Prof. Liezl van Dyk: Executive Dean – Faculty of Engineering at North-West University

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Prof. Liezl van Dyk, who is the Executive Dean for the Faculty of Engineering at North-West University. The faculty’s vision is to change the world for the better. Prof. van Dyk shares some of the success factors that went into the development of the Faculty’s solar car, which won the Structural Design Award in Sasol Solar Challenge 2022. This project combined different disciplines within engineering (like chemical, mechanical, technical, computer, electrical and industrial engineering) as well as project management and team work. The faculty actively considers real world problems and the means to solve them. Prof. van Dyk remarks on some of the programmes that North-West University has in place to encourage and empower young people to pursue STEM subjects that start in school. For example, the Ikateleng programme provides additional support to children to nurture their potential. Others include Femmgineering and InnovatHER. Prof. van Dyk shares and important lesson of self - be yourself, know yourself and keep learning about yourself. She emphasises that all of us can all be part of solutions to change the world for the better. Tune in for more…