Thousands of first year students were urged to make a success of their studies in order to play a vital role in South Africa’s economy.

Addressing first year students during a Welcome Ceremony at the Bellville campus on 20 January 2010, Vice-Chancellor Prof Vuyisa Mazwi-Tanga said: “You are the building blocks of our country’s democracy and economy. This means that those who make a success of the time spent at universities and centres of learning will become valuable assets to South Africa, your communities and your families.”

This Welcome Ceremony, which was also attended by parents, was one of three welcoming events that took place during Orientation Week. The first was held on Cape Town Campus on 18 January 2010, followed by a ceremony at the Wellington Campus on 19 January 2010.

Referring to first years as “valued members” of the CPUT community, the Vice-Chancellor assured them and their parents, that they had chosen a wonderful place of learning.

“All our activities, including our extra-mural activities, are designed to help our students to achieve academic success and to develop into mature and well-balanced individuals who can confidently take their rightful place in the world of work and in general,” she said.

With CPUT boasting a list of prominent persons who were former students of the institution, she said many of the first years will too “become captains of industry and A-rated researchers.”

However, Prof Mazwi-Tanga said success can only be achieved if students make a commitment to their studies.

Although the students will be supported by CPUT staff members and will have access to support facilities, the Vice-Chancellor said it is students’ willingness to work hard that will yield success.

She also drew the audience’s attention to the threat of HIV/AIDS and encouraged the first years to make use of support systems and participate in programmes that are in place at CPUT.

Prof Mazwi-Tanga pointed out the importance of participation in extra-mural activities and involvement in student structures.

She also appealed to those who will become involved in student leadership to use these platforms responsibly.

“This level of maturity will enable us to work together in a spirit of trust, respect and uBuntu,” she said.

“I am hopeful that each one of you will make Ubuntu one of the fundamental values that will govern your behavior while you are part of CPUT’s community and beyond your stay on this campus.”

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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First year students on the Cape Town Campus are invited to attend a series of life skills development workshops, which will take place from 10 February to 19 March in Room 2.503, 2nd Level, Administration Building, Cape Town.

These workshops contribute towards assisting students in managing adjustment and adapting effectively to change. They help students develop coping skills in order for them to to succeed in their academic life as well as in their endeavors later in life.

Topics and Dates:

Mind Challenge-Dare to Change
Session 1 – 10th February (14:00 – 16:00) and Session 2 - 3rd March (16:00 -18:00)

Mind on your Money-Money on your Mind
Session 1 – 12 February (16:00 – 18:00) and Session 2 – 05 March (14:00 – 16:00)

Mind Tools for Maximizing Your Time
Session 1 – 17 February (14:00 – 16:00) and Session 2 – 10 March (16:00 – 18:00)

Master Mind- Master new Study Skills
Session 1 – 19 February (16:00 – 18:00) and Session 2 – 12 March (14:00 – 16:00)

Winning the Mind Game- Setting Goals to Get Going
Session 1- 24 February (14:00 – 16:00) and Session 2 – 17 March (16:00 – 18:00)

Mind Fitness- Stress Less
Session 1 – 26 February (16:00 – 18:00) and Session 2 – 19 March (14:00 – 16:00)

Time and Duration:
Workshops will be presented at alternate times for different sessions, ie; (14h00 – 16h00 and 16h00 – 18h00) as indicated on the dates above.

Presenters:

Registered psychologists / student counselors from Student Counselling, CPUT Cape Town Campus

Booking and venue:

Any student interested in attending one or more of the listed workshops, must notify Annette Kuhn (secretary Student Counselling) so that his/her name can be added to the list of attendees. Thus: Pre-booking for workshop attendance is essential. Annette can be contacted by visiting Room 2.700, Admin Building.

The training workshops will take place in Room 2.503, 2nd level Admin. Building, Cape Town Campus. <p>Further enquiries about the workshops can be addressed to:</p

Faith Sijula
Educational Psychologist (M.Psych, UWC)
Student Counselling
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Tel +27 (0)21 460 3860
Fax +27 (0)21 460 3794

Written by CPUT News
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Thousands of first year students and their parents attended the Academic Opening Ceremony at the Cape Town campus. The official opening marked the beginning of registration at the University’s three campuses in Cape Town, Wellington and Bellville.

In her welcoming address to first years at the Cape Town Campus of the CPUT, Prof Lineo Vuyisa Mazwi-Tanga, Vice-Chancellor of the University, stressed that scarce skills “are critically needed as the economy moves to higher levels and as we aspire for an economic growth of 6% of the GDP. They are equally important for delivery of services to citizens and communities of South Africa”.

The CPUT is the only university of technology in the Western Cape (as well as the Northern and Southern Cape), and has more than 29 000 students spread over its five campuses in Bellville, Cape Town, Mowbray, Wellington, and Granger Bay. During the 2007 graduation ceremonies, CPUT awarded about 6500 qualifications at undergraduate and postgraduate level, including Honours, Master’s and doctoral degrees.

For more information please contact: Thami Nkwanyane on: Tel (021) 460-3363 Cell 0832068528 or alternatively e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Written by CPUT News
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A weekend cleaning beaches and rooting out alien plants went down well with a group of first-year Nature Conservation and Oceanography students.

To give students a heads-up on their career choice, lecturers in the Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Management organized a weekend trip to the Helderberg Marine Protected Area.
Head of Department Dr Joseph Kiokosays the students rolled up their sleeves and completed a number of tasks related to their career choice.
 
“The weekend’s activities exposed them to the world of work. It gave them an idea of some of the things they can expect during their course,” he says.
 
Students cleaned the beach at the Helderberg Marine Protected Area near Strand, collected water and marine life samples and spent a day rooting out invasive plants at the Cape Nature Reserve. They also interacted with third-year nature conservation and oceanography students who are currently completing their work-integrated learning programmes at the various sites visited.

RESPONSIBILITY:  Students collected large amounts of trash during their beach clean-up.

Student Dillion Quickfall says he left the excursion better informed on his career choice and after interacting with nature conservation practitioners and senior students, the 18-year-old is positive he made the right career choice. His classmate Thangiswa Kafile also gave the weekend a thumbs-up.

“I am passionate about nature and it was so interesting to learn about the different plants,” he says. Lecturer Conrad Sparks said the trip showed students the impact humans have on the environment and the role they will one-day play in conserving it.
The department plans to make this trip a permanent feature on their year calendar.
 
By Candes Keating
 

Written by CPUT News

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More than a thousand first year students and their parents attended this year’s First Year Welcoming on the Cape Town Campus and were addressed by Vice-chancellor, Dr Prins Nevhutalu, and Central SRC President, SibusisoTwala.

Nevhutalu kicked off the series of welcoming ceremonies by telling new students that choosing to come to CPUT is the best decision they could have made since CPUT is at the forefront of innovation.

He cited that CPUT is the only university in Africa whose students have designed and built a satellite that is now orbiting Earth.

“Our vision to be at the heart of technology education and innovation in Africa drives me, and my sincere hope is that it drives you too,” he said.

He announced the introduction of the first ever CPUT bursary for outstanding students, and encouraged students to work hard in order to succeed in their studies.

He also warned students that the university is a place where people argue their points of view in a bid to settle their differences and has no room for violent conduct.

Twala encouraged students to participate in the SRC’s programmes as the SRC is their voice.

Other welcoming ceremonies were held on the Wellington and Bellville Campuses.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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CPUT first-year students recently donated R54 300 to the Red Cross Children’s Hospital Trust.

The Business Administration 1 students and lecturer Belinda Berman, who is the project’s facilitator, recently handed over the cheque to the Trust on the District Six Campus. The money was raised earlier this year and will be spent towards the upgrading and extension of the Hospital’s Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.

The Department of Business and Information Administration started the initiative in 2009 as a Business Administration 1 live academic entrepreneurship project and has to date donated a R430 685 to the Trust.

During the handover, Head of the Department, Prof Visvanathan Naicker, thanked everyone who was involved for their “hard work” in raising the donation for “a good cause”.  Naicker said when the students graduate they will have a proven track record of fundraising.

Every year, prizes are awarded to the student team who has the best academic portfolio and the team that raises the most profit.  All students receive a certificate of participation and merit certificates are issued to the winning teams.

Pauline Solomons, a Fundraiser at The Children’s Hospital Trust, said the students’ longstanding donations entitle them to shares in the Hospital and the partnership has grown incredibly over the past nine years. “The hospital treats 250 000 children every year,” said Solomons.

Another Fundraiser at the Trust, Nokuthula Bonga, said the Hospital upgrades include installing a lift and redesigning the floor near the entrance.

Berman said the project’s academic portfolio will also help the students with project management in the future. She thanked all the students for their time and efforts and expressed how proud she was that they had embraced the spirit of ubuntu.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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Wellington campus kicked off the First Year Experience by welcoming new students on the picturesque grounds of House Murray.

The various house committees made sure students attended in full force and the weather played along with a light, cooling breeze.

Dean of Students Prem Coopoo welcomed the students and urged them to make use of the support services available on all campuses, such as Student Health Clinics, sports clubs and counselling services, to have a well-rounded experience: “We don’t want you to come here just get your certificate and leave. We want you to leave as the best version of yourself,” said Coopoo.

In delivering the keynote welcome Vice-Chancellor Dr Chris Nhlapo said it was important to point out that no CPUT campuses had any hazing or ragging rituals.
He expressed his hope that incoming students would enjoy their experience so much that they would return for postgraduate studies before enumerating a few of the institution’s most recent successes.

“At all times we encourage an entrepreneurial spirit. We are a university of technology and this is a place where we make things happen,” said Nhlapo.
He pointed out that the institution had received about 40 000 applications for only 9 000 first year spaces which meant attending first year students had had to work hard to earn a space.

Written by Theresa Smith
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Provides coverage for the Applied Sciences and Engineering Faculties and the Wellington Campus.

First year students who plan on registering this week are urged to be cautious about accepting assistance from strangers on any CPUT campus.

Registration is exclusively for students who have received an acceptance letter for a place in one of our programmes.

To keep you and your money safe remember the following:

1. Registration payments can only be made when you register online or at the cashiers in the Administration building of the Cape Town, Bellville and Wellington campuses. Do not pay any stranger purporting to be a CPUT staff member or student.
2. Take care when paying a stranger for accommodation. Make sure you are getting what you pay for.
3. No staff member or student is able to ‘save’ you a place in a programme. Remember no acceptance letter means no place.
4. Registration Assistants will be well placed across campuses to direct you and answer any questions you may have.

First year registration opens on 16 January 2017 and most students will be able to do so online at http://www.cput.ac.za/study-at-cput/undergraduate/register. Also check the page for a registration booklet which explains all the necessary information and may save you unnecessary time queuing at a campus. 

Walk-in applications will open on 16 January 2017. Prospective applicants can report to the relevant faculties as from 16 January 2017 for further details.

NSFAS applications are open until 20 January. Find out more at: https://www.cput.ac.za/study-at-cput/undergraduate/financial-aid-funding/nsfas-funding

Written by Lauren Kansley

Tel: +27 21 953 8646
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Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.

First year students whose application status has been changed to “accepted” may register online as from Monday, 18 January 2016.

International students will not be able to register online and must follow the International process as stipulated in the First Year Registration Booklet 2016.

Students experiencing any problems with online registration that could not be resolved via e-mail or phone support will have the opportunity to register at campus. The dates for the manual registration are set out in the First Year Registration Booklet 2016.

Specifications for your computer: Internet Explorer 7 or higher, with Adobe Acrobat Reader 7 or higher. No other browsers are certified for online registration at CPUT

Registration booklets are available here

Written by CPUT News
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