"Government's education policy favouring equalisation is popular and socially acceptable, but if this is done at the expense of allowing engineering education to suffer, industry will not be able to compete against the world's best internationally," commented Helmuth Fischer, managing director of Circuit Breaker Industries (CBI) at a signing ceremony at Wits University. "Only the best people, best products, best processes, and best service at competitive prices would allow a company to survive and grow in a global market," he added. "Therefore, Industry's approach has to be one of retaining high levels of excellence as opposed to the egalitarian socialistic tendencies in many spheres of South African society these days.
"A professor in electrical engineering at Wits University is earning less than a product manager at CBI," said Fischer, "and in view of attractive offers from overseas, the high crime rate and limited career opportunities, it is surprising that some of those teachers are still around." Fischer blames uncoordinated policies for many ills. "The Department of Trade and Industry is pushing manufacturers to benchmark themselves globally on the one hand, but on the other hand this is not supported by budget allocations of the Education Department and remuneration levels at the technical faculties of our universities. The Department of Home Affairs contributes its bit by keeping desperately needed skills away from the country and the industry.
"In the end," claims Fischer, "industry is again called upon to fill the gap, for which the companies are paying tax in the first instance. When approached for financial assistance by Prof Jandrell and Prof Landy from the School of Electrical and Information Engineering at Wits, I gladly obliged, realising that CBI cannot be successful in the long run if the source of good engineering talent dries up. Very few people realise that a loss of those teachers would create irreversible damage to our country's ability to develop technology which we can export."
CBI has entered into a sponsorship agreement with the University of the Witwatersrand spanning a five-year period, sponsoring a Chair in the School of Electrical and Information Engineering called 'The CBI Chair of Lightning'. According to Fischer this sponsorship would be worth approximately two million rand. "CBI had recently acquired a company for the supply of lightning and surge protection equipment, the technology of which had been developed in close cooperation with Wits University." Says Fischer, "All types of electronic devices are entering our households and offices in ever increasing numbers. Considering that the Witwatersrand has one of the highest lightning densities in the world, it would be logical that excellence around surge and lightning protection should evolve here."
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Prof Ian Jandrell, Head of the School of Electrical and Information Engineering pointed out that it was no longer possible to either attract or retain excellent staff within the School without support such as that received from CBI. "This partnership," commented Jandrell, "really symbolises the joint commitment to the future of this country by two great South African organisations - Circuit Breaker Industries and the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg." The School is well recognised for the excellent education it provides. But, notes Jandrell, this is because of the excellent staff within the School. "At just about the time that my staff are becoming truly valuable, obtaining their PhDs and getting established as researchers and teachers, financial pressures and the immense pulling force of industry, sees them lost to our School and academia." Speaking at a time when the differential between industry and academic salaries is rapidly widening, Jandrell emphasised that it was through partnerships like this that we will succeed as a country.
For more information: Helmuth Fischer, Circuit Breaker Industries, 011 928 2000.
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