Maravi

EIZ urges human resource development

EIZ urges human resource development
By Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Monday July 21, 2008 [04:00]

ENGINEERING Institution of Zambia (EIZ) president Dr Mundia Muya has urged the government to consistently and persistently invest in human resource development especially in the fields of science, technology and engineering. And Dr Muya said professional engineers needed to be abreast with new developments in their profession if they are to offer high standards of service to the public.
Addressing EIZ members during the institution's strategic planning meeting in Kitwe on Saturday, Dr Muya said human resource constituted the ultimate basis of any country's wealth.

He added that to succeed in the increasingly knowledge-based global economy, Zambia needed to produce and retain a critical mass of formally educated and appropriately trained people.

Dr Muya said although the economy was growing at the moment, the country was experiencing skills shortages especially at craft certificate, technician and technologist levels.

He said the shortages of qualified personnel resulted in poor and low productivity that manifested in cost overruns and quality shortfalls.

"A quality human resource is primary in wealth creation and the way you ensure quality with respect to human resource development is through education and training. Government is doing well in developing primary and secondary education but the same cannot be said about higher, especially technology-based higher education," said Dr Muya.

And Dr Muya said the rate of change in the world was very fast and that it was important for Zambian engineers to move at the same pace with their colleagues in other countries.
"That is why as an institution, we have resolved that for one to practice engineering in this country, they need to accrue the required number of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) points for their practicing licenses to be renewed," he said. "We all must understand the spirit behind this initiative; there is a law in physics which says 'a body at rest will remain stationary until there is an external force acting on it'. We do not want our members to stagnate."

He said knowledge, just like vegetables, had a shelf life and should be kept fresh all the time.

And Dr Muya emphasised the need for the institution to develop strong civic and professional networks both locally and internationally so as to share ideas with others and influence change.

Labels: EIZ, MUNDIA MUYA

posted by MrK @ 7:00 PM