The Department of the Built Environment at CPUT has recently been awarded a grant from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) to develop an undergraduate course in Facility Management.

Partnering CPUT in this project are the University of Karlsruhe in Germany and the Polytechnic of Namibia.

Facility Management is a growing field of employment and is concerned with a life-cycle view of built assets. Through inputs in the design, construction and utilisation phase of a built asset, Facility Management aims to enable property owners and societies to gain maximum benefits from its built assets.

The initiative to develop such course came from within the Department of the Built Environment, with Ludwig Martin connecting with academics abroad and Head of Department, Ernest James’ previous involvement in Facilities Management.

In South Africa there are no formal training programmes at tertiary level in Facility Management and there is a demand for managers to the implementation of the Government’s National Infrastructure Management Strategy (NIMS).

The main partner for CPUT is the University of Karlsruhe , arguably one of the top three universities in Germany according to an international peer review recently undertaken.

The German partners of CPUT, the Facility Management group around Prof Lennerts, are pioneers in their country. Prof Lennerts was the first professor appointed at a German research university as chair in this field.

The Department of Civil Engineering at the Polytechnic of Namibia forms part of the project and will also introduce Facility Management into its curriculum.

Together with these partners a group of CPUT lecturers around Martin will develop an undergraduate degree program in Facility Management over the next four years. The first graduates in this field are due to finish their studies in 2013.

The collaboration with the Polytechnic of Namibia as well as the University of Karlsruhe holds the promise to bring the possibility to study abroad to CPUT students. Already during this initial funding period funds are allocated for Master students to visit Germany and Namibia .

Regular meetings and workshops are part of this project, ensuring academic staff at CPUT will be equipped with the necessary knowledge to present the future courses. A series of industry symposia are envisaged, connecting academia with practice and thus ensuring appropriate and relevant content of course material developed.

The aim of the project is to grow a course equipping graduates with relevant knowledge to enter industry. This will further be ensured through external accreditation of the program.

Martin noted, “Accreditation with the International Association of Life-Cycle Civil Engineering (IALCCE), but also with the South African Facilities Management Association (SAFMA) are compulsory if CPUT wants to ensure high quality outputs.”

The funding by DAAD was awarded following the signing of a joint Memorandum of Understanding by the three Universities and joint application to DAAD in 2008.

The funding is governed by the DAAD development program. It is awarded for 2009 to 2012, with the total awarded amount of Euro 136 470, which amounts to approximately R 1.7 million, of which R 630 000 are allocated for CPUT.

Costs covered by the funding range from translation costs to travel subsidies for staff members and students.

By the Department of the Built Environment

Photo: (from left) Ludwig Martin of CPUT, Prof. Kunibert Lennerts of the University of Karlsruhe, Dr Carolin Bahr of the University of Karlsruhe, David Katale of the Polytechnic of Namibia.

Written by CPUT News
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Doctoral candidate, Maphole Loke’s research has drawn international recognition as it has been accepted for publication at the 12th International Conference on Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions in Barcelona, Spain.

The conference has been scheduled for 2021 due to COVID 19 pandemic. The 29-year-old graduated with her Master of Engineering: Civil Engineering Summa Cum Laude (91%) last week. Her research: “Standard Protocols for restoring heritage cementing materials”, has been published in one journal (Journal of South African Institution of Civil Engineering) and presented in two international conferences (IEEE 10th International Conference on Mechanical and Intelligent Manufacturing Technologies (ICMIMT 2019) and XVII International Triple Helix Conference) including a presentation at the 2018 and 2019 CPUT postgraduate conferences respectively.

She was supervised by Dr Pallav Kumar, in joint supervision with adjunct Professor Rainer Haldenwang.

Kumar, a senior lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering, says, Maphole’s determination and eagerness to learn has established a link with the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) which, “We were trying to develop since the beginning of her research.”

“The relationship with SAHRA added a feather to our research.  She worked very hard to characterise the heritage mortar for Robben Island and Castle of Good Hope and develop a basic guideline for characterisation of heritage mortar. She is a very disciplined and meticulous student with a systematic problem-solving approach,” Kumar says.

Being born in a rural village called Likhoele Ha Sebusi, Mafeteng District approximately 80km from Maseru (Lesotho), Maphole was trained to work hard at a very young age. She says due to lack of development in her village, going to school was her mission. Because of her background, she only started pre-school at the age of six years. “I was not attending school but herding cattle and sheep… fetching water from the well, using horses and donkeys to fetch firewood.”

Maphole adds: “For the youth from the same background as myself, knowing and believing that your background does not have to determine who you end up becoming would be the best gift you would reward yourself with.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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Mathematical lecturer Dr Sibis Mouton is proof that you can do it all.

A lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering, Mouton is also a practising behavioural kinesiologist, a former world champion in the Ironman distance competition, an inspirational speaker, as well as facilitator of the ZEST4LIFE courses offered in Cape Town, the UK and Seychelles.

And if that’s not enough, Mouton recently joined the ranks of autobiographical authors, having penned her first book, Journey to Joy World Champ at last.

An action-packed autobiography, Mouton shares her life experiences, from climbing extinct volcanoes to visiting more than 40 islands as well as her inspiring journey of becoming a world champion.

“I am a very lucky person. I am doing all the things that I want to do and I am enjoying it,” she says.

The idea of an autobiography was sparked after Mouton wrote an article that was published in an international magazine.

“I thought that if I could write an article, I could write a book,” she says.

However, Mouton says it was a long and hard process, but one that was well worth the effort.

“I love the book,” she says.

The 194-page book is divided into 12 chapters with color photos at the back. The first six chapters focus on her journey to win the World Ironman championships, while the remaining chapters reflect on her spiritual journey.

Reviewers of the book has described it as “an uplifting and inspiring story that should convince the reader that life is indeed a miracle to be enjoyed and treasured.”

Mouton says the book is not just about sharing her adventures with the world, but she hopes readers will be inspired by her story.

*The book is published by Modajaji Books and can be purchased at local bookstores.

For more information see: http://www.africanbookscollective.com/books/journey-to-joy

Written by Candes Keating
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