A Telecommunications Engineer researches, designs and develops new telecommunications systems and products.
Where To Study Telecommunication Engineering In South Africa?
Below is the list of universities in South Africa to study telecommunication engineering.
Telecommunications | Department of Electrical Engineering UCT
UP School of Engineering Telecommunications
Electronic and Computer Engineering | Durban University of Technology
What is Telecommunication course?
The course descriptions here detail some commonly offered courses in telecommunication technology. Fundamental Telecommunications Concepts is a foundation course in the concepts, history and major technologies of telecommunications. It provides a broad look that prepares students for more in-depth, specialized classes.
What does a Telecommunications Engineer do?
A telecom engineer;
- researches telecommunication products and systems (wired, fibre optical and wireless)
- designs new products, networks and systems
- supplies and advice on telecommunication devices and systems
- organises maintenance
- adheres to quality and safety standards
How To become a Telecommunications Engineer In South Africa?
OPTION 1
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
or
Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical or Electronic)
- University of Cape Town
- University of Johannesburg
- University of KZN
- University of Pretoria
- University of Stellenbosch
- University of Witwatersrand
OPTION 2
Bachelor of Electronic Engineering
- Workplace experience (register as a Candidate Engineer with ECSA)
- Professional review by ECSA
- Designation: Only engineers registered with ECSA may use the title Professional Engineer.
Other names for Telecommunications Engineer:
Broadcast Engineer
DSP Designer
Engineer Communications
Fibre Optics Engineer
Radar Engineer
Radio and Telecommunications Engineer
Radio Engineer
RF Designers (Tx and Rx)
Satellite Transmission Engineer
Signal Processing Engineer
Signal Systems Engineer
Signaling and Communications Engineer
The Engineering Council Of South Africa ECSA
The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) is a statutory body established in terms of the Engineering Profession Act (EPA), 46 of 2000. The ECSA’s primary role is the regulation of the engineering profession in terms of this Act. Its core functions are the accreditation of engineering programmes, registration of persons as professionals in specified categories, and the regulation of the practice of registered persons.
Consequently, the ECSA is the only body in South Africa that is authorised to register engineering professionals and bestow the use of engineering titles, such as Pr Eng, Pr Tech Eng, Pr Techni Eng, Pr Cert Eng, on persons who have met the requisite professional registration criteria.
Why Register With ECSA?
BENEFITS AS INDIVIDUAL
Peer Recognition
By registering you receiverecognition from the ECSA’s committees that you meet the minimum requirements expected of a professional person. This recognition extends to colleagues, as well as all other practitioners in the profession.
Public Confidence
The professional recognition you receive by becoming a member of the ECSA instils a sense of confidence in the mind of the public, since they can be assured that your competence has been assessed by other professionals (knowledgeable in your field of expertise).
Membership of Certain Voluntary Associations
Many institutions, for example the SA Institution for Civil Engineering, requires that you be registered as a Professional Engineer before you can be granted corporate membership.
International Recognition
The ECSA is a co-signatory to the “Washington Accord” – an agreement in which the registering bodies of countries such as Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Ireland recognise each other’s accredited university degrees in engineering. This not only confirms that your academic qualification is internationally acceptable, but also enhances your marketability.
MarketabilityMore and more employers are requiring registration with the ECSA as a prerequisite for appointment to certain engineering positions. If you do not register, you will find it increasingly difficult to find employment in responsible engineering positions.
Exclusive Use of Reserved Names
When you register, the Act entitles you to use a particular name (and abbreviation), describing your particular type of registration – such as Professional Engineer (Pr Eng). Using any of these reserved names or abbreviations, if you are not registered with the ECSA, is a criminal offense.
Statutory Empowerment
The Engineering Profession Act, 2000, (Act 46 of 2000) as well as other Acts, provide for the reservation of work of an engineering nature for the exclusive performance by registered persons. While compulsory registration under Act 46 of 2000 is still being developed, examples of work reservation in terms of other legislation can be found in:
- National Water Act, 1998 (Act 36 of 1998) (section 11(7)) – in terms of which an approved professional person must be “approved” before being permitted to undertake certain dam safety related tasks;
- National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, 1977 and regulations, in terms of which a “competent person” is defined as a person registered with the ECSA;
- Lifts, Escalators and Passenger Conveyor Regulations promulgated in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993.
BENEFITS FOR EMPLOYERS
ConfidenceYou can be assured of the professionalism of your staff. Since not all employers necessarily have an engineering background, registration is widely regarded as an additional and objective indication of competence.
RecourseIn the event of improper conduct by an employee registered with the ECSA, employers can lodge a complaint with the ECSA. “Improper conduct” is defined as ranging from incompetence to gross negligence. The ECSA will then investigate the complaint on its own merits and take appropriate action. An employer’s benefit lies in the fact that a finding of “guilty” by the ECSA may provide grounds for dismissal.
MarketabilityThe public – potential clients – respond well to the fact that an organisation employs professional people as a matter of principle.
Compliance
Legislation, such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 and Regulations, holds employers responsible for the safety of their employees. By appointing an appropriately registered person, the employer not only takes appropriate action aimed at safeguarding the public, but is also complying with statutory requirements.
BENEFITS FOR THE PROFESSION
Professional Status
Systems of professional registration are common in South Africa, and across the world, and are generally recognised as conferring professional status onto those registered under said system. The ECSA provides the only recognised registration system for engineering in South Africa – recognised both locally and abroad, as well as by other professions.
Public Recognition
The informed public recognises the value of professional registration, for the same reasons as in inter-professional recognition; it affords them an additional measure of protection and “peace of mind”.
BENEFITS FOR THE COUNTRY
Public Safety
The ECSA sees itself in partnership with the State as, apart from precautionary measures taken by the State in its own right, registration serves as an additional safeguard against unsafe practices. This is the engineering profession’s contribution towards promoting public safety, health and interests.
Professional Standards
Ever-increasing globalisation, and South Africa’s participation in it, has made it critical for this country to become competitive at an international level. Registration with an organisation contributes substantially to this process, and the ECSA’s continued international recognition is a very important part of the maintenance of high standards.
International Recognition
Due to the ECSA’s efforts, South Africa is recognised by many other nations as an engineering “powerhouse”, which has distinct political and socio-economic advantages for the country.
ECSA REGISTRATION CATEGORIES
The categories in which a person may register in the engineering profession are:
(a) Professional, which is divided into:
- Professional Engineer;
- Professional Engineering Technologist;
- Professional Certificated Engineer; or
- Professional Engineering Technician.
(b) Candidate, which is divided into:
- Candidate Engineer;
- Candidate Engineering Technologist;
- Candidate Certificated Engineer; or
- Candidate Engineering Technician.
(c) Specified Categories, prescribed by the council (2) A person may not practice in any of the categories contemplated in subsection (1), unless he or she is registered in that category.
The Professional Category consists of Professional Engineers, Professional Engineering Technologists, Professional Certificated Engineers and Professional Engineering Technicians.
The Candidate Category only provides for the registration of persons who meet the academic requirements for registration in the Professional Categories referred to above and who are undergoing professional development (preferably) under a Commitment and Undertaking.
It should be noted that all persons who are registered for example as “Engineers in Training” can automatically refer to themselves as “Candidate Engineers”. The Specified Category provides for the registration of persons who cannot register in the professional category, but who perform critically important work of an engineering nature which has a direct impact on public safety and health e.g. “Lift Inspectors”.