1. Basic Requirements for an Engineer
Science/STEM
Good Communication Skills
Curiosity or explorative attitude
Ability to relate life to Science
Technical skills
Documentation
Encouragement from infancy for talented kids

2. Tertiary Requirement Risk Assessment skills Economics
Project based learning
Practical training
Practical based assessment
Lecturers with industry expertise/ experienced professionals
Need for quality control in Universities
Mentoring
Final year projects centered on solving practical industry/institutional problems
Use of industry experts in Final Project Supervision

3. Sharing of experience by successful past graduates
Use of Technology to give practical exposure

4. Industry Problems with Graduate Engineers
Lack of soft skills
Relevance of acquired Knowledge to industry needs.
Lack of commitment to job.
Focus on financial rewards (making money quick)
Poor collaboration between Industry and Academia
Disinterest in moving through the institutional ranks
Absence of analytical thinking

5. Challenges in Academia
Lack of feed back from Industry
High student to lecturer ratios
Government quotas
Conflict of parental interest versus student interest in course selection
Industry not big enough to absorb Engineer Graduates
Poor funding

6. Proposed Solutions Good collaboration between Industry and Academia
Need for practical exposure for Lecturers
Inclusion of total interpersonal skills development in course modules
On the job mentoring by experienced Engineers
Clear Career development paths for young Engineers at the work place
Use of Technology to provide practical experience eg. Simulators
Increase funding to Tertiary Institutions
National policy on industry attachment or internships
Safety and ethics training to include in courses