Department of Civil Engineering

Goals and Objectives

The National Diploma in Civil Engineering Technology is designed to equip students with the practical skills, technical knowledge, and professional competencies required to function effectively as Civil Engineering Technicians.

The programme prepares graduates to contribute to infrastructure development in both public and private sectors, while also fostering the capacity for self-employment and entrepreneurial practice in the construction industry.

Objectives

Upon successful completion of the National Diploma in Civil Engineering Technology programme, the graduate should be able to:

1. Function effectively as a foreman or technical supervisor on construction sites by organizing labour, materials, and equipment.
2. Prepare and interpret accurate Civil Engineering drawings, details, and work schedules using both manual and computer-aided drafting tools.
3. Supervise and monitor civil engineering operations including earthworks, concrete works, road construction, drainage, and structural assembly.
4. Conduct standard laboratory and field tests on construction materials to ensure compliance with specifications and safety standards.
5. Interpret technical drawings, site plans, and structural details in accordance with engineering conventions and design intentions.
6. Read, analyze, and apply surveyor’s measurements in setting out and monitoring construction projects.
7. Perform site setting out and layout activities with accuracy, ensuring alignment with design plans and specifications.
9. Carry out routine inspection, repair, and maintenance of civil engineering structures such as roads, culverts, buildings, and drainage systems.

Entry Requirements

Applicants with any of the following qualifications may be considered for admission into the National Diploma Programme by direct entry:

1. S.S.S.C or its equivalent (Teachers Grade II, NTC, WASC, G.C.E) with passes at credit level in Mathematics, Physics, a Science subject (i.e. Chemistry, Biology, or Agricultural Science), and one other subject and an ordinary pass in English Language at not more than two sittings. In addition credit or ordinary pass in any of the following subjects will be an advantage: Wood Work, Metal Work, Automechanics, Basic Electronics, Basic Electricity, Technical Drawing, Fine Art;
2. Four passes at credit level in relevant subjects as stated in (i) above obtained at the final examination of an NBTE recognised preliminary ND Programme offered in a Polytechnic or similar post-secondary technical institution provided that students admitted into the Pre-ND have a Pass in English Language.

Structure of Programme

The structure of the ND programme consists of four semesters of classroom, laboratory and workshop activities in the college and a semester (3-4 months) of Supervised Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES). Each semester shall be of 17 weeks duration made up as follows: 15 contact weeks of teaching, i.e. lecture recitation and practical exercises, etc. and 2 weeks for tests, quizzes, examinations and registration. SIWES shall take place at the end of the second semester of the first year.

Conditions of Award

Institutions offering accredited programmes will award the National Diploma to candidates who successfully completed the programme after passing prescribed course work, examinations, diploma project and the supervised industrial work experience. Such candidates should have completed a minimum of between semester 90 and 100 % credit units depending on the programme. Diploma Certificate shall be awarded based on the following classifications: - 90 and 100.

Distinction - CGPA 3.50 - 4.0
Upper Credit - CGPA 3.00 - 3.49
Lower Credit - CGPA 2.50 - 2.99
Pass - CGPA 2.00 - 2.49

Curriculum

The curriculum comprises three components:

• General Studies/Education
• Foundation Courses
• Professional Courses
• Supervised Industrial Works Experience Scheme (SIWES)

The General Education component shall include courses in: Art and Humanities - English Language, Communication and History. These are compulsory. Social Studies - Citizenship (the Nigerian Constitution), Political Science, Sociology, Philosophy, Geography, Entrepreneurship, Philosophy of Science and Sociology are compulsory. Physical and Health Education (one semester credit only). The General Education component shall account for not more than 10% of total contact hours for the programme.

Foundation Courses include courses in Economics, Mathematics, Pure Science, Computer Applications, Technical Drawing, Descriptive Geometry, Statistics, etc. The number of hours will vary with the programme and may account for about 10-15% of the total contact hours.

Professional Courses are courses which give the student the theory and practical skills he needs to practice his field of calling at the technician/technologist level. These may account for between 60-70% of the contact hours depending on programme.

Supervised Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) shall be taken during the long vacation following the end of the second semester of the first year.

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Accreditation

The programme offered shall be accredited by the NBTE before the diplomates shall be awarded the diploma certificate. Details about the process of accrediting a programme for the award of the ND or HND are available from the Executive Secretary Programmes Department, National Board for Technical Education, Plot 'B' Bida Road, P.M.B. 2239, Kaduna, Nigeria.

Guidance Note for Teachers Teaching the Programmes

The new curriculum is drawn in unit courses. This is in keeping with the provisions of the National Policy on Education which stress the need to introduce the semester credit units which will enable a student who so wish to transfer the units already completed in an institution of similar standard from which he is transferring.

In designing the units, the principle of the modular system has been adopted; thus making each of the professional modules, when completed self-sufficient and providing the student with technician operative skills, which can be used for employment purposes.

As the success of the credit unit system depends on the articulation of programmes between the institutions and industry, the curriculum content has been written in terms of behavioural objectives, so that it is clear to all, the expected performance of the student who successfully completed some of the courses or the diplomates of the programme is clearly defined. There is a slight departure in the presentation of the performance based curriculum which requires the conditions under which the performance are expected to be carried out and the criteria for the acceptable levels of performance. It is a deliberate attempt to further involve the staff of the department teaching the programme to write their own curriculum stating the conditions existing in their institution under which the performance can take place and to follow that with the criteria for determining an acceptable level of performance.

Departmental submission on the final curriculum may be vetted by the Academic Board of the institution. Our aim is to continue to see to it that a solid internal evaluation system exists in each institution for ensuring minimum standard and quality of education in the programmes offered throughout the polytechnic system.

The teaching of the theory and practical work should, as much as possible, be integrated. Practical exercise, especially those in professional courses and laboratory work should not be taught in isolation from the theory. For each course, there should be a balance of theory to practice depending on the course objectives and content.