The history of the Civil Engineering Department, IMT, Enugu, started with the enactment of the edict establishing the IMT in 1973. Prior to that, there existed a College of Technology, which offered courses in Engineering and Laboratory Technology up to the ordinary diploma level, and the Institute of Administration that provided short in-service training courses for civil servants.
The philosophy for establishing the department (and the institute) in 1973
After 1970, there arose the need for a higher institution of learning to upgrade the training of people in technological and managerial fields due to the severe dearth of manpower in the country. The founding fathers desired a place for the maximization of both managerial and technical expertise and professionalism. They envisioned that:
- The engineer/technologist of today needs training also in management functions for the actualization of his dreams and his role in the world;
- He must understand the relationship and social setting of his position within his industrial environment;
- He must be able to analyse and assess the economic, social and political consequences of his decisions;
- He must work with other people and not be narrow-minded, or concerned with only basic personnel and labour union matters;
- He needs management tools to achieve the above goals and more.
In line with the above philosophy, the then East Central State Government decided to merge the two former schools (College of Technology and Institute of Administration) and upgraded their functions in July 1973. Hence, the current department dates back to pre-independence era, when the former College of Technology and Institute of Administration commenced. The fusion of the two schools resulted in IMT inheriting their students.
The then division of technology later metamorphosed into the School of Engineering and School of Technology respectively. The Civil Engineering Department became one of the departments in the School of Engineering.
Goals and objectives
The National Diploma programme in Civil Engineering Technology is aimed at producing technicians, who can be self-establishing and self-reliant, for both the public and the private sectors of the economy. The Higher National Diploma programme in Civil Engineering, on the other hand, is aimed at producing technologists with good mastery of engineering knowledge and skill in executing civil engineering works.
Staffing and laboratories
The department currently has qualified academic and non-academic staff. These include chief lecturers, lecturers I, II and III as well as chief technologists, technologists and other support staff. The departmental laboratories, workshop and studios include:
- Structures laboratory;
- Surveying studio;
- Drawing studio;
- Concrete workshop;
- Carpentry workshop;
- Transportation laboratory;
- Hydraulics and hydrology laboratory;
- Soil mechanics laboratory, among others.
The teaching of the theory and practical work as much as possible are integrated. Practical exercises, especially those in professional courses and laboratory work, are blended. For each course, there is a balance of theory to practice depending on the course objectives and content.