The Environmental Management programme is spreading its wings to the African continent after the success of its four short courses.
Following a Memorandum of Understanding between CPUT and five African universities, the programme is embarking on a project that will strengthen the partnerships as from March 2010.
The institutions include Botswana and Zambia Universities, Nairobi and Masena Universities in Kenya and the University of Malawi.
According to Jacob Seconna, the Head of the Environmental Management programme, the memorandum of understanding is already in place after the Faculty of Applied Science agreed to work with the five partner universities.
For the first time at these African universities, the programme intends introducing Waste Management qualifications ranging from certificates to diplomas and degrees.
Commenting on the intended qualifications, which still require institutional ratification, Seconna said: “Our certificate programmes are going to be similar to what we cover at the Centre for Continuing Education, as we’ll be working with people who are already working in the Waste Management departments in the different countries who need to sharpen their skills.”
CPUT, as the main institution will provide the course syllabi.
“We will sit down with these institutions and agree on the syllabi that would be taught at diploma and degree levels as well as the terms of reference,” he said.
The courses offered at diploma and degree levels would be part of the institutions’ formal programmes.
“Even though once the students finish the diploma or degree, they will get a CPUT qualification; we’ll allow the partner university to lecture students for the first two levels at their own institution. We will cross-moderate with those institutions all exams at all levels.”
“For the third and fourth level, CPUT will take over and students will study electronically. They will later be granted a CPUT qualification,” said Seconna. The African collaborations are a result of a 2005 initiative, when CPUT decided to partner with the City of Cape Town and Weimar University in Germany.
Part of the agreement was that City of Cape Town would send their employees to take up Waste Management short courses at CPUT while Weimar University agreed on a student/lecturer exchange programmes in integrated water management..
“Our intentions were to train all waste management professionals in Africa as that was our ultimate goal and that is now coming into reality”.
Seconna aims to visit the African universities from 15 to 31 March 2010 to make presentations on contents of the programme. The presentations will give clarity on how the programmes and courses would be conducted.
Currently, the Environmental Management programme offers the following short courses: Supervision of Waste Management Practices, Middle and Senior Waste Management Training and Environmental Management Inspector Training.
Next year, the programme aims to offer two new courses. These include the Peace Officers: Compliance and Enforcement and Advance Tertiary Certificate in Integrated Waste Management.
The Environmental Management programme is currently looking for Doctoral and MTech students to register with Weimar University in Germany as part of the student exchange programme.
By Andiswa Dantile
Written by CPUT News
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