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NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2000
The
Faculty of Engineering welcomes all readers to this maiden issue of its
newsletter. The main objective of the biennial newsletter is to
provide readers in Universities, the public sector, Industries and the general
public with brief information about activities within the Faculty.
This
Faculty started as the Department of Engineering in 1957/58, and later grew to
a Faculty in 1977/78. The Faculty now offers degree courses leading to
bachelor, masters and doctorate in Engineering in addition to the diploma it
offered when it started. The Faculty aims at producing well-qualified
graduates capable to design, operate, manage and maintain engineering
equipment and goods for public services and industrial sectors. In addition,
the Faculty undertakes research and development, and demonstration programs
that primarily support all its activities.
In
pursuing these objectives, the Faculty caters for qualified staff and up to
date facilities to ensure that the changing demands of the Sierra
We
sincerely hope that this maiden issue provides the impetus from our readers to
contribute to the activities of the Faculty through support and suggestions.
This will assist the Faculty to contribute meaningfully to enhance the
teaching at the university and further develop local industries.
Ogunlade R Davidson
SANDWICH
TRAINING FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Realising
the need for enhanced industrial
instruction and exposure in training engineers, especially to reflect the
changing local, regional and international demands of the profession, the
Faculty has embarked on a Sandwich training approach. This involves a period
of six months continuous attachment from the end of Honours I year to the
December of that year in a recognised industry. During this attachment, the
student is expected to gain the following:
v
Industrial
discipline of punctuality, dedication and
v
Technical
appreciation of engineering systems and operations through hands-on
experience. This may include equipment installation, operation &
maintenance.
Students
are supervised by the Faculty and Industry during their attachment. Also, they
prepare monthly reports that contribute towards their final assessment.
Engineering
training is becoming difficult
due to lack of adequate staff and complimentary facilities. The Associate
Lecturer Scheme aims at addressing this staff shortage. It utilises competent
professionals in the industrial and public sectors for the professional
training of engineers. The scheme will also promote co-operation between the
Faculty and industry.
Associate
Lecturers are full-time employees of government, Industries or NGOs that have
at least the minimum qualification for a lecturer in the Faculty.
When appointed to the university, they will continue to hold their
present appointments.
Our access course was approved by the University Senate in February 1997. It is a full-time course designed specifically for adults who wish to study in the Faculty but do not have the entry qualifications. The course aims at providing these people with essential study skills and qualifications needed to enter the Faculty.
This is a
one-year full-time course. All students of the course offer the following core
subjects of 4 full courses: Mathematics, Physics and Engineering Science as
full subjects, while Chemistry and Communication Skills constitute one full
subject.
In
addition, the course will include practical workshop and laboratory
Entry requirements:
v
4 GCE ‘O’
Levels or senior school certificate with grades not acceptable to enter the
Faculty. Pass or better in at least three science subjects will be an
advantage.
v
GCE ‘O’
or ‘A’ levels with grades suitable for university entry but not in the
required science subjects.
v
Above the age
of 21 with evidence of good secondary education specifically in
science/technical education.
Students
may be asked to take an entrance examination or an interview to prove adequate
experience and ability.
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE ON ENGINEERING
The
Faculty has an Advisory Committee on Engineering Education that is made up of
very senior representatives from Industry in addition to those from the
faculty. Its main objective is to
v
Make suggestions on courses
v
Advise on practical training
v
Advise on Research and Development
Activities
v
Advise on endowments
v
Advise on improvement of the facilities in the Faculty
After
a long break, the Committee met in January 1997. The meeting was attended by
over 70% of the entire membership including the Chief Executives of
industries. At this meeting, members pledged their support to the new
programmes in the Faculty and promised to fully participate in and provide
financial assistance to these programmes.
MERGER:
MECHANICAL AND MAINTENANCE
The
Senate meeting of 27th November, 1998 approved the merging of the
departments of Mechanical and Maintenance Engineering with effect from
September 2000. The new department will be the “Department of Mechanical
& Maintenance Engineering”. The department will offer a degree in
Mechanical and Maintenance Engineering with options in either Mechanical
Engineering or Maintenance Engineering. All students in the department will
follow the same course for the first 3 years and then move into their
respective options for their remaining two years
The
Advisory Services for Technology Research and Development
(ASTRAD) started in 1972 with the main objective of co-ordinating
testing and research activities within the Faculty of Engineering. ASTRAD
v
Design and construction of engineering equipment
v
Provision
of engineering spare parts and machinery
v
Testing of engineering equipment and materials
v
Development of computer software and construction of
internet websites
All
the students of the faculty form the Engineering Society and it is governed by
a body which is elected annually. Their activities are supervised by a
lecturer-in-charge from the Faculty. During the 1998/99 academic year, the
society carried the following activities:
v
Fund raising
v
Renovation of the Engineering Society Notice board and
blackboards.
v
Engineering Week & Orientation of New students.
v
Printed Calendars
v
Panel Discussions
v
Sports & Games
The
Faculty continues to strengthen its links with the main industries in the
country. All main industries are now involved in the Sandwich training scheme.
Staff
members are involved in continuous dialogue with their industrial partners on
different development projects. These include prototype and product
Other
areas of collaboration includes joint student supervision of final year
projects and discussion on research activities.
Recently,
senior members from industry formed the panel of External Examiners for Final
Year Students Projects of the Faculty.
FINAL
EXAMINATION RESULTS – 1998/99
Civil
Engineering
Allieu,
P S
Bah,
S
Bangura,
A P A
Campbell,
C A
Davies,
B O A
Scott,
D H C
Second
Class Second Division
Fofana,
I N P
Johnson,
V R K
Third Class
Bockarie,
F S
Gorvie,
M H
Electrical/
Electronic Engineering
Kargbo,
A H
Koroma,
J
Second
Class First Division
Essa,
S
Nelson-Okrafor,
M H (Miss)
Njie,
O
Second
Class Second Division
Griffin,
C L (Miss)
Jalloh,
M A
Macfoy,
D E A
Macfoy,
F
Thomas,
A
Turay,
A S
Third Class
Jalloh,
S M
Palmer,
S K P
Maintenance
Engineering
Second
Class First Division
Conteh,
O A
Second
Class Second Division
Jalloh,
F S D
Mechanical
Engineering
Second
Class First Division
Conteh,
M A
Third Class
Beckley-Thomas,
A T
The
Faculty is discussing links with the School of Engineering at the University
of Science and Technology, Kumasi Ghana. The Faculty has approved the link and
a similar approval from UST is expected soon.
The linkage will include:
v
Staff and
Student Exchange
v
Joint R&D
programmes
v
Joint Project
Demonstration
v
R. A. B.
Johnson, Department of Maintenance Engineering from Lecturer II to Lecturer I
v
Sheku Silla
of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Lecturer II to
Lecturer I
v Prof. O.R. Davidson, Dean of the Faculty was elected Co-Chair of the Working Group III of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
v
Davidson, O.R “The Climate
Convention and Kyoto Agreements”. Procs. Of Climate Change Mitigation in
Africa, Zimbabwe, May 1998.
v
Davidson, O.R “Transfer of
Renewable Energy Technologies for Sustainable Development Opportunities for
African Countries. European Network for Energy Economists, 22.98, 1998
v
Davidson, O.R. ”Matching
Transport and Environment Agenda in Developing Countries”. Procs. Of 17th
Congress of World Energy Council, USA.4.2.22, 1998
v
Davidson, O.R. “Transport
and Climate Change: Global Trends and Implications for Peru” Procs. of Urban
Transportation, and Environmental Policy. Lima Peru, 1998
v
Davidson,O.R. ”Energy
Initiatives in Africa for Cleaner Development”. Chap 5 in “Promoting
Development while limiting GHG emissions: Trends & Baselines. UNDP/WRI,
1999.
v
Jamiru, T .”Production and
Utilisation of Ceramic Roofing Tiles in the Informal Sector” Report to ATPS,
Nairobi, Kenya. 1999
v
Redwood-Sawyerr J.A.S &
Silla S.M “Distributed Electricity Serves (Des) Africa: The Sierra Leone
Perspective” Forum on DES in Africa, June 1999, Cape Town, South Africa.
v
Redwood-Sawyerr J.A.S &
Coulson A. “An Assessment of Solar Radiation models for Sierra Leone”
Journal of Pure & Applied
Science ISSN 1023-5264
v
Kanu J. “Procurement of Equipment and Spare Parts, and
Inventory control”. ‘Maintenance
and Repair of Scientific Equipment in Educational Institution’ in Banjul,
the Gambia. 1999.
v
Bah M. “An Intelligent Real-time Micro Controller based permanent
magnet Dc Motor Drive System”. Journal
of Pure Applied Science ISSN 1023-5264.
v
Silla S.M “PFLOW: an
Educational Software Package for Teaching Power System Power
Flow analysis in Developing countries”. Journal of Pure Applied Science ISSN
1023-5264.
v
Silla S.M “Electricity
Generation and the Prospects for its conservation in Sierra Leone”. Journal
of Pure Applied Science ISSN 1023-5264.
v
Thorlu-Bangura I.Y “Low cost Experimentation on Data Transmission using
the Domestic Electricity Network’ Journal of Pure Applied Science ISSN
1023-5264.
MODIFIED
STRUCTURE FOR ENGINEERING EDUCATION
The
Faculty has developed a new structure for Engineering education that reflects
the new educational policy (6-3-3-4) of the Government. The rationale of this
structure can be summarised as follows:
v
Flexibility
in entry requirements and overall course structure.
v
Minimisation
of wastage.
v
Maximisation
of efficiency (increased productivity).
v
Promotion
of excellence.
v
Increased
interaction of stakeholders.
