NEWS
CCSA initiative : Concrete careers for KZN civil engineering students
CCSA
The KZN branch of Cement & Concrete SA ( CCSA ) has launched a ‘ Careers in Concrete ’ initiative in which two University of KZN civil engineering students will be awarded experiential work opportunities at concrete-related enterprises in the province .
The selected students will be given the opportunity of gaining hands-on experience during university vacations at the Durban operations of Contest and Naidu Consulting . Contest , established in 1984 , is a leading KZN service provider in concrete testing and technology , while Naidu Consulting is a respected national consulting engineering firm established in 1999 .
Kevin Volmink , chairperson of the CCSA KZN branch , said the branch was planning to establish a Student Chapter of CCSA at the University of KZN to organise concrete events for BSc Civil Engineering students and stimulate interest in concrete-related careers .
Kevin Volmink , chairperson of the KZN branch of Cement & Concrete SA which is planning to establish a CCSA Student Chapter at the University of KZN .
Speaking at the online launch of ‘ Careers in Concrete ’, Dr Moses Kiliswa , senior lecturer at the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of KZN , said the concrete industry offered diverse career opportunities for qualified civil engineers who would inevitably have to deal with concrete issues throughout their careers . “ It has become important , however , to acquire specialist skills in fields such as concrete research , durability , rehabilitation , and design , as this would boost your status in the industry and could make you a sought-after specialist consultant ,” he told the dozens of students who attended the event .
Kerusha Ayer , from Naidu Consulting , summarised some of the wide-ranging concrete projects the company was currently involved in , including conducting tests to determine remedial measures for deteriorating bridge structures in KZN . “ The tests include establishing compressive strength , durability , thickness of concrete cover , chloride profiling , and carbonisation . We have found that carbonisation was a major factor in the deterioration of the concrete bridges . As consulting engineers , we then must decide on the appropriate repair methods . This is typical of the important infrastructural preservation role you will perform in a career in concrete ,” Ayer told the students .
Donovan Leach , of Contest , said concrete testing is another vital aspect of civil engineering and offered enormous career opportunities . “ This is why Contest offered internship for a selected student . Contest is , for example , currently involved in concrete testing for collapsed structures for the Department of Labour among other projects affecting the national economy ,” Leach stated , urging students to join organisations such as CCSA , to make full use of networking to boost their careers .
Salome Naicker , SANRAL project manager in KZN , cautioned the civil engineering students that the first five years of employment after graduation were likely to determine their individual specialised fields . “ So , it is important that you weigh up all the options before joining your first employer ,” she stated , before outlining some of the major roadbuilding and rehabilitation projects SANRAL was now handling throughout South Africa to further illustrate the importance of careers in concrete .
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