The fourth industrial revolution, an opportunity for Civil Engineering.

Author(s):  
John Mario Garcia Giraldo ◽  
Liliana Gonzalez Palacio
Author(s):  
Thokozani Isaac Mtshali ◽  
Sylvia Manto Ramaligela

This study was conducted in response to the call made by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) in South Africa to strengthen the awareness levels of TVET colleges' readiness to embrace the 4IR era. The purpose of this study was to focus on equipment alignment between TVET colleges and industries. This study used Eulau and Karps' theory of responsiveness as a guide to explore the purpose. Also, this study purposefully sampled five TVET colleges in Limpopo province and two civil engineering industries linked to these institutions. This study used a descriptive qualitative research design. Document analysis and non-participant observations were used as data collection instruments. The study found that the working tools and equipment used by these TVET colleges were not fancy or showing prospects of Fourth Industrial Revolution. This was the same thing with the linked industries. Hence, all tools used were simply outdated when it comes to 4IR integration. And so, the study recommends that TVET colleges should institute new partnerships with 4IR responsive industries than being linked to industries that are using conventional tools and equipment.


Author(s):  
Thokozani Isaac Mtshali ◽  
Sylvia Manto Ramaligela

One of the striking characters of civil engineering is its emphasis to the development of hands-on practical skills, innovation, and creativity. Civil engineering's unique epistemological feature is heavily geared towards equipping individuals with relevant skills for occupational safety.. The purpose of this study was to identify employability skills that civil engineering teachers use to prepare students for 4IR. This study used a mixed method approach, where questionnaire and interviews were used to collect data. This study was guided by EASTA's “employability skills for TVET graduates.” This study found that most civil engineering teachers have a challenge in equipping their students with various employability skills. This is as a result of a PAT that only focuses on generic skills than core skills and personal traits. Therefore, this study recommends that the approach for civil engineering course to Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) should be viewed through an employability skills lens and calling for teachers to challenge their comfort zone in preparing their students with skills that are pertinent to the 4IR needs.


Author(s):  
Klaus Schwab

The rapid pace of technological developments played a key role in the previous industrial revolutions. However, the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) and its embedded technology diffusion progress is expected to grow exponentially in terms of technical change and socioeconomic impact. Therefore, coping with such transformation require a holistic approach that encompasses innovative and sustainable system solutions and not just technological ones. In this article, we propose a framework that can facilitate the interaction between technological and social innovation to continuously come up with proactive, and hence timely, sustainable strategies. These strategies can leverage economic rewards, enrich society at large, and protect the environment. The new forthcoming opportunities that will be generated through the next industrial wave are gigantic at all levels. However, the readiness for such revolutionary conversion require coupling the forces of technological innovation and social innovation under the sustainability umbrella.


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