Improving employability skills of students through laboratory and practical work

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to discuss laboratory work and hands on training that will be offered in the new curriculum; Bachelor of Engineering Technology Degree (BEngTech) in Industrial Engineering Technology at the University of Johannesburg. The university has introduced a new 3 year curriculum, BEngTech, across its technology based programmes. The new curriculum will be rolled out for the first time in 2017. The university is currently phasing out the National Diploma and Bachelor of Technology degrees. The new BEngTech curriculum does not have the traditional one year Work Integrated Learning component that used to be part of the National Diploma, hence the need to include new practical based laboratories. The practical work in the new BEngTech degree has been designed to improve the employability of the BEngTech graduates..