Civil Engineering December 2022 | Vol 30 No 11

Civil Engineering December 2022 51 Q Q Advancing the Southern African economy by means of a sound road transport industry. Q Q Holding road-related seminars and conferences. Q Q Providing SARF bursaries and admin- istering IRF Fellowships. Q Q Presenting courses that offer CPD points and which are ECSA- and SACPCMP-accredited. SARF PO Box 8379, Birchleigh, 1621 T: +27 11 394 5634/ 1459, F: +27 11 394 7934 E: operations@sarf.org.za , W: www.sarf.org.za 48 Gladiator Street, Rhodesfield, Kempton Park NSTF (National Science and Technology Forum) The NSTF is a non-profit company that was established in 1995 as a result of the findings and recommendations of the CODESA Convention (Convention for a Democratic South Africa) in 1991. NSTF was initiated by government together with key stakeholders and role players. Its membership consists of organisations, and it represents wide-ranging expertise and experience in the SET (Science, Engineering and Technology) and in- novation community. SAICE has been a member for many years, and has been particularly active in pro SET – SAICE chaired this group for a number of years and still is a member. The main aims of the NSTF are to provide independent and neutral platforms for constructive interaction, discussion and debate between govern- ment and civil society on key priority areas of concern, including government policies to: 1. Promote collaboration and critical thinking to find solutions facilitating socio-economic development. 2. Gather stakeholders together, across the public and private sectors, to exchange knowledge and ideas, and put forward recommendations for Government and relevant authorities. 3. Contribute towards the renewal of SET and innovation systems through youth interventions. 4. Celebrate, recognise and reward excel- lence within the SET and innovation sector. The NSTF comprises the following sectors: Q Q Science councils and statutory bodies Q Q Small, medium and large businesses, as- sociations and state-owned enterprises Q Q Civil society and labour Q Q Higher education sector Q Q Professional bodies and learned societies; the sector is represented by pro SET (Professionals in Science, Engineering and Technology). pro SET represents 40 organisations, institutes and associations who themselves represent professionals in various specialised SET and innovation fields. Notable among the membership are professionals in various branches of engineering, as well as education specialists in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and research. pro SET focuses especially on the following: Q Q Facilitating cooperation among profes- sional organisations regarding SET and education Q Q Facilitating and contributing to im- proved SET education Q Q Promoting the image of all SET practitioners. Further pro SET activities include: Q Q The STEMulator: An online platform is now live ( www.‌stemulator.org ) . It is a virtual exploratorium of animated STEM educational exhibitions, de- signed to ignite a spark of curiosity in young minds. In the STEMulator one can explore how things work, and the science and engineering behind them, including STEM careers. Q Q Member booklet: The booklet is a pro SET guide to the South African professional SET landscape. It is meant to assist with understanding the SET environment and the roles of the various SET professions active in these fields. Q Q Members under the proSET sector can apply annually for grants for qualifying projects. These are subject to specific requirements and criteria. NSTF PO Box 9823, Pretoria, 0001 T: +27 12 841 3987 E: enquiries@nstf.org.za, awards@nstf.org.za W: www.nstf.org.za Room S-140, Building 33, CSIR Campus, Meiring Naude Road, Brummeria, Pretoria PROTEC (Programme for Technological Careers) PROTEC is a national, independent, non-profit educational service provider that was started in 1982, in Soweto, in order to help school learners from disadvantaged communities to prepare for, embark on and enter into careers in science, engineering and technology. The early success of the project soon led to its expansion into a national programme, and by 1990 there were PROTEC programmes running in 26 disadvantaged communi- ties throughout South Africa, providing supplementary education for Grades 10, 11 and 12 learners, as well as teacher training and curriculum support in the targeted subjects of Mathematics, Physical Sciences, English and World of Work (life orientation). This model is unique in that it is made up of both learner and teacher development components, and also entails developing material for teaching and learning that is additional to what learners receive as textbooks at their schools. Through these efforts, more students are being adequately equipped for and exposed to the ever-expanding range of technological careers. PROTEC is an active member of the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF), and is also recognised as a UNESCO cooperating organisation. Currently, PROTEC is based in Randburg, Johannesburg, and has a network of nine branches and seven projects in six prov- inces throughout the country. PROTEC PO Box 619, Randburg, 2125 T: +27 11 339 1451 E: info@protec.org.za , W: www.protec.org.za 364 Pretoria Road, Unit 4 & 5 The Ferns, Ferndale, Randburg ASOCSA (Association of Schools of Construction of Southern Africa) ASOCSA is not the first attempt to form a body that addresses, inter alia , matters of construction education and training. In the days of the Building Industries Federation South Africa and the National Development Fund there were regular annual meetings of the Heads of Departments that offered construction- related programmes. Recognising the two-tiered higher education sector in South Africa, there were separate meetings for universities and the former technikons. In the more recent past, the Chartered Institute of Building (Africa) initially convened annual educators’