CXC launches Green Engineering syllabus in Guyana

Last Updated on Thursday, 28 July 2016, 13:16 by Denis Chabrol

The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) on Thursday launched its Green Engineering Syllabus in Guyana

Giving an overview of the syllabus at the launch held at the Theatre Guild, Parade Street, Kingston, Georgetown, subject panel member, Dr. Paulette Bynoe said the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) Green Engineering subject has two units- Introduction to Green Engineering and Application of Green Engineering and Principles

The modules in  unit one are concepts and issues, and Theoretical Framework of Green Engineering and Green Engineering in Practice, and unit two’s modules are the utilization of  sustainable materials and energy, sustainable designs and green engineering solutions

Topics covered include concepts of sustainable development, sustainability and efficiency, current trends related to the use of natural resources, risks in the engineering  environment, consequences and challenges of engineering , principles of green engineering, sustainable utilization of materials and energy, the environmental consequences of using different energy sources, policies and decision-making, and principles related to design, products and infrastructure, and occupational safety and health issues.

Bynoe said the syllabus has been designed in such a way to ensure that the focus is not only students’ ability to recall, with the focus being knowledge and comprehension, application of knowledge and practical ability. “This will allow students to really exercise their problem solving and critical thinking skills- very important for engineering- so it is not a case where a student will cram and pass the exam. We don’t need that sort of thing. The knowledge is important but we have to begin to transcend the knowledge if we are going to make a decision in the world today,” she said.

The syllabus provides for lectures, research, laboratory experiments, debates, use of Information  Communication Technology (ICT) and case studies.

CXC’s Senior Assistant Registrar- Syllabus and Curriculum Development Division, Howard Campbell said the Green Engineering Syllabus was among those developed in keeping with the regional examining body’s desire to keep abreast with the changing socio-economic trends across the Caribbean. “This new syllabus in Green Engineering is intended to produce citizens who will be more aware of development challenges in the Caribbean region while finding the solutions that will lead to more sustainable communities,” he said.

Minister of Education, Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine hailed CXC’s introduction of the Green Engineering syllabus at a time when Guyana’s declared policy is the creation of a green economy. “Green Engineering is, therefore, of immediate import and application to Guyana. The offer of a course in Green Engineering is, therefore, most timely from the standpoint of developing the manpower that is required by Guyana for the implementation of its policy of a Green Economy,” he said.

The Barbados-headquartered CXC has so far introduced several new generation syllabuses – tourism, financial services, physical education and sport, entrepreneurship, animation and game design, performing arts, agricultural science