When a group of excited first-year Public Relations students were asked what they were most looking forward to in their studies they all shouted “Freebies”.

And thanks to their innovative lecturers that’s exactly what they got during their orientation week.

Apart from the usual walks around campus and introductions to staff members the students were also treated to chats from industry experts and a gift bag packed with goodies like accessories from 4Flavour jewellery, magazines, a water bottle, a Virgin Active cap and sunglasses from hip clothing shop Young Designers Emporium.

PR lecturer Deirdre Porthen says she approached successful ex-students for the gifts and they flooded her with freebies.

“We have a very good relationship with our graduates and many of them want to give back to CPUT,” she says.

FREE: A first-year student with a few of the free goodies she received during Orientation.

Students were also exposed to various industry experts like Kim Webster, an ex-CPUT student, Themba Ngada the Marketing Manager for the City of Cape Town and Yolisa Ndlovu a Communications Officer for the same office.

Ngada shared his career path with the first-year group and explained how he sky-rocketed from a rural village boy to a variety of high-powered jobs and his current position as Chairman of the Public Relations Institute of South Africa.

“For months I used to sweep the floor at my first job but I stayed because I knew PR was the industry I wanted to be in,” he told the fascinated students.

First-year Jami-Leigh Pinn, 20, says the orientation week events convinced her she chose the right career.

“I’m looking forward to the year,” she says.

By LAUREN KANSLEY

Written by CPUT News
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CPUT STEM Learning Centre in conjunction with the Imbadu Club (Boot Camp) recently hosted a three-day boot camp at the Bellville campus which was designed for first-year students who have challenges with understanding mathematical and science concepts.

In her motivational keynote, PhD candidate in Engineering Education at the University of Cape Town, Ekaterina Rzyankina, said Imbadu introduces first-year students to a range of strategies for learning mathematics and science.

Rzyankina added that it also deepens the students’ knowledge in key areas of the curriculum by identifying the knowledge gaps.  “[The boot camp also] develops their understanding of how key concepts that underpin mathematics or science are linked together across the subject,” she said.

She also advised students to love numbers. “Make it part of life. You can do maths in the rain.”

The boot camp took place over three days with three group work sessions on days one and two, and two group work sessions and the closing session on day 3. Mathematics and science sessions were conducted concurrently covering all the sections in the respective subject guidelines. The sessions were conducted by the Fundani Student Learning Unit (SLU)-based learning facilitators.

Fundani CHED University Capacity Development Grant Project Team member, David Haarhoff said the goal was to assist students who are in need of working through various concepts relating to maths and science for preparation for their final exams. “Students at risk of failing were granted the opportunity to attend. Capacity was limited with the intent of hosting more such events in future,” said Haarhoff.

He was also impressed with the level of engagement g with students throughout the event. The concept of teaching and learning was prevalent for the duration of the three-day event and the project team received “good feedback” from the students who attended the bootcamp.

Motivational speakers included Dr Nosisana Mkonto, Head of Department: Fundani Student Learning Unit, Lauren Davids, Academic Development Practitioner:  Fundani CHED, Dr Mark Jacobs, Lecturer: Electrical Engineering Department, Dr Ignatius John Senior Physics Lecturer in the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Dr George Buzuzi ECP Mathematics Lecturer: Mathematics and Physics Department.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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Hundreds of first-year students and their parents pitched up for the Cape Town Welcome Ceremony yesterday.

Students were introduced to the institutions executive management then visited their respective faculties for a meet and greet sessions with lecturers afterwards.

Acting Vice-Chancellor Dr Chris Nhlapo thanked parents for entrusting their children’s education to CPUT and encouraged the gathering to take advantage of the multitude of government grants that have become available as a result of the recent fee free education announcement by the president.

“Sign the Acknowledgement of Debt forms and visit your closest Financial Aid office to maximise the government grants both for yourself and CPUT,” he said.

The three-day event wraps up at the Bellville campus today.

Show us your best #FirstYearsOfCPUT picture on social media and you could win a spot prize!

Written by CPUT Events

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Proud CPUT alumna and former Miss Universe, Zozibini Tunzi, motivated first year-students during today’s welcoming event and said much of her own moulding happened at CPUT.

The Public Relations graduate, who was crowned Miss South Africa in 2019, said it was a special moment for her to return to her alma mater.

“This is the first time I’m back since graduating so it’s been incredible. I’ve been meaning to come back but there’s just been a lot happening with travel and being out of the country. So being able to find time, especially on a day when there is new students coming in, it’s quite special. “

She said some of the best and fun moments of her life were at CPUT.

Tunzi said the most important lesson she had leant was to be true to herself.

“There are so many things that can change in the world but if you remain unchanged and stand firm in your truth and in your purpose, I think that really takes you a very long way.”

She received a standing ovation from the crowd as she entered the Bellville Stadium and told students it was surreal to be standing in front of them.

“Some few years ago I was you. I was standing in the crowd … excited and nervous, just wondering what my next few years would look like.

“When I was in your shoes as a first-year student, I didn’t know my left from my right. I was still trying to figure out what kind of human being I wanted to be because that’s also very important. And I was also very much in search of my purpose. “

Tunzi said while many students would feel that they were still unsure about life, that was okay.

“You are meant to feel like that right now. This is a time for you to open up yourself to learning.”

“I just want you to know that you don’t have to have everything figured out right now”

The model, actress and motivational speaker told the first-years that when something unfortunate happens to them, they have three choices – “you can either let it define you and never make it out of there, you can let it destroy you or let it strengthen you”.

She also encouraged the students to look after their mental health, including seeking professional help, if possible.

Tunzi ended off with a message of motivation: “People can take a lot of things away from you but an education is something they can never ever take away from you so don’t forget that.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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