Renewable energy project to benefit student community
INNOVATE: Engineering Lecturer Wilfred Fritz and the Director of Training Development Consulting, Andrea von Gleichenstein watch on as students work on a team building exercise
Thursday, 26 February 2015
CPUT students are set to embark on a waste upcycling and renewable energy project that will benefit the student community.
The project is a collaboration between CPUT and the German based entities World of Eve, and Training Development Consulting.
The project is led by Engineering Lecturers Dr Wilfred Fritz and Deon Kallis and will see electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and information technology students develop an outdoor solar charging unit, made from waste materials.
The project kicked off mid-February, with a workshop coordinated by Andrea von Gleichenstein, the Director of Training Development Consulting.
Von Gleichenstein says the workshop aims at preparing students for the yearlong project.
“This is a realistic project. It’s not just theoretical,” she says.
The workshop covered aspects such as team work and project management, skills von Gleichenstein says students will have to develop if they want to survive in industry.
“All these activities will enhance their competences,” she says.
Fritz says when deciding on a project, they looked at something that will be relevant to the university community and that could eventually be rolled out to the local community.
A total of 70 students are participating in the project and over the next few weeks they will work in groups to design a prototype.
Fritz says the best design will be selected and along with several exchange students from Germany, the outdoor solar charging unit will be constructed.
Fritz says a memorandum between CPUT and the German entities was signed, which will see the parties collaborate on similar student based projects over the next five years.
Written by Candes Keating
Email: keatingc@cput.ac.za
Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.
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