BCE MDP future-proofs engineering leadership, celebrates Class of 2024

As artificial intelligence (AI) starts to automate more and more tasks in the consulting engineering realm, the spotlight shifts to what technology can’t replicate: human insight, strategic decision-making, innovation management, and stakeholder engagement. This makes the cultivation of non-technical, critical skills not just valuable, but vital, for engineers navigating the future of the business of consulting engineering.

Consulting Engineers South Africa (CESA) through its School of Consulting Engineering (SCE), this week celebrated the graduation of the Business of Consulting Engineering Management Development Programme’s (BCE MDP’s) Class of 2024 – yet another cohort after more than ten years since its inception.

The BCE MDP is uniquely equipped to meet the industry’s future challenges, through a blend of management and leadership training, coupled with essential critical thinking skills.

“The modern consulting engineering industry extends well beyond technical expertise. The reality is that automation and AI can rapidly transform, and in some instances, commoditise technical processes that were once the exclusive domain of highly trained engineers. Though we would at all times encourage that such processes never be totally left to such pursuits in the absence of experienced human technical oversight. The pressure to be more and more efficient with the demands for cost effective professional services, however, does risk reducing the perceived value of the human element in engineering and challenges firms to demonstrate its use of technology as a means to achieve these objectives,” says CESA CEO, Chris Campbell.

The BCE MDP stands in stark contrast to these threats, as it is fundamentally designed to develop skills AI cannot replace. Encompassing over 60 modules, it focuses on topics such as strategic leadership, interpersonal and client management, an introduction to the principles of law and the legal system, financial skills, contractual principles, people and communications skills, ethical decision-making and accountability and enhancing professional value, the BCE MDP acts as future-proof investment in talent and leadership.

“We are entering an era where automation and AI are rapidly transforming our industry. As we face increasing competition – not just locally, but from global and even non-traditional players with powerful AI-enabled tools – it is vital that we differentiate ourselves. The programme allows engineers to connect multidisciplinary dots and innovate in the face of complexity.

“For the industry to thrive, we need well-rounded professionals who can bridge technical skills with strategic leadership. The BCE MDP alumni have repeatedly proven their ability to excel – whether by ascending to senior roles in their firms or by creating successful consulting ventures that contribute to the broader industry and country,” Campbell states.

AECOM Senior Civil Engineer Michelle Lawrence notes that since completing the BCE Management Development Programme, she has become a team manager. “I have also completed my professional registration with ECSA and have been promoted to senior engineer, while being nominated and a finalist for the CESA Young engineer of the Year Award in 2022. In 2023, I won the Emerging Extraordinary Woman in BIM. The programme helped me achieve these goals, it is invaluable and expands your knowledge beyond just technical aspects and gives a wholistic view of consulting engineering,” she adds.

“AI and automation are undoubtedly shaping the future of engineering, but it is our ability to innovate coupled with critical thinking that sets us apart. While machines can quickly process data and offer recommendations, they cannot replicate the human ability to navigate uncontrollable factors, exercise judgment and solve ambiguous, real-world problems. It’s these skills that define true consulting engineering practitioners, which is what BCE MDP graduates become over a short period of time after a their initial exposure in the employ of their respective consulting engineering companies and after completing their engineering studies. We congratulate each one of you,” Campbell concludes.