South Africa needs more engineers — and more women must be supported into the profession

South Africa faces a critical engineering skills shortage, requiring an estimated 60,000 additional professionals to support infrastructure, industrial growth, and innovation. Despite progress in STEM education, women remain vastly underrepresented in the field, comprising only around 16% of registered engineering professionals.

Simply encouraging more girls to study math and science, and providing bursaries, is no longer sufficient. Engineering remains one of South Africa's most demanding university qualifications, often requiring extended curricula and increased financial investment. The Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme (ISFAP) emphasizes that success in engineering depends on more than just financial assistance.

It requires academic readiness, mentoring, and psychosocial support, which are crucial in demanding disciplines. While women are increasingly participating in STEM education, they still make up a small fraction of registered engineering professionals. This suggests that access alone is not enough to close the gender gap. Career guidance and support should be integral to the educational journey, helping students make informed choices about engineering and providing the necessary confidence and resilience to succeed.

By combining financial aid with structured academic and psychosocial support, bursary programmes can improve retention and graduation rates, ultimately contributing to South Africa's technical capability and addressing its scarce-skills shortage. Collaboration across the education ecosystem is essential to create a more inclusive engineering profession.