Does it Matter Which Comes First in a Curriculum for Engineering Students — Theory or Practice?

The Department of Electronic Engineering at the Vaal University of Technology, South Africa, emphasizes the importance of practical instruction within a laboratory environment for engineering students, primarily through the design of electronics and telecommunication systems. This article uses the example of a module in radio engineering offered by the department to explore the importance of blending theory and practice in a curriculum for engineering students through two different approaches: presenting the theory before the practice; or the practice before the theory. The merits of both are discussed. The case study showed that either approach can be successfully implemented in a curriculum for engineering students.