.

Professor Johan Meyer is the Head of School of Electrical Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) at the University of Johannesburg (UJ). He holds a B.Ing (Electrical and Electronic Engineering), an M.Ing (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) and a D.Ing (Electrical Engineering) from the Randse Afrikaanse University. He has considerable experience in systems engineering stemming from his industrial work as systems engineering manager for a large avionics programme. He serves on the Faculty Science programme Committee and the Technical Programme Committee. He was instrumental in the design of the new Bachelor of Engineering Technology curriculum and advisor to the engineering programme accreditation committees of the engineering science and engineering technology programmes offered at the University of Johannesburg.

Dr. Zach Simpson is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at the University of Johannesburg. He holds a PhD in Education from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Zach has worked in the area of engineering education since 2009, during which time he has authored several journal articles, conference papers and book chapters. His work in this book reflects his background as an educationalist and the application thereof to the concerns of engineering study. For over eight years, Zach has worked with engineering educators on (re)developing curriculum and assessment to improve alignment of these with the requirements of the modern workplace; characterised as complex, dynamic and multidisciplinary. He has published work pertaining to cognitive demand, gender dynamics, assessment and the use of representations in engineering study.

Dr. Sune von Solms is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. She obtained a Ph.D in Computer Engineering in 2012, an M.Eng (Computer Engineering) Cum Laude in 2009 and a B.Eng (Computer and Electronic Engineering) Cum Laude in 2007 from the North-West University. Sune is a registered professional engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and a National Research Foundation (NRF) rated researcher. Her research interests include networks, engineering education and the social and human aspects of engineering. She is actively involved in engineering and community engagement projects within rural communities. Sune is part of the socio-technical team responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with partners in rural communities, exploring the needs of those partners, and designing and developing solutions for the rural communities.