The Faculty of Business and Management Sciences recently welcomed this year’s cohort of international exchange students to CPUT.

Part of the students’ orientation week included a Welcoming Luncheon which was hosted by the Faculty’s Associate Dean Ivan van der Heever and Dr Diane Bell, Manager: Special Initiatives and Projects.

The students also participated in a campus tour, a library orientation and information literacy training session, a tour of the Peninsula and a cultural tour.

The tours were led by Bell, Nicole Umwizerwa, Co-ordinator of International Exchanges, and Siphelele Mblashwa, Assistant to Co-ordinator of International Exchanges.

The students come from European universities, namely, Carinthia University in Austria, Ravensburg University (Germany), Nuertingen-Geislingen (Germany), Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (Germany), Fontys University (Netherlands), IPAG University (France) and Odisee University (Belgium).

The BMS Faculty receives approximately 50 exchange students per year who come to CPUT to undertake undergraduate studies for a semester within the faculty’s various departments. For the first semester of 2019, the faculty has received 23 students from its partner universities in Europe.

“In return, we send between 12 and 15 students per year to our partner universities. Our students participate in three-month and six-month academic exchange programmes which count towards their present studies,” says Umwizerwa.

Two deserving students are selected by their respective departments and nominated for the faculty’s international exchange programme.

Written by Kwanele Butana

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The Department Biotechnology and Consumer Sciences recently gave a fond farewell to two exchange students from the Department of Food – Nutrition – Facilities at the FH Muenster University of Applied Sciences, Germany who spent about four months in the department.

Consumer Sciences: Food and Nutrition Lecturer, Raché Hanekom, said the department was pleased to have hosted Litha Lorenz and Freya Linnig as exchange students from February until June this year. The exchange was based on the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department Biotechnology and Consumer Science and the Department of Food – Nutrition – Facilities at the FH Muenster University of Applied Sciences.

 Lorenz and Linnig participated in the Food Production and Service Operations 2 and Food: Science and Practice 3 subjects. The pair successfully completed large scale production days, working alongside the Programme’s second-year students.

 Hanekom said: “It has been an absolute pleasure working with Ms Lorenz and Ms Linnig. Their willingness to learn, share knowledge and skills, and participate in all academic activities are commendable.” Prof Maretha Opperman, Head of the Functional Foods Research Unit, said the students were the second FH Muenster exchange student group visiting the Department which shows the commitment between the universities to make the exchange a success.  “This exchange programme is valuable to our department as it creates opportunities for future research collaboration as well as international benchmarking.”

Second- year student, Oyena Dlwengu, said at first, she thought Litha was just here to study and return to Germany, but she [Litha] became like a schoolmate to her.  “It was amazing working with Litha as she offered unique perspectives and ideas to assist with group practicals. Despite the social differences and language barrier, Litha worked well with us and demonstrated a positive and enthusiastic approach towards the subject. It was a pleasure working with her.”

Another second- year student, Alistor Rossouw, said it was enjoyable to work with Freya in a group. “I learnt some fascinating facts about Germany. She is an imaginative person and always had solutions for challenges in a practical laboratory. Freya is one of those people who has a diligent mindset that will always work towards her goal.”

In a joint statement, the German students said they “totally” enjoyed their stay in Cape Town. “The cultural immersion, educational opportunities, and warm hospitality of the South African people made it a truly memorable experience. We also had the chance to collaborate with students of the Department Biotechnology and Consumer Science, gaining valuable insights and different perspectives. The academic staff were knowledgeable and passionate about their subject.” The Programme Consumer Science: Food and Nutrition is looking forward to future collaboration, in line with the CPUT 2030 vision of Internationalisation and hosting three more exchange students in Semester 1 of the 2024 academic year.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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