IEC: Becoming an Engineer

This episode explores how engineering students navigate the emotional, institutional, and cultural realities of university life. Our guest, Prof. Curwyn Mapaling — a psychologist working in Engineering Education — shares insights from his research into student resilience in South African institutions. Together, we examine how identity, emotion, and institutional culture shape the learning journey, and consider what engineering education might look like if designed with greater care, context, and complexity.

Links:
Curwyn Mapaling ResearchGate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Curwyn-Mapaling?ev=hdr_xprf
Ruth Graham Report: https://rhgraham.org/resources/Crisis-and-catalyst.pdf
EEES: 2024 Symposium: https://sigarra.up.pt/feup/en/noticias_geral.ver_noticia?p_nr=159571
Emotions Symposium 2025 in South Africa: https://irspbl2025.org.za/emotions-in-engineering-education-symposium/
Nancy Fraser - Misrecognition: https://newleftreview.org/issues/ii3/articles/nancy-fraser-rethinking-recognition
Ronelle Plaatjies LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronelle-plaatjes-927690235/

In this episode, Prof. Karin Wolff, a distinguished researcher and educator in the field of engineering education, joins us to discuss the current landscape of engineering education research in South Africa, the intersection of academic and industry expectations, and emerging opportunities for growth in the field.

Links:
Epistemic Plane: https://youtu.be/igUFNGQIw98
Semantic Wave & Cumulative Learning: https://youtu.be/EawM2rdr8Gc?si=wxvEKikPgeN3gWxc

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/dr-karin-wolff-portfolio/Research-project-introduction 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-wolff-51869020/

In this episode, we speak with Prof. Bruce Kloot about the complex relationships between engineering, society, history, and ethics. Drawing on his background in engineering, anthropology, and critical sociology, Bruce explores how power, identity, and historical context shape both engineers and the worlds they create. From extended degree programmes to engineers’ roles under apartheid, this conversation reveals why engineering is never purely technical — it is always social, and often deeply political.

Links:
Engineering under oppressive regimes... (C. B. Shaw & B. Kloot): https://doi.org/10.1080/03043797.2024.2419399
A critical review of the educational philosophies underpinning Science and Engineering foundation programmes: https://iecurricula.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Kloot-Case-Marshall_2007.pdf
A historical analysis of academic development using the theoretical lens of Pierre Bourdieu: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01425692.2013.868785
The Relationship Between Engineers and Society: is it currently fulfilling its potential?: https://iecurricula.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Aslaksen_2015.pdf
Reconstructing engineering from practice: https://doi.org/10.1080/19378629.2010.520135