Building a Sustainable Engineering Future: The Collaborative Effort of ECSA and Academic Institutions in Reducing Attrition in the Skills Pipeline

The engineering profession in South Africa plays a significant role in driving innovation, infrastructure development, and economic growth. However, there is high attrition rate within the engineering skills pipeline which impacts the development of a sustainable engineering workforce in the country. This study aimed to address high attrition rates using a multifaceted approach with the academic institutions and the Engineering Council of South Africa. A mixed methods research design was used and data was be collected through qualitative surveys and questionnaires. The sample included n=10 academic staff and n=263 registered engineering candidates. The qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis, while the quantitative data was analysed using SPSS. The study identified foundational gaps in basic education, institutional barriers and language proficiency as critical contributors to attrition. The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed no statistically significant differences for financial-related items. A recurring theme in the narratives was the call for ECSA to evolve beyond its current compliance-driven role and become a proactive enabler of transformation and socio-academic support. Based on the findings, the study recommends the development of strategies for enhancing the collaboration between ECSA and higher education institutions to foster a more sustainable engineering pipeline.