At the CUT Japie Van Lill Auditorium-Bloemfontein Campus, where the Built Environment experts met to reimagine the professionalisation and transformation of South Africa’s Built Environment sector during the 2025 CUT CBE Masterclass.

The Council for the Built Environment (CBE) has been actively promoting professionalisation in the built environment sector. The Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and IT (FEBIT) is also engaged in aligning its curricula with international standards.

On 20 August 2025, CUT and the Council for the Built Environment (CBE), in partnership with the University of the Free State (UFS), hosted a high-level Masterclass aimed at rethinking the professionalisation and transformation of South Africa’s Built Environment sector. The session brought together academics, industry experts, students, policymakers, and regulators under the theme: “Bridging the Gap Between Higher Education Institutions: Reimagining the Professionalisation and Transformation of the Built Environment Sector.”

Professor Baby Kuriakose, CUT Assistant Dean in the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, delivering a welcoming address at the CUT CBE Masterclass.

Building on the momentum generated by the 2022 cabinet-approved national framework for the professionalisation of the public sector, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) and the Council for the Built Environment (CBE) were tasked with developing strategies to upskill and transform the sector. In May 2025, a Ministerial Dialogue held in Stellenbosch brought together representatives from academia and government, setting the stage for CUT’s Masterclass. The engagement featured keynote presentations, case studies, and interactive discussions, fostering meaningful engagement and collaboration.

Dr. Msizi Myeza, Chief Executive Officer: Council for the Built Environment, sharing the purpose of the engagement with his esteemed audience during the Masterclass.

The Masterclass, aimed to highlight how higher education institutions can better prepare graduates for the workforce by fostering professional skills and strengthening ties with industry. Discussions focused on identifying new skill demands, developing supportive policies, and encouraging ongoing professional development. This initiative seeks to guide future efforts in aligning education, policy, and industry practices to keep pace with the rapidly changing industry needs.

Did You Know? CUT offers a variety of Built Environment programmes such as Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Urban Development, Health and Safety Management, spanning from higher certificates to postgraduate qualifications.