Focusing on the Factors Influencing Learners' Decisions to Follow a Career in Engineering in South Africa

In recent years a steady decline has been noted in student enrolment at South African Universities of
Technology’s (UoT) Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE). Small numbers of
South African pupils have been matriculating with Mathematics as a subject, and most of them have
been underperforming. Since there has been no scientific evidence to date on which recruitment and
guidance efforts work best for attracting quality learners for courses in engineering at UoT, the study
sought to identify the factors that influence learners’ choice of engineering as a career. This
information could assist in the design of an evidence-based recruitment and marketing model. A
single-case explanatory study design was used for the study, since it focused on the UoTs. A
quantitative and qualitative study was completed by means of inputs from first-year extended
curriculum engineering programme students at a selected UoT. The data was analysed using the
Statistical Package for the Study of Social Sciences (SPSS). By studying the qualitative data from
more than one viewpoint, the quantitative findings were verified and triangulated. The influences that
played a role in learners’ career choices were identified. Thematic clusters emerged as stimulation or
creation of an awareness of or interest in engineering, the influences of different people on learners’
career choices, relevant exposure to careers in engineering, the huge impact of Mathematics and
Science teachers on learners’ career decision-making, method of teaching, employability and the
image and reputation of an institution. It became evident that engineering faculties themselves need
to assume responsibility for the recruitment of their students. Copying seems to be the main coping
strategy in most institutions regarding marketing and recruitment engagements. Although many of
UoTs’ current marketing and recruitment actions were on par with the rest of the world, alternative
actions were identified and implemented in the model.