WHAT IS CIVIL ENGINEERING AND WHO IS A CIVIL ENGINEER?
Civil Engineering is a broad field of engineering that deals with the planning, designing, construction, and maintenance of structures and altering nature to suit human needs. A Civil Engineer conceives, designs, builds, supervises, operates, constructs and maintains infrastructure projects and systems in the public and private sector.
WHERE DO CIVIL ENGINEERS WORK?
The following companies are typical of those to recruit graduates: MOPANI, FQM, KCM, Chambishi Metals; ZAF, Army, Civil service, NGOs, RDA, Utility companies (ZESCO, CEC, Lusemfwa, Water companies.), and many small construction companies.
WHAT TASKS ARE INVOLVED IN THE WORK?
Civil Engineers are needed to manage projects, to rebuild and upgrade bridges, roads, dams, airports, buildings, railways and structures of all types. Manage the repair, maintenance, and replacement of public and private infrastructure. In the design of the infrastructure, civil engineers use computer software’s to design and monitor all works.
WHAT IS THE WORK SCHEDULE OF A CIVIL ENGINEER?
Civil Engineers generally work in a variety of locations and conditions. It is common for them to split their time between working in an office and working outdoors at construction sites so that they can monitor operations or solve problems onsite. Most work full time. Civil Engineers who direct projects may need to work extra hours to monitor progress on the projects, to ensure that designs and constructions on site meet requirements, and to guarantee that deadlines are met.
WHAT DOES THE JOB MARKET LOOK LIKE?
The transport infrastructure, general municipal services and the construction industry in Zambia continue to demand local skills to ensure that such infrastructure and services are not only designed to internationally approved standards, but are also professionally constructed, managed and maintained.
Many Civil engineers hold supervisory or administrative positions ranging from supervisor of a construction site to city engineer, public work director and city manager. As earlier stated, civil engineers career opportunities are available in both the government departments as long as they have infrastructural designs, constructions and maintenances to be done such as at the town councils, roads departments, RDA etc. In private companies as well, there is a lot of construction works that need to be done and therefore civil engineers are needed even for the routine maintenance works, redesigns and constructions etc. Therefore, civil engineers can find a job in privately owned industry.
Civil engineers can work for consulting firms that either design infrastructure or that supervise infrastructure works or those that do both designs and construction supervision.
SALARY RANGES AND WHAT CONTROLS IT
An early career Civil Engineer with 1 – 4 years of experience earns an average total compensation of ZMK 11500 net. The salary rises due to the following factors; firstly, experience, position on that particular job, academic qualification, the company one is working for (government, private or a consultant firm).
WHAT SORT OF CAREER-PERSONALITY MATCH IS REQUIRED?
One with an innovative and inventive mind, with a very good background in mathematics and science. Nowadays designs are done on a computer using design software, therefore one has to be open to learning new skills in computer applications.
WHERE CAN I STUDY CIVIL ENGINEERING, FOR HOW LONG, TO EARN WHAT QUALIFICATION?
As a case for Zambia, one can study civil engineering from the following institutions; UNZA, CBU, and Mulungushi University and the program runs for 5 years. A diploma can be obtained only at CBU and it runs for 3 years.
WHAT SUBJECTS WILL THE PROGRAM COVER?
A variety of courses are covered from the time of entry till graduation time some of which are; Engineering Mathematics, Engineering Drawing, Survey, Geotechnical, Transportation and Highways, water and waste water, hydraulics, materials, Projects, Structures, fluid mechanics, Numerical Computing and Statistics, environmental Engineering, Construction Project Management etc.
WHAT MODES OF STUDY ARE AVAILABLE?
The program is offered on full time basis. However, CBU offers evening classes.
WHAT ARE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS?
Students are normally enrolled and admitted to the School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences for their first year as at CBU; where they do their Advanced Level Sciences. They go to the School of Engineering in their second year based on their performance. At this stage they do Fundamental Engineering Sciences at the end of which they get streamlined in the three Departments of the School – at third year. The Diploma students on the other hand, are enrolled directly to the School.
DIPLOMA
At least credits in Mathematics and English Language and any one science subject from: Science, Physical Science, Physics, Chemistry
Any two subjects from: Additional Mathematics, Biology, Economics/Principles of Accounts/Commerce, History, Literature in English, Art, Geometrical and Mechanical, Geography, A language other than English, Religious Knowledge
DEGREE
A candidate must have obtained at least five credits (or better – as is usually the case) in subjects in the Zambia School Certificate (or equivalent) as follows:
Group A: English, Mathematics and Science (OR either Physics or Chemistry) – three compulsory subjects
Group B: Any other two Subjects
Depending on the competitiveness of the program from year to year and institution to institution, these may vary.
WHAT OTHER PROGRAMS OF STUDY CAN MAKE SOMEONE A CIVIL ENGINEER?
Other programs that one can easily upgrade to Civil Engineering are as follows: diploma in construction, water engineering, and railway engineering. To be a civil engineer, you need to have studied Civil Engineering only.
WHAT IS THE FUTURE ADVANCED QUALIFICATIONS AVAILABLE AND WHY?
Some of the numerous subdivisions are transportation (e.g., railroad facilities, highways and tunnels in the ground); hydraulics (e.g., flood control, irrigation, drainage, water supply, and sewage disposal); structures (e.g., high rise buildings, factory buildings and bridges); and Geotechnical. One can decide to specialize in either of the mentioned sub-divisions and obtain a masters and consequently, a PhD.
Specialisation is important depending on where one finds themselves after graduation. If you find yourself working a lot with hydraulics, you might want to study a masters in hydraulics so that you compliment your work experience with more formal education to consolidate your understanding and become competitive in the job market.