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Building SA's future engineers: "Graduates need more than technical knowledge to succeed" AECOM South Africa's newly launched Graduate Development Programme is helping bridge the gap between academic learning and professional practice by equipping graduates with the skills, confidence and experience needed to build successful engineering careers. 7 Aug 2026 The initiative supports emerging professionals as they transition into the consulting environment, while contributing to South Africa's need for skilled engineers, quantity surveyors, architects and infrastructure specialists. The programme complements Aecom's long-established cvandidacy programme, which continues to successfully support aspiring professionals on their journey towards professional registration. Together, the programmes create a comprehensive development pathway that supports graduates from their first day in the workplace through to becoming registered professionals and future industry leaders. Supporting the next generation. Graduate development initiatives play a vital role in bridging the gap between academic learning and professional practice. "Graduates need more than technical knowledge to succeed in today's workplace. They also need professional confidence, communication skills, business awareness and the ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams," says Aecom South Africa's HR operations director serving on the executive committee, Senika Devsheel. Aecom's commitment to talent development extends far beyond its graduate development programme. Through bursaries, the Aecom Educational Trust, educational assistance, continuous learning opportunities and the candidacy programme, the company supports individuals throughout their professional journeys. "Collectively, these initiatives reflect our belief that investing in people is one of the most meaningful ways we can contribute to addressing South Africa's skills shortage while building a sustainable pipeline of future professionals," comments Devsheel. Built for long-term success. While the Graduate Development Programme focuses on helping graduates successfully transition into the workplace, the candidacy programme provides the structured technical experience, mentoring and guidance required for professional registration. The distinction is intentional. The Graduate Development Programme develops professional behaviours, communication, collaboration, commercial awareness and broader business skills, while introducing graduates to Aecom's culture and multidisciplinary way of working. The candidacy programme then builds on this foundation by supporting graduates as they work towards registration with their respective professional bodies. This integrated approach ensures graduates develop not only the technical competence required for their professions, but also the leadership and interpersonal skills needed to succeed as consultants and future leaders. Real-world experience. For Jesse Plaatjes, a candidate mechanical engineer based in Durban, the programme has transformed the transition from university into professional practice. Having graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Wright State University in the United States, Plaatjes joined Aecom seeking an environment where he could learn from experienced professionals while working on meaningful projects. "The Graduate Development Programme has allowed me to integrate my theoretical knowledge with actual projects under the guidance of an experienced team," says Plaatjes. Exposure to complex data-centre projects and the opportunity to contribute to a fire engineering project have expanded both his technical knowledge and confidence. "I have never felt out of my depth because my team is committed to my development and always provides the support and guidance I need. Through their mentorship, I have grown exponentially in just a few short months," says Plaatjes. Growing through collaboration. For Chulekazi Kalipa, a candidate quantity surveyor specialising in Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire (MEPF), the programme's collaborative environment has been equally valuable. Having completed both her BSc in Construction Studies and BSc Honours in Quantity Surveying at the University of the Witwatersrand, she says beginning her career alongside fellow graduates created an invaluable support network. "Having a peer network makes the adjustment much smoother because we learn from one another, share experiences and grow together while experiencing many career milestones for the first time," says Kalipa. Working on complex international infrastructure projects has accelerated her development, while experienced colleagues have helped build her confidence. "Their willingness to share knowledge and provide constructive feedback has given me the confidence to think creatively, take initiative and continuously develop my skills," says Kalipa. Investing in SA's future. For Aecom, success is measured not only by the infrastructure it helps deliver, but by the people it develops. The company's ambition is to build a sustainable pipeline of future talent that strengthens both the organisation and South Africa's broader engineering and infrastructure sector. By investing in education, graduate development, professional registration and continuous learning, Aecom aims to create opportunities for talented young South Africans while helping address the country's critical skills shortage. As International Youth Day highlights the importance of empowering young people, initiatives such as Aecom's Graduate Development Programme demonstrate how long-term investment in talent can benefit individuals, businesses and communities alike. For graduates like Plaatjes and Kalipa, the programme represents more than a first job. It is the beginning of careers built on learning, mentorship, collaboration and the opportunity to make a lasting contribution to South Africa's future infrastructure.

Building SA's future infrastructure starts with developing its future professionals. 6th August 2026 Font size: - + As South Africa marks International Youth Day on 12 August, creating opportunities for young professionals remains one of the country's greatest priorities. While youth unemployment continues to present significant challenges, the need for skilled engineers, quantity surveyors, architects and infrastructure specialists has never been greater. For AECOM South Africa, addressing these two realities requires more than simply creating jobs. It requires investing in people, equipping graduates with the technical expertise, professional confidence and practical experience they need to build rewarding careers while helping to deliver the infrastructure that communities depend on. This year, AECOM in South Africa launched its Graduate Development Programme, a structured initiative designed to support graduates as they transition from university into the professional consulting environment. The programme complements AECOM's long-established Candidacy Programme, which continues to successfully support aspiring professionals on their journey towards professional registration. Together, the programmes create a comprehensive development pathway that supports graduates from their first day in the workplace through to becoming registered professionals and future industry leaders. Supporting the next generation of professionals Graduate development initiatives play a vital role in bridging the gap between academic learning and professional practice. "Graduates need more than technical knowledge to succeed in today's workplace. They also need professional confidence, communication skills, business awareness and the ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams," says Senika Devsheel, EC Human Resources Ops Director at AECOM, South Africa. AECOM's commitment to talent development extends far beyond a graduate programme. Through bursaries, the AECOM Educational Trust, educational assistance, continuous learning opportunities, the Graduate Development Programme and the Candidacy Programme, the company supports individuals throughout their professional journey. "Collectively, these initiatives reflect our belief that investing in people is one of the most meaningful ways we can contribute to addressing South Africa's skills shortage while building a sustainable pipeline of future professionals," comments Senika. A programme built for long-term success While the Graduate Development Programme focuses on helping graduates successfully transition into the workplace, the Candidacy Programme provides the structured technical experience, mentoring and guidance required for professional registration. The distinction is intentional. The Graduate Development Programme develops professional behaviours, communication, collaboration, commercial awareness and broader business skills, while introducing graduates to AECOM's culture and multidisciplinary way of working. The Candidacy Programme then builds on this foundation by supporting graduates as they work towards registration with their respective professional bodies. This integrated approach ensures graduates develop not only the technical competence required for their professions, but also the leadership and interpersonal skills needed to succeed as consultants and future leaders. Learning through real-world experience For Jesse Plaatjes, a Candidate Mechanical Engineer based in Durban, the programme has transformed the transition from university into professional practice. Having graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Wright State University in the United States, Jesse joined AECOM seeking an environment where he could learn from experienced professionals while working on meaningful projects. "The Graduate Development Programme has allowed me to integrate my theoretical knowledge with actual projects under the guidance of an experienced team," says Jesse. Exposure to complex data centre projects and the opportunity to contribute to a fire engineering project have expanded both his technical knowledge and confidence. "I have never felt out of my depth because my team is committed to my development and always provides the support and guidance I need. Through their mentorship, I have grown exponentially in just a few short months," says Jesse. Growing through collaboration For Chulekazi Kalipa, a Candidate Quantity Surveyor specialising in Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire (MEPF), the programme's collaborative environment has been equally valuable. Having completed both her BSc in Construction Studies and BSc Honours in Quantity Surveying at the University of the Witwatersrand, she says beginning her career alongside fellow graduates created an invaluable support network. "Having a peer network makes the adjustment much smoother because we learn from one another, share experiences and grow together while experiencing many career milestones for the first time," says Chulekazi. Working on complex international infrastructure projects has accelerated her development, while experienced colleagues have helped build her confidence. "Their willingness to share knowledge and provide constructive feedback has given me the confidence to think creatively, take initiative and continuously develop my skills," says Chulekazi. For AECOM, success is measured not only by the infrastructure it helps deliver, but by the people it develops. The company's ambition is to build a sustainable pipeline of future talent that strengthens both the organisation and South Africa's broader engineering and infrastructure sector. By investing in education, graduate development, professional registration and continuous learning, AECOM aims to create opportunities for talented young South Africans while helping address the country's critical skills shortage. As International Youth Day highlights the importance of empowering young people, initiatives such as AECOM's Graduate Development Programme demonstrate how long-term investment in talent can benefit individuals, businesses and communities alike. For graduates like Jesse and Chulekazi, the programme represents more than a first job. It is the beginning of careers built on learning, mentorship, collaboration and the opportunity to make a lasting contribution to South Africa's future infrastructure. Edited by Creamer Media Reporter Article Enquiry Email Article Save Article To advertise email [email protected] or click here Research Reports

AECOM opens new Hong Kong office and Asia headquarters, bringing together people, technology and sustainability. HONG KONG SAR- Media OutReach Newswire - 31 July 2026 - AECOM, the trusted global infrastructure leader, officially launched its new Hong Kong office and Asia headquarters at 83 King Lam Street in Cheung Sha Wan, unveiling a workplace that reflects how the company is evolving to meet the needs of its employees, clients and communities. The ceremony was attended by Jill Hudkins, global chief executive, AECOM Advisory, alongside clients, partners and employees. Designed as a living demonstration of the way AECOM works, the office brings together people, technology and sustainable design in a future-ready environment that reflects both the company's values and its deep connection to Hong Kong. The new workplace underlines the company's commitment to Hong Kong. At a time of transformational development in Hong Kong, including landmark initiatives such as the Northern Metropolis and SKYTOPIA, it strengthens AECOM's ability to support clients locally while leveraging its breadth of expertise across Asia. Ian Chung, chief executive of AECOM's Asia region, said: "Our new Hong Kong office and Asia headquarters represents AECOM's largest office investment in Asia and reflects our confidence in Hong Kong's future. For more than 50 years, we have partnered with clients and communities to help shape the city's development. This new workplace will strengthen collaboration and innovation across our teams, enabling us to support the opportunities ahead and continue growing future Hong Kong together with our clients and partners." Johnny Cheuk, executive leader, Hong Kong, AECOM, said: "As Hong Kong enters a new era of development, creating the right environment for our people and clients to collaborate has never been more important. Our new office is designed to foster innovation, collaboration and multidisciplinary teamwork, strengthening our ability to deliver better outcomes for clients and communities. This future-ready workplace will help us bring together the talent and expertise needed to shape Hong Kong's next chapter of growth." Occupying approximately 126,000 gross square feet across four floors, the workplace is designed around AECOM's Freedom to Grow framework, supporting flexible, performance-led ways of working through a variety of spaces for focused work, project delivery, hybrid meetings and collaboration. Client engagement areas, innovation spaces and technology-enabled environments further support co-creation and knowledge sharing. It demonstrates the same people-centered and future-ready principles that AECOM helps clients deliver every day. A digital dashboard powered by IoT sensors provides real-time insights into energy consumption and indoor air quality, making workplace sustainability performance visible and measurable. The relocation also embraced circular economy principles. More than 900 furniture items from AECOM's previous Sha Tin office were donated to local schools and non-governmental organizations, extending their useful life while reducing landfill waste. Employee wellbeing was integral to the design. Activity-based workspace design promotes the exchange of ideas, collaboration, socialization and focused work, while natural materials, green walls and planted dividers bring biophilic elements into the workplace. Bamboo finishes and sustainable carpets help reduce the environmental impact of the fit-out. The workplace also reflects AECOM's multidisciplinary strength in infrastructure delivery. The office is located at 83 King Lam Street, a twin-tower commercial development for which AECOM provided structural, geotechnical and façade engineering services. The project was recognized at the HKIE Structural Division Structural Excellence Award 2025. Download more high-resolution images here. Hashtag: #AECOMHongKong #AECOMHKNewOffice #GrowingFutureHKTogether #DeliveringABetterWorld The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Discover more Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence About AECOM. AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, Theinfostride - Tunesbid Limited solve its clients' complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Its teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle - from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of US$16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com. Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. Theinfostride - Tunesbid Limited need your support. Click here to Donate Geographic Reference