A R1.98 million grant from the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) will ensure that CPUT students secure internship placements in industry.

The move to establish the CHIETA Student Internship and Learnership Programme at CPUT was promoted by the Chemical Engineering Department, who in recent years has been battling to place students in industry.

Addressing delegates who attended the launch on 9 April 2010 at the Bellville Campus, Head of the Chemical Engineering Department, Prof Daniel Ikhu-Omoregbe said they approached CHIETA for assistance after many companies refused to place students, stating that they could not afford to run internship programmes.

“In recent years it has become increasingly difficult for us as a department to place these students. It is common to see students sitting at home unable to complete their diploma programme for up to a year because they have no place to undertake their one year of industrial placement,” he said.

The battle to secure internship placements has negatively impacted on the department’s throughput rates, with students remaining in the system as they are unable to meet all the requirements of their programme.

Prof Ikhu-Omoregbe said the much-needed grant will now guarantee placements for students in industry and ensure that they graduate in the prescribed time.

According to the grant agreement signed between CHIETA and CPUT, the university will be responsible for approaching industry for placements, while the organisation will cover the cost of the students, relieving companies from having to pay stipends.

CHIETA CEO, Kelebogile Dilotsotlhe said it is vital for their organisation to take a leading role in ensuring students are well equipped for the Chemical Engineering Industry, which currently faces dire skill shortages.

CHIETA, along with all other Sector Education Training Authorities (SETA’s) were recently mandated by the Department of Higher Education and Training to play a more active role in skills development, by collaborating with higher education institutions.

Dilotsotlhe said this is the first collaboration of its kind with a university of technology. “We are proud to be part of creating history, which will be reflected in the lives of these students,” she said.

CPUT Vice-Chancellor, Prof Vuyisa Mazwi-Tanga said a lot of effort has been made to infuse work integrated learning into the curriculum.

She said this grant will play a major role in the development of students.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships, Dr Chris Nhlapo welcomed the grant and said it is indicative of a vote of confidence in CPUT.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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A generous donation of over R2 million will ensure that Chemical Engineering and Chemistry students secure internships within the industry.

With the current economic situation, many companies have been unable to carry the financial cost of student internship positions.

As a result, many students have been battling to find internships, which are a key component of all courses at CPUT.

But thanks to the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA), students are now assured of internships.

Manager of Co-operative Education, Fundiswa Nofemela, says the funds will allow CPUT to place students in the workplace, as well as cover the cost of their monthly stipends.

“The companies have always been willing to take students, but could not pay them. Out of this funding, we will cover the placement of 70 students,” she says.

Nofemela, who worked closely with the various departments in securing the funding, says this is a huge boost for the Work Integrated Learning programme, as a portion of the funds will be used to roll out a customized training programme for industry mentors.

“We identified a need to train industry supervisors who work closely with students. The training will equip them to be more effective in mentoring our students. We need to be sure of the training our students are getting in the workplace,” she says.

The training is a first for CPUT and will also play a major role in helping CPUT to strengthen ties with the industry.

Head of the Chemistry Department, Dr Bhekumusa Ximba also welcomed the funding.

Dr Ximba says students are required to spend a year in industry, during which they must complete a number of tasks, including a research project.

He says the funding will go a long way to ensure that students meet the requirements of their course.

By: Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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The enormous support CPUT has received from the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority (CHIETA) has been gratefully acknowledged again by the university.

In addition to the over R3.5 million provided to CPUT for various projects in 2016, CHIETA has also purchased a Spectrum Two IR Spectrometer for the Chemistry Department, worth R250 000.

Head of the Chemistry Department, Dr Francois Wewers, says the Spectrum Two IR Spectrometer will bring greater accuracy to test results of chemistry projects, describing the instrument as “an analysis tool which allows for accurate testing and assurance of quality for chemical materials.”

CPUT’s SETA Project Officer, Dumisani Xesha says that this latest support from CHIETA comes on the back of a steady stream of funding to CPUT.

“This SETA has been a constant funder to the institution since 2012, pledging over R11 million for student work-integrated learning stipends, lecturer development programs, strategic infrastructure and bursaries.”

Prof Olekan Fatoki, the Dean of the Faculty of Applied Science has extended his gratitude to CHIETA for its continued support to the university, saying that their funding continuously brings positive change to the lives of CPUT’s students.

Written by Janyce Weintrob
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A project, which has helped hundreds of young people by giving them a second chance to write their matric exams, is growing from strength to strength, thanks to CPUT and a range of partners.

Recently a new intake of learners, who will make up the class of 2017, were inducted into the Second Chance programme, which will provide them with free tuition.

The CPUT programme was first launched and co -sponsored in 2015 by the National Youth Development Agency and the Education Training and Development Practices SETA.

In 2016, the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority came on board to sponsor 50 learners specifically for Mathematics and Physical Science.

This year the project is proving to be in huge demand with more than 2 000 applications received for the only 300 available places in 2017.

They will have the opportunity to rewrite the matric exams in Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, Accounting and English First Additional Language, thanks to the Advancement Department, the Service-Learning Unit and the Faculty of Education at CPUT, the Western Cape Education Department and the ETDP-SETA.

At a mini seminar held at the Granger Bay campus, where stakeholders could reflect on and evaluate the project, one of the project’s many success stories was celebrated.

Lakin Seconds, who completed the programme last year and was at the top of the class, has been awarded a bursary through the Solomon Mahlangu Bursary Fund. She is currently studying medicine at the University of the Free State. Her parents thanked the stakeholders for helping Lakin to achieve her goals.  

“No student can turn around and say they didn’t get a second chance. It is an excellent programme.  I don’t have the words to say how thankful we are. I’m promoting the programme wherever I go,” Lakin’s mother, Lynn Seconds, told the stakeholders.

Jacqui Scheepers, project manager and manager of the Service-Learning Unit at CPUT, says the project would continue to build on its successes this year, while aiming to increase attendance and parental involvement.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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