The Department of Mechanical Engineering celebrated its centenary in 2019. During the last three decades especially, it has launched several exciting research groups that support a growing number of postgraduate students. The modern, forward-facing curriculum and cutting-edge researchers are helping to develop the next generation of socially responsive engineers – passing on the knowledge and skills they need to change the world and our futures for the better. Over the decades the field of mechanical engineering has grown, expanded and changed alongside the world we live in. As a department we continue to transform ourselves, the curriculum, the research and the discipline as we listen, learn, experiment and work together. 

The research activities in the department are aimed at addressing national needs in terms of both the provision of technological solutions and the development of skilled postgraduate students. Researchers in the department have international collaborative research partnerships with universities across the world and work closely with a broad range of industries.

The department has recently completed a multi-year re-curriculation exercise. Staff reviewed local and international degrees, revisited educational objectives and re-prioritised various aspects of the undergraduate degrees. The roll-out of the revised curriculum began with the first year in 2018, with the final year of the new curriculum being introduced in 2021. Our two programmes have recently been accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa, and both programmes were fully accredited until the next regular accreditation visit in 2026.
 

History of Department of Mechanical Engineering
1919 to 2019

Reference Guide to Research & Development
Department of Mechanical Engineering