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Skills drought in the Water sector Track B feedback
27 Sept 2016
Dr Marius Claasen, CSIR: Material sciences/Smart skills
• One cannot learn how to deal with complexity from a textbook.
• Model: Dealing with complexity: scenarios for decision-making paradigms – Extent to which paradigms are able to deal with complexity, against extent of sensitivity to sustainability.
• Model: Complexity combined with ordered and unordered situations…
Implications for skills required…
• Both tertiary education AND experience. Some types of learning cannot be learned except through experience.
• Typical project team in complex environments is composed of many diverse specialists
• Socio-economic activities impact water resources. Water resources in turn benefit socio-economic activities.
Smart skills
• In-depth specialisation
• ‘As quickly as possible, but no quicker’! Science is not quick. Requires lots of experience, and diverse experiences.
• Linked skills – transdisciplinary
• Space to explore and grow
Innovation: the classic traps
1. Strategic mistakes: hurdles too high/ scope too narrow
2. Process mistakes: controls too tight
3. Structure mistakes: Connections too loose/ etc
4. Skills mistakes: leadership too weak/ communication poor/ etc
Dr Keneiloe Sikhwivhilu, Mintek DST/Mintek Nanotech Innovation Centre • Nanotechnology is multi-disciplinary – and
research teams tend to be from various disciplines
• Nanotech can be used to remove pollutants from water, that can’t be done by conventional means, incl heavy metals, pathogens, and organic pollutants
• Advantages over conventional filtration membranes: much more effective; less energy required; no build-up of bacteria or chemicals
Potential of nanotech
• Nanotech used to achieve desalination (UCLA) – already commercially available
• Promising results for treating AMD – even Calcium and Magnesium can be removed more effectively.
• Possible to coat interiors of water storage or transport containers, preventing contamination
• Nanotech has the big advantage that it can be applied at any scale – from household scale to bulk water
Implications for skills -
• More funding for the Centre’s research (more postgrads would be trained)
• Students should be aware of nanotech and its potential
• Variety of specialisations can be involved in nanotech research
• Innovation skills
Dr Henk van Tonder, SAIIE
• Industrial engineers (IE) are generalists. They are systems designers, and make it possible for other engineers to do their work more effectively.
• IE and Sytems Engineering: involves multiple disciplines – incl social sciences, financial aspects, information, policies, & processes
• IE recognised as a No 8 Scarce Skill by the DHET
Employment of Industrial Eng’s
• Employment of IE’s: largest group in manufacturing, then finance
• Only about 1% in Water sector
• In USA, 40% are in Health sector
• In SA the top employer of IE is Sasol, the second is Transnet
• Many IE’s are in logistics, which is becoming increasingly competitive
• A substantial group in Operations Research
Potential of IE
• IE design intelligent systems (incl financial systems)
• There should be scope to employ IE’s and IE technicians in the Water sector. They would assist with systems development and support, optimisation of processes and procedures, planning and management, etc.
Way forward (re IE)
1. “Sell” IE to the water sector, and vv.
2. Vocational training for candidate IE’s. It is a challenge to place them for practical training.
3. Financial support for students
4. Very few research topics for final year students. It would help if IE students were familiar with the water sector, and vv.
Track B Conclusions
From Dr Claasen, CSIR:
• Students should learn how to deal with complexity, and this is best done through experience
• In-depth specialisation is still best
• Linked skills – transdisciplinary
• Space to explore and grow
• Guidance re innovation skills
Track B Conclusions (cont)
From Dr Sikhwivhilu:
• Nanotech, being a cutting-edge field of research, with huge potential in the water sector, should be supported & postgrads involved
• Variety of disciplines are involved
• Innovation is involved
Track B Conclusions (cont 2)
From Dr Van Tonder:
• Students should be made aware of IE
• IE should be promoted to sectors which do not traditionally make use of IE’s, incl Water
• IE involves a valuable skills set for the future, particularly for designing robotic and IT systems
• Provide financial support & vocational training opportunities for IE students
Track B Recommendations
• DHET & DST: More post-grad students, and a variety of scientists should be trained
• Share know-how re student training & mentorship with research institutions
• DST & DWS: Nanotech research should be supported even more – given its potential to address water issues & train postgraduates in multi-disciplinary teams with an innovation focus
• DST & DWS: Industrial engineers should be recruited to work in the water sector, training & registration of IE’s should be supported
