NYASALAND wrote:

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....Next...Do we need a degree for a mechanical engineering course?Poly?

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That is a very good question if it is asked in good faith. I have said that because at Poly there is always enemity between engineering and business studies students. But since you are a Mzuzu alumni, you dont have any scores to settle with somebody in the engineering profession.

Being somebody from the engineering profession I feel we need mechanical engineers. In order to appreciate their roles, you need to know first what does their skills entail. I know Nyasaland as somebody from MZUNI, you might find it very difficult to understand. I will give you examples of companies in Malawi which cant do without a Mechanical engineer. Escom is one. Those turbines which generate the electricity which your parents rely on in Malawi is the work of Mechanical and Electrical engineers. All the maintenance is done by the engineers, the distribution, the load shading that leaves you in darkness is their work.

Carsberg and Sobo companies cant also do away with Mechanical and Electrical engineers. The production of these companies products is the work of these engneers. I am talking in terms of both Mechanical and Electrical engineers because a person with skills in one of the two can work in both.

All manufacturing companies cannot do without Mechanical engineers. You need mechanical engineers in all areas that involve machines and production.

May be the question should be: Do we need to produce 100 mechanical engineers every year for a country like Malawi with very few manufacturing industries? Otherwise if we want to transform our country from a predominantly consuming country to a predominantly producing country, then we need people who are involved in the production.