Orientation 2009, which began on 19 January, promises an action-packed programme geared towards helping first year students to familiarise themselves with their new environment.

This year, first years on all campuses will receive a ‘Passport to Student Life’ – a one-stop handbook containing information on the various services available. An orientation DVD, produced by Student Affairs, will be shown at the various campuses. A Student Affairs and Services website will also be rolled out.

Daily live presentations on topics such as Financial Aid, Student Governance and Student Development are to be held in the Bellville Campus auditorium. Stalls providing further information about items of interest to students will be available on this campus as well as in Cape Town. Orientation Officers will be on hand to give extra assistance to newcomers.

Mowbray and Wellington Campuses have organised plenty of social and sporting events to help new students break the ice with their classmates and get settled in at residences. Wellington has hired out the local town pool for a day of water games. Mowbray’s activities include a drumming session and bus tour of the coast.

In the midst of the buzz of Orientation Week, it is important that students not forget about the essentials of preparing themselves for the year ahead.

“Students must make sure they register for courses before classes begin,” said Kenneth Rinquest, Acting Head of Student Affairs, “They need to make sure that their accommodation is in order. They must also be aware of safety issues.”

Echoing the Vice-Chancellor’s comments in her Welcome address about leading a holistic student life, Rinquest advises the new students of 2009, “Play hard and work hard – keep a balance.”

By Ilana Abratt, Marketing and Communication Department

For more information about student events and services at CPUT, contact the Student Development Officers:

Bellville:
Mastura Jamodien: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Eugene Malan: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cape Town:
Anette Grobler: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Nomsa Kulehile: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Thobeka September: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Derek Stocken: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mowbray:
Sandy Johnson (acting SDO): This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Wellington:
Willie Liebenberg: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CPUT will continue to remain the most reasonably priced higher education institution in the Western Cape.

After consulting with student representative leaders, the CPUT Council has decided to increase tuition fees for 2013 by an 8%.  Fees for residence accommodation will increase by 10%.

Despite the increase in tuition and residence fees, the university remains one of the most affordable in South Africa and the cheapest in the Western Cape.

The CPUT Council is also committed to acting in the best interest of current and prospective students and as a result has decided to not increase the upfront payment for the 2013 academic year.

Day students will have to make an upfront payment of R 3 500, while those staying at one of CPUT’s residence’s will be required to make an upfront payment of R 5 000 (R3 500 for tuition + R1 500 for residence).

The university will also not exclude any academically competent but financially needy students. However, students who require assistance must follow the institution’s normal Credit Management processes as set out in the university’s policy.

Financially needy students are also advised to apply for Financial Aid, which includes a range of bursaries as well as the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).   In all instances of funding, students must meet the criteria that are set by the relevant bursary fund or NSFAS.

These funding mechanisms have proved to be a huge success in helping financially needy students to achieve their academic goals.

During the last four years, CPUT together with NSFAS has more than doubled financial support to financially needy students.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

CPUT and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has more than doubled financial support to financially needy students over the last four years.

In a bid to help poor students access higher education, the institution made 9 044 financial aid awards to the tune of R105 683 258 in 2008 compared to 2011’s awards valued at R228 687 030.

Awards to students with disabilities also increased from R591 491 in 2009 to R2 748 000 last year.

Graham Renecke from the Financial Aid Office says these figures prove we are doing something right.

Last year 526 students who could not continue to the next year because of an outstanding debt were granted a reprieve by the institution and allowed to enroll for the following year.

Despite the huge demand for funding Renecke says that of this year’s R53 million NSFAS allocation the university is left with a whopping R32 million.

 “The reason for this slow uptake is that students don’t submit their loan agreement forms,” he said. 

He urged students to sign the documents and submit them to the university as early as possible in order for the financial aid office to claim the money from NSFAS.

The university awards financial aid to students who are academically competent but financially needy based on the NSFAS criteria, the National Credit Act as well as the university’s policy.

NSFAS financial aid consists of bursaries and study loans, a portion of which is paid back on completion of your studies and the start of work.

For more information about NSFAS funding call 021 460 3918 or 021 959 6371.

By Kwanele Butana

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

FIRST years are getting their second taste of life at CPUT as a full week of orientation kicks off.

Last week three Welcome Ceremonies took place across the Wellington, Cape Town and Bellville campuses where new students and their parents were officially greeted by CPUT management.

This week first-year students will be meeting many of their future classmates for the first time when they participate in a number of fun ice breaker events.

Apart from tours of the various campuses, which will show them popular facilities like the gym and pool, students will also get valuable information on topics like Financial Aid and Student Governance.

Helpful facilities like the clinic, library and student counselling will also be pointed out.

During his Welcome speech, Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Anthony Staak encouraged first years to become holistic students who fully participate in all aspects of CPUT life.

“Many lifelong friendships and valuable networks are formed during your time at university. Become involved in the many different facets of student life,” he says.

CPUT Events Manager Cathy Cloete urged students not to miss their orientation.

“If you don’t become familiar with some of the facilities on offer you could spend three years not taking advantage of any of them,” she says.

Orientation Week happens from today through to Friday the 27^th.

Contact the CPUT call centre at 021 959 6767 with any queries.

By LAUREN KANSLEY

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

First-year students who are eligible for a loan from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Applications are made directly to CPUT’s Financial Aid office after a student has been accepted for a course and successfully registered online.

Students need to come prepared with the appropriate documents to complete their application (See checklist below).

Financial Aid has also gotten stricter about the type of paperwork submitted. These days an affidavit claiming parents’ unemployment is no longer valid. Students need to visit their local Department of Labour office, with a certified copy of their parents ID, and get an official acknowledgment of unemployment. This tightening of processes strengthens the case of valid claimants and weeds out fraudulent applications.

After a staff member from Financial Aid has validated your paperwork the application will be subjected to a means test from NSFAS and thereafter successful applicants will be notified.

NSFAS loans and bursaries cover registration, tuition and allowances for books, travel, food and accommodation. Loans must be repaid once a student is employed and earning R30 000 per year or R2500 per month. The repayment amount is calculated from 3% to 8% of their salary.

NSFAS converts up to 40% of a loan taken in a particular year into a bursary when a student passes all their modules or subjects, which results in a debt of only 60% of the initial loan taken in that year. A student who is funded during their final year stands a chance of receiving a 100% bursary conversion if they pass all the modules or subjects taken in that particular year, which results in zero debt for their final year loan.  

CPUT’s Financial Aid office can also advise on independent scholarships and bursary funds.

Financial Aid webpage

External scholarship and bursary opportunities

Checklist and application form

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is calling on all prospective and returning students who have not yet applied for 2019 financial aid to do so by November 30. 

Applicants can submit their applications online at www.nsfas.org.za . They can also visit their nearest National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) centre for support with their application.

NSFAS has indicated that there will be no extended window period for 2019 applications and no applications will be accepted after the 30 November deadline.

The application process takes only five minutes to complete and requires only a copy of the Identification Document (ID) of the applicant and their parents, payslips of both parents, if parents earn an income and a consent form to give the Scheme permission to verify income. Those whose parents are not working are only required to submit a signed consent form.

Continuing students who are funded by NSFAS this year will be contacted by NSFAS to sign their agreements online, if they have not done so already. They are not required to reapply as funding will automatically continue in 2019, if they meet the progression rule of a 50% pass.

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Faculty of Business and Management Sciences recently resumed face-to-face orientation sessions for first-year students on the District Six Campus.

“The number of students who attended the face-to-face sessions surpassed numbers expected as well as orientation sessions pre-Covid-19, as most departments had approximately 80% of the registered students attending orientation in 2022,” said Mandie Richards, Business Information and Administration (BIA) senior lecturer. Richards added that seeing the piazza abuzz with animated students laughing and chatting was a “heart-warming moment” as students are the life and energy of the institution.  “The enthusiasm and excitement exuded by students to be on campus added to the atmosphere, as students quickly connected with lecturers and their peers and [had] an exciting start to their academic journey.”

Richards said although most departments concluded the orientation sessions on Friday, 25 February, a few departments further engaged first years in face-to-face sessions during the remainder of the first term.

The departments were introduced by Faculty Dean, Prof Paul Green, utilizing a welcome video (hyperlink https://youtu.be/vXroQY20GhE)

The BIA department, as did most departments, invited various speakers from industry, alumni, and service departments to engage with students.  Students were also welcomed from the outset by the BIA student assistants at the entrance of the campus Administration Building and escorted to the orientation venues. Lively discussions with an external organisation, Inclusive and Affirming Ministries (IAM), took place, and issues of gender-based violence (GBV), sexual harassment and students’ rights were discussed. The sessions provided students with contact details of various organisations that will assist and counsel them should students require such help.

“Many questions emanated from the students, and the Faculty will continue these conversations as part of the First Year Experience, as GBV is a mandatory module for first years in the Faculty and integrated into the curriculum,” said Richards.  The Financial Aid Office presented relevant information about NSFAS (write in full), and shared vital information regarding financial issues, that are uppermost on many students’ minds who require financial assistance.  

The Cape  Town Hotel School engaged vendors and suppliers to meet with students at the Granger Bay Campus, and the Campus turned into a mini-expo with tasty treats available for students to purchase and a good introduction to cuisine offered at the Hotel School, which was recently awarded a 4-star rating. 

Students in all departments were given a campus tour to familiarise themselves with the campus. They attended sessions held in the computer laboratories to allow them to log in to their emails, activate their accounts, and gain assistance in navigating Blackboard.  Departments also invited the Disability Unit, Student Counselling Unit, the Library, the HIV/Aids Unit and Fundani Centre for Higher Education Development to engage with students and advise on various support structures at CPUT to assist students.

Written by Kwanele Butana

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering recently hosted a welcoming and orientation event for the best 2022 Grade 12 learners who are sponsored by Toyota South Africa Motors (Pty) Ltd (TSAM).

The students have enrolled to study Mechatronic Engineering at CPUT. The Head of the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, Simphiwe Nqabisa, said this was the outcome of the newly established relationship between Toyota South Africa Motors and the department in an endeavour to produce future-ready graduates for the forever evolving world of work.

The delegation from Toyota was led by General Manager: Human Resources Planning, Tania Hughes and Senior Manager: Manpower Planning and People Efficiency, Ponatshego Mothusi. The delegation came with the top eight students from the Future of Manufacturing [FOM] Programme, a bursary programme focussing on Maths and Science for Grade 12s in Durban South Basin, along with their parents.

Director for Community Engagement and Work Integrated Learning (WIL), Prof Lallini Reddy, Nqabisa and WIL Coordinator, Mechatronic Engineering, Zimisele Mlumiso were present to welcome the guests. “The excitement was written on the faces of the now students of CPUT and their parents as they planted a footing on our great university of technology. The parents expressed great gratitude for the opportunity given to their children by both Toyota South Africa Motors and CPUT," said Nqabisa. In the words of one of the parents: "Because of our disadvantaged background we never thought that our children would be here today,’” said Celiwe Mtiyane.

Currently, TSAM has absorbed CPUT Mechatronic engineering graduates onto its graduate programme and have sponsored eight of its best FOM Bursars to be enrolled for the Mechatronic Engineering programme. The two partners have committed to working together on monitoring the progress made by both intakes.

Both TSAM and CPUT are committed to collaborating further in the development of skills in STEM in response to improving manufacturing in South Africa.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.