In the fast-changing landscape of the mining, construction and manufacturing industries, globally, engineering companies depend more and more on vocational skills training providers like Veasey's Engineering College to reboot their staff to ensure they stay relevant.

Engineering, as we know it, emerged in the 1500’s, although man had been learning to adapt and exploit his environment for millennia before that. Fast-forward to the 21st Century, the knowledge, tools and techniques have changed - and continue to change at a rapid pace bringing about the need for constant revision of study material, textbooks and training manuals.

The college, while evolving itself, has endeavoured to lead in re-skilling and upskilling veteran and junior engineers across South Africa in terms of legal appointments, as required by health and safety legislation.

About Veasey's Engineering College 

Veasey’s Engineering College was established as correspondence learning institution in 1924 by John Herbert Veasey.  It focussed on aiding young engineers preparing for the Government Certificate of Competency for Engineers examinations, for either Mines or Factories.  

John Veasey, a highly skilled and experience engineer was involved in the building of the original Jan Smuts Airport (now OR Tambo International Airport).

Veasey’s, as it is known in the market, has grown vastly in the ninety-five years since inception and has proven to remain relevant and trusted by the engineering industry.

It aims to provide study material and assistance to students who have been accepted as candidates to write the two examinations for the Government Certificate of Competency for Engineers (GCC); Plant Engineering and Legal Knowledge. Furthermore, to continually review this course material to ensure it aligns with the syllabi as laid out by the Department of Labour (Factories) and the Department of Mineral Resources (Mines).

College benefits from first-hand experience

Understanding how teaching and learning has evolved, Veasey's has crafted its courses to meet the demands of those that they are meant to benefit. In fact, Veasey’s owner, Greg Clack, was enrolled with Veasey’s Engineering College as a candidate in the mid 90’s, attained his GCC in 1997, helped the previous principal develop the Law package and has been involved in the College in one way, or another, since then.

Over the years, the college has skilled many engineers and currently has 155 enrolled candidates, which equates to approximately 22% of the candidates who register for examinations for both factories and mines annually.

Study Packages

Veasey's offers study packages for self-directed study towards the two engineer's Certificate of Competency examinations – namely Plant Engineering & Legal Knowledge, for either factory or mine engineers.

Veasey's Engineering College differs from most engineering colleges in South Africa as it is a correspondence college which makes access that much easier and flexible for busy engineers.  The material is comprehensive and therefore does not require hours of classroom attendance and for individuals to be off work, or out of town.  

Focussing on preparing qualified engineers, technicians and artisans to write their Engineer's Certificate of Competency examinations the material covers all the necessary requirements for either factories or mines.

Partnering for success

Veasey's Engineering College is an independent organization but does work closely with the Institution of Certificated Mechanical and Electrical Engineers, South Africa as well as the Department of Labour.

Adapting with a changing engineering sector

It is crucial for a company, be it in the factory or mining industries, to comply with the legal requirement of appointing a competent person, and a certificated engineer fulfils this requirement and therefore ongoing skills development has become a prerequisite for technical staff. 

Veasey’s recognises that not only has companies become reluctant to release staff for long periods to study off-site but that for many this means incurring additional costs such as travel, accommodation and puts a significant strain on their personal lives.

The correspondence element therefore sets them apart as well as the length of time that the college has been around as it has been able to collate important information that assists and provides focus for the students to prepare for the relevant exams.  

Veasey’s also offers individual support with each package. Different study package options can also be found on their online store. This support is given via email, phone or WhatsApp by a Professional Certificated Engineer, who has been very involved with the Certificate of Competency for more than twenty years.

Veasey's Engineering College is committed to students and businesses.

1. The college’s commitment to its students is:
2. To provide first class study course material developed over 95 years.        
3. To support the student with technical assistance and study advice.
4. To facilitate the process of being accepted as a candidate to write the examinations.
5. To provide recent answered examination questions for both Plant Engineering and Law.
6. To provide analysis of prior examinations to assist the candidate with study plan prioritizing.
7. To coach and assist in how to study for, and manage the GCC examinations.
8. To provide topical and supplementary modules.
9. To engage with the candidate through our website, social media and other electronic means. 

The Veasey’s advantage

Veasey’s candidates enjoy an advantage in the job market. For example, the Engineer's Certificate of Competency is a sought-after permit to operate and as such is motivational and developmental for young engineers in training, junior engineers, or anyone who wishes to progress in the company and to take on legal appointments.  

Upon enrolment, candidates receive material that covers theory, as well as examination questions and suggested answers and self-tests, “giving students the ability to assess their own understanding”. 

With the primary focus on correspondence learning, all material is couriered anywhere in South Africa, and the cost is included in the price of the study package.  

For companies, or individual engineers, wanting to find out more about Veasey's Engineering College and their course offerings, visit www.veaseys.co.za or call 076 921 7110 today.

To access their easy-to-use quote request/enrolment tool, go to www.veaseys.co.za/enrollment.