Investigating the Efficacy of the New Bachelor of Engineering Technology Degree in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Durban University of Technology

Abstract

In 2018, the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) introduced a Bachelor of Engineering Technology (BET) degree, alongside Master’s (MEng) and Doctorate (DEng) degrees. For strategic reasons, the department, when aligning its programs with the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF), replaced the National Diploma with the BET. This paper evaluates the academic success of Mechanical Engineering students in the BET programme and assesses its overall efficacy. Success is primarily measured through pass rates and throughput, as detailed in the individual investigations. Data was sourced from the institution’s management information system (ITS) and analysed using a pragmatic, descriptive approach with quantitative methods across five investigations. Findings indicate that the programme’s structure is generally effective, entrance requirements are appropriate, and specific modules, identified as bottlenecks, require targeted interventions to improve suboptimal success rates. These investigations have enhanced understanding of the programme, potentially guiding the Department in making informed decisions and implementing interventions to boost student success.