Redefining engineering education in Africa through delivering Total Engineering

Engineering education in sub-Saharan Africa has the potential to contribute to economic and social development of any country. But it has not been leveraged on appropriately to culminate in economic and social development in the countries in Africa. This implies that for Africa as a region to leverage fully on the potentials of engineering education to ensure economic and social development, it must be redefined through delivering total engineering. This study was a theoretical discourse on redefining engineering education in Africa through delivering total engineering and evidences from established literature were used in giving more credence to the work. Delivering Total engineering is a composite of three words which are delivering, total and engineering. This study conceptualized what delivering total engineering and it was defined as an educational perspective which showcases the relationship between learning and teaching which is crucial to innovation in the delivery of capable, competent and confident graduate which are the outcomes. Findings revealed that the three dimensions (delivering, total, engineering) are crucial in redefining engineering education in Africa and they were analyzed in support of this study. The study therefore recommends intensification of effort on research on delivering total engineering as it has no theoretical basis. Pragmatism is also important to verify the veracity of the concept.