Civil Engineering October 2021 | Vol 29 No 9

6 October 2021 Civil Engineering CEO' s Corner B oth the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) are committed to raising awareness of what constitutes ethical and professional behavioural attributes. This is motivated by an ongoing regression in ethical and professional attributes which is preventing the future-fit transformation of our industry. Such professional attributes, if dominant in the way we practice, will contribute to the socio-economic changes needed to improve the quality of life in South Africa. The professional attributes required from our engineering practitioners are that we work with a predefined purpose so that our contributions serve the interests of the public and environment. This purpose must be internalised and lived by each one of us. In addition, such work must be done with integrity while we respect the needs of society and always honour the standing of the profession. In doing so we are able to remain sustainably excellent into the future to continue the good work required to progress our goals. As the world changes, we have to change and adapt our skills so that we continue to make progress relevant to the times, while promoting the concept of health and safety in the profession. Such attributes are not negotiable if we are to change our world for the better. In addition, we acknowledge that there are many factors working against those wanting to remain professional, exacerbated by an ex- tended period of maleficence, lack of care, negligence, and neglect by corporates and individuals alike. It has seen the onset of despondency by our accomplished individuals, professionals, young engineers and even scholars. Many practitioners across the civil engineering sub- sectors have become less tolerant, careless and selfish, which risks changing who we are in response to our perceived predicament. This article serves to achieve the realisation within ourselves that, irrespective of what our beliefs are, we are in this together as we are predominantly South Africans making contributions to South Africa. As practitioners in a profession, working against the morals and values that we stand for, working against our diversity, against our cultural values, against our colleagues, we will fail before we even start. As servants of our society, we are duty-bound to remain the pillar of hope for those we serve and in so doing resolve to remain professional in all that we do. We remain optimistic that, as a collective, we all would want to ensure that civil engineering practitioners adhere to the “rules and regulations” of the industry. Should we be purposeful in promoting the required attri- butes, compliance to such rules will become second nature and “obvious”. In addition, SAICE supports the promotion of such attri- butes through communication of thought leadership articles, including case studies, opinion pieces and dialogue sessions on professionalising the industry within all legs of the SAICE Growing Forward strategy. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION One of the current legs of the SAICE strategy is the active promo- tion of diversity and inclusivity which, if nothing else, brings to the fore the opportunity to realise the potential in our diversity, people, thoughts and perspectives, and to learn and experience while pro- gressing ourselves and businesses towards living the professional attributes. SAICE is committed to creating awareness and driving best practice guidelines for practitioners to ensure career develop- ment by facilitating input on diversity and inclusivity challenges. In the same breath, ECSA is committed to the enhanced demographic profile of council structures. SAICE and ECSA will join forces in facilitating conversations about diversity and inclusion to raise awareness among members since we and other industry players have committed effort to diversity and inclusion so that the industry can be transformed. More can be done! We are all different and our differences can generate different points of view. ECSA and SAICE work to ensure that all members feel like they belong where they are working. All our practitioners must form part of decision-making in organisations so that relevant transformation constructs can be advanced. HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING ECSA is committed to providing and implementing a framework for assurance of objectivity, best practices, and quality standards in education, training, and professional conduct in the engineering profession. In support, SAICE is committed to supporting universi- ties through various initiatives to improve quality and assist with capacity building by connecting academia with industry. ECSA and SAICE’s involvement in higher education and training works towards closing the knowledge and skills gap. Higher educa- tion institutions will have a relevant curriculum that is suitable for consumption by students. ECSA’s strategy also highlights the need to research the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) on new career or professional pathways and emerging careers. TECHNOLOGY Both institutions are actively working to leverage 21 st century digital technologies to advance work. Due to limitations, we have not been able to optimise technology as a country, however we need to do more to get a grasp of what 4IR is and how it is / will impact our industry. We see the technology space as the opportunity to promote the growth of our youth and transform our way of work. The first-mover advantage remains for Harmonising the concept of professionalism In considering the professionalisation of the civil engineering industry, SAICE’s CEO Vishaal Lutchman has teamed up with Mafule Moswane to discuss the personal and collective attributes required to ensure professionalism and improve the future for all South Africans.