An academic from Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) has become a sought-after specialist in South Africa’s higher education engineering sector. Anil Lonappan, a Lecturer in the Department of Electrical Engineering, is increasingly called upon by Universities of Technology across the country to assist with Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) accreditation preparations.
According to Lonappan, many higher education institutions compile ECSA accreditation documentation without fully understanding the stringent processes and compliance standards. This lack of clarity frequently leads ECSA to identify avoidable deficiencies during formal audits. Lonappan emphasises that educating academic staff on specific compliance criteria significantly improves institutional preparedness and elevates the quality of the Self-Evaluation Report (SER) submissions required for ECSA evaluation.
Lonappan’s national outreach has seen him collaborate with multiple prominent faculties across the country. For instance,
Following a request on 13 March 2026 from the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), Lonappan facilitated a two-day training workshop on 13–14 April 2026 at the Coastlands Musgrave Hotel. Attended by Heads of Department and selected faculty members, the sessions were designed to prepare staff for an upcoming ECSA visit in November 2026. The Dean later issued a letter of appreciation praising Lonappan’s structured delivery, actionable insights, and guidance on aligning institutional processes with ECSA standards.
On 12 May 2026, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at Vaal University of Technology (VUT) invited Lonappan to lead an online SER Workshop in preparation for their February 2027 ECSA audit. The virtual session, held on 4 June 2026, saw extended engagement from participants seeking clarity on compliance criteria and documentation standards.
Most recently, on 17 August 2026, the Dean of Engineering at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) invited Lonappan to coach their academic staff ahead of their scheduled ECSA accreditation in 2027.
Through these capacity-building workshops, Lonappan continues to strengthen the readiness of South Africa’s engineering faculties, helping institutions meet national quality benchmarks and uphold high standards in engineering education.