I have a friend (chemical engineer who has worked in the...

I have a friend (chemical engineer who has worked in the Phillipines, South Africa and Malaysia, with Chemical and Mechanical engineer graduates on projects.
He says their knowledge and comprehension of "engineering" is so poor it is the equivalent if what we would call a school level "design tech" year 10 or 12.
He was in charge of 100 or so "engineers" who had never seen a pump, valve, boiler, vessel or pipe, and were supposedly graduates.
The curriculum and entry standards are so low, this may be the reason that there is more gender equality.

Basically to pass Engineering at a sandstone Uni in Oz you must have an IQ of 140 or above, or you will not cut it. You will not pass first year.