Civil Engineering August 2022 | Vol 30 No 7

T he South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE) recently launched its innovative SAICE Connect portal which aims to assist SAICE members with access to employment opportunities. The portal offers a faster, more controlled method for employers and job-seekers to engage within the civil engi- neering and built environment industry. SAICE Connect is an active response from SAICE to address its members’ needs following the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly with regards to the challenge of unemployment. Speaking at the webinar launch of SAICE Connect, Nthabeleng Lentsoane, SAICE’s Head of Marketing, noted, “While online platforms allow recruiters to advertise job vacancies, the disadvantage is that anyone will apply. With SAICE Connect, recruiters can find candidates suitably qualified for the job, making the recruitment process shorter and tailored.” For employees, the portal allows members to upload their resumes for recruiters to view. It offers job seekers several employment options including vacation work, post-varsity work, part- time and full-time employment vacancies and contract opportunities. MENTORING The Connect portal also offers engineers a valuable tool – the SAICE Mentorship Programme. The programme focuses on final year engineering students and recently qualified engineers. The webinar facilitator, Innocentia Mahlangu, SAICE’s Education & Training Panel Chairperson and Chairperson of the SAICE Diversity and Inclusivity pillar, said her mentors helped her achieve career success. “I can attest to the importance of mentorship. I’m excited to see that SAICE has developed a solution to assist civil engineering professionals looking to advance their careers.” Graduates need guidance from expe- rienced civil engineering professionals on various engineering career paths. Phathi Masimirembwa, the Grow SAICE Champion added, “The objective of the mentorship programme is to advise and motivate mentees. For recent graduates, a mentor can be a soundboard for impor- tant career decisions.” The programme is also open to SAICE members who want to become mentors. Included in the SAICE Connect launch was a key focus of the SAICE education and training wing, the SAICE Academy, which remains focused on the growth and develop- ment of SAICE members. “Everybody has a puzzle piece missing, no matter where they are along their career path. The aim of the SAICE Academy is to help you to build your career – one puzzle piece at a time,” says TomMcKune, SAICE Head of Training. The SAICE Connect portal and the SAICE Academy provide great opportuni- ties for members to connect with employers and mentors and also to grow their careers. The Connect portal is free for both mem- bers and recruiters, and it can be accessed at www.saice.org.za/saice-connect .   SAICE Connect links recruiters and civil engineering job seekers Civil Engineering August 2022 53 Course Name Course Dates Location CPD Accreditation No Course Presenter Contact Getting Acquainted with General Conditions of Contract for Construction Works (GCC 2015) 8–9 September 2022 Online CESA-1575-04/2022 Theuns Eloff Register: store.saice.org.za/ training-courses lizelle@saicepdp.org Getting Acquainted with Road Construction and Maintenance 17–18 November 2022 Online CESA-1576-04/2022 Credits: 2 ECSA Theuns Eloff Getting Acquainted with Sewer Design 15–16 September 2022 Online CESA-1577-04/2022 Credits: 2 ECSA Andrew Brodie Getting Acquainted with Water Resource Management 28–29 November 2022 Midrand SAICEwat21/02986/24 Credits: 2 ECSA SAICEEL20/02755/23 (Online) Stephen Mallory Pressure Pipeline and Pump Station Design and Specification – A‑ Practical Overview 4 & 6 October 2022 Online CESA-1578-04/2022 Credits: 2 ECSA Dup van Renen Road to Registration for Candidate Engineers, Technologists and Technicians 8 September 2022 Online CESA-1579-04/2022 Credits: 1 ECSA Allyson Lawless Stewart Gibson Phathi Masimirembwa 22 November 2022 Online Road to Registration for Mature Engineers, Technologists and Technicians 24 August 2022 Online CESA-1641-10/2022 Credits: 1 ECSA Stewart Gibson Phathi Masimirembwa 20 October 2022 Online Road to Registration for Mentors, Supervisors and HR Practitioners 18 October 2022 Online CESA-1580-04/2022 Credits: 1 ECSA Allyson Lawless The direct route to registration as a Construction Project Manager or Construction Manager 29 August 2022 Online CESA-2052-12/2024 Jeffrey Pipe 14 November 2022 Online A detailed guide to registration as a Construction Project Manager or Construction Manager 22–23 September 2022 Online TBC Jeffrey Pipe In-house courses are available. To arrange, please contact: Cheryl-Lee Williams (cheryl -lee@saice.org.za) on 011 805 5947. For SAICE-hosted Candidate Academy in-house courses, please contact: Lizélle du Preez (lizelle@saicepdp.org) on 011 476 4100 or 072 356 5230. Register online: www.saice.org.za  | All dates are subject to change SAICE-PDP / Candidate Academy 2022