Gerhard ven der Westhuizen 

I am a civil engineering tutor with 50 years of combined industry and teaching experience. I specialise in road engineering, construction, and infrastructure development.

My background spans materials testing, road / stormwater design, project management, and maintenance systems. I integrate my experience and knowledge (skills) into my teaching to ensure strong alignment with industry practice.

I am passionate about developing practical, work-ready graduates and supporting students in building both technical competence and professional confidence.

Outside of work, I have a long-standing interest in music and have previously played piano, guitar, and bluegrass banjo. I enjoy fixing broken / defective household items or gardening equipment.

Van der Westhuizen, G.J.; Training and Education: Civil Engineering Programs offered by Technikons in the RSA; SATC, Pretoria (07/2003)

Van der Westhuizen, G.J.; Rejuvenation of skid resistance of Chip Seals; NZ Roading Conference, Auckland, NZ (05/2006)

I enjoy working with students to develop their understanding and confidence, particularly seeing them progress from limited knowledge to being able to apply engineering principles in practical situations. I value the opportunity to share industry experience, guide problem-solving, and contribute to preparing students to enter the workforce as competent and reliable practitioners.

I value the applied nature of civil engineering, especially in roading and infrastructure, where technical decisions translate directly into real-world outcomes. I am particularly interested in how sound engineering practice supports safe, efficient, and sustainable infrastructure that serves communities over the long term.

I have about 50 years of experience across civil engineering practice and tertiary education. My industry career (1976–2006) focused on road engineering, including materials quality control, road design, project management, township development, and maintenance management systems in both public sector and consulting roles.

Since 1999 I have worked as a civil engineering tutor, contributing to transport education, leading international exchange programmes, and establishing postgraduate research initiatives, with a strong focus on developing industry-ready graduates.