Terry Stidworthy 2004

DOCTOR OF TECHNOLOGY (HONORIS CAUSA)

Terence Edmond Stidworthy was born in Johannesburg on 16 January 1939 and grew up in Durban obtaining his National Senior Certificate from the Durban Technical College in 1957. He began his career as an apprentice electrician with South African Railways and Harbours and during this time, completed his National Technical Diploma. 

He proceeded through the ranks to Principal Engineering Assistant and Chief Engineering Assistant and in 1990, was appointed Manager: Plant & Machinery of Spoornet. In 1994, he was appointed Manager: Equipment Engineering.  His final promotion in 1997 was to Manager: Network Planning, the position from which he retired in 1999.

In order to equip himself for the position occupied and to ensure continued professional development, he attended and qualified in numerous directions i.e. Centrifugal Refrigeration Equipment, Fundamentals of Psychometrics, Air Conditioning Design, Interpersonal Skills, Situational Leadership, Negotiating Skills, Quality Improvement Process Management and Quality Education Systems.

As an activist to obtain professional recognition for technicians and professional engineering technologists, he was instrumental in the establishment of the former Boards of Control for Registered Technicians and Professional Engineering Technologists of the South African Council for Professional Engineers (now the Engineering Council of South Africa).  Terry Stidworthy has been engaged in professional activities of the Engineering Council of South Africa for many years and has occupied leadership positions which have had a direct impact on the Technikon.  Amongst these are Member of Council, Vice-Chairperson: Central Registration Committee, Chairperson: Registration Committee for Professional Engineering Technologists, Chairperson: International Engineering Technician Mobility Forum (ETMNF) and Engineering Technologists Mobility Forum (ETMF), Secretary: Sydney Accord, Committee Member: International Working Group, Committee Member: Engineering Standards Generating Body, Committee Member: Technikon Qualifications and Examinations Committee and Visit & Team Leader: Technikon Accreditation Visits.

Over the last twenty five years he has contributed significantly to the professional development and national as well as international recognition of technikon graduates and diplomates, with particular impact on the qualifying learners from the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of the Built Environment at the Port Elizabeth Technikon.

He has played a leading role through the Engineering Council of South Africa’s accreditation process interacting with the Faculty and particularly the Department of Electrical Engineering, thus enabling this programme to be recognised as the benchmark.  He actively participated as a member to establish a number of International Accords giving international recognition to technikon diplomas and degrees in engineering

He is currently a Court Member of the MSA Court of Enquiry/Appeal, a member of the Sports Car Club of SA, Chairperson of the Northern Regions Circuit Car Racing Committee and a Member of the Modderfontein Conservation Society.  He is married, with a son, a daughter and three grandchildren.

In summary: The leadership of Mr Stidworthy on the Engineering Council of South Africa and the interaction with the PE Technikon and the Faculty staff through Accreditation Visits has played an important role in positioning the PE Technikon as the benchmark institution and enabling our learners to gain international recognition.he Council and Senate of the PE Technikon wish to accord recognition to a man who has made a huge contribution to the development of Engineering at this institution. It is an honour to confer the degree DOCTOR TECHNOLOGIAE (HONORIS CAUSA) on TERRENCE EDMOND STIDWORTHY.