CPUT has added another relationship with an international higher education institution to its global partnerships list.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof LV Mazwi-Tanga, signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with representatives of Blackburn College yesterday.

This will pave the way for an open dialogue between students and academics from both institutions and hopefully fuel a robust ideas exchange.

At the moment two CPUT Public Management students are at the North England College for a three month sabbatical and a group of 13 photography students from Blackburn College are currently visiting CPUT.

An exhibition of these students work, based on life in Blackburn, is currently on display in the Bellville campus’ administration building.

Blackburn College’s Ian Clinton says his institution services some of the UK’s most disadvantaged areas.

“Many of our students have never been outside the area,” he said.

“Our international strategy is about talking and learning. We want our students to be better citizens.”

Prof Mazwi-Tanga welcomed the guests and expressed her hope that CPUT grow through the experience.

“We are a very young university but we want to believe we are very ambitious. We welcome your input,” she said.

One of the visiting Blackburn students Lewis Lord, 18, says he is looking forward to photographing the diverse cultural mix in Cape Town.

“It’s a real friendly place and we are all happy to be here,” he said.

CPUT currently has memorandums of understanding with 54 countries making it a truly international university.

By Lauren Kansley

Written by CPUT News\
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As part of the Engineering Faculty’s research strategy linked to National priorities on sustainable development, the Faculty has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Bellville campus with its local and international partners.

As part of the Engineering Faculty’s research strategy linked to National priorities on sustainable development, the Faculty has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Bellville campus with its local and international partners.

Represented at the signing ceremony on 28 September 2010 were staff from the executive management and the Faculty.

The MoU was signed with a Chinese partner; a Tsinghua University owned spin-off called Tsinghua Solar, which is a global leader in solar water heating (SWH) solutions. The Joint MoU also includes Shanduka and Trihelix, the latter being a Beijing-based business development company.

According to the Dean of Engineering Dr Nawaz Mahomed, the Faculty has embarked on an initiative to establish a centre for energy efficient buildings to be situated within the Mechanical Engineering precinct.

“This initiative received a major boost through the signing of the MoU,” said Mahomed. The Joint MoU was developed over the past nine months, culminating in the recent visit to China by SA President Jacob Zuma.

The proposed partnership on solar water heating technology is part of the broader cooperation intent between the two countries in sustainable energy solutions, due to similarities in the energy challenges faced by China and Africa.

Mahomed added: “CPUT’s role in the consortium will be to provide research and technology support to the deployment and localisation of the solar water heating systems in SA. This includes the development and establishment of a new standards paradigm for the continent, based on Chinese models.”

According to him, this will require an intensive technology transfer partnership with Tsinghua Solar and Tsinghua University.

On the day, Mahomed also made a presentation, which highlighted the impact of the SWH initiative on socio-economic development in the country, and the areas of intervention that CPUT will provide in the development of a fully-fledged local solar water heating industry.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Vuyisa Mazwi-Tanga welcomed the guests, saying: “What has happened today is the first major manifestation of one of CPUT’s objectives, which include spearheading the development of research”.

The test and demonstrator facilities will be housed within the centre for energy efficient buildings, and the centre will enjoy the benefit of Chinese experts coming to SA as well as equipment acquired via the consortium. A further essential role is the provision of training and skills development at all levels in this sector.

Support will be harnessed from major stakeholders, including the Central Energy Fund, SA Bureau of Standards, Eskom and local Government, among others.

By Andiswa Dantile

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CPUT has recently added to its already extensive array of global alliances by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with similar institutions in Ghana and China. The Industrial and Systems Engineering Department has forged new links with Shanghai Dian Ji University (SDJU), while the Engineering Faculty affiliate, F’SATI has entered into an agreement with Ghana Telecomms University College (GTUC) to share their satellite technology expertise.

Professor Xia Jianguo, President of SDJU says the university is considered one of the best engineering education providers in Shanghai, China’s largest city. Quoting Confucius, President Jianguo says, “What a pleasure it is to have friends coming from afar!” And this will hopefully be one of the many spin-offs of the MoU signed between CPUT and SDJU – not only the exchange of information and research, but student and lecturer exchanges too, both short and long-term.
An international finance and trade centre and dynamic, bustling metropolis, Shanghai is a magnet for international students, and SDJU is hoping to welcome an increasing number of CPUT students and teaching staff in the years to come.

(from left) VC Mazwi-Tanga,  Dr Osei K. Darkwa and F'Sati's Prof Robert van Zyl at the recent signing formalising ties between CPUT and Ghana Telecomms University College.

Meanwhile, Prof Robert van Zyl, Deputy Director of the French-South Africa Technology Institute at CPUT, recently signed a MoU with GTUC President Dr Osei K. Darkwa. The Ghanains hosted Prof van Zyl earlier this year in Accra to workshop and collaborate on establishing a similar satellite systems engineering programme in the African nation to that offered by F’SATI.

Says van Zyl, “This latest agreement to share our expertise in this incredibly exciting field with our Ghanain counterparts reinforces our position as 'the space hub' of the Western Cape – and in turn, of South Africa.”
CPUT and F'SATI are widely considered the country's breeding ground for the development of space scientists.

by Jan Weintrob.

Written by CPUT News
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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

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With the government working towards eradicating the country’s sanitation backlog, the CPUT Community Water Supply and Sanitation Unit (CWSS) has been appointed to evaluate a pilot project in Cape Town.

MobiSan Technology, a dry sanitation and urine diversion stand-alone unit, which does not affect groundwater, is currently being implemented at Pooke se Bos informal settlement.

CWSS’s primary role is to evaluate the user acceptance and functioning of mobile communal sanitation facilities, using Cape Town as a case study.

The initiative was as a result of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CWSS and Partnership Group, which includes Dutch-Consortium and the City of Cape Town that was signed on 28 July 2009.

The Dutch Consortium is made up of Lettinga Associates Foundation and Viitens Evides companies that invented the MobiSan Technology.

According to Muanda, a principal researcher at CWSS, the MobiSan is an ecological sanitation system and it does not require the use of water for flushing.

“In South Africa, as a water-scarce country, the application of MobiSan Technology may result in reduction of the use of portable water for flushing and save substantial amounts of water,” said Muanda.

Under the MoU, it was agreed that the CWSS Unit should cover the evaluation and analysis of the MobiSan pilot project and operationalise it through monitoring and the development of comprehensive guidelines for operation and maintenance.

CWSS is also responsible for research funding and management.

As from 1 April 2010, the team is going to formally start working on the project, but background research had already been completed.

“We understand that decent sanitation service is a human right, it doesn’t matter where you stay, so we’ll base our evaluation on that,” said Muanda.

Prof Alvin Lagardien, CWSS’s director, is heading a team of researchers, which comprise of Muanda, an official from the City of Cape Town and CPUT postgraduate students from the Civil and Mechanical Engineering Departments. CPUT staff members also form part of the team.

According to Muanda the government has been trying to come up with a plan on what kind of sanitation people want.

“Most of the times, people want full flush toilets but not all of them have the infrastructure, so the government has to find a way to meet them half-way,” said Muanda.

The MobiSan idea was sold by the two Dutch companies to the City of Cape Town.

The City of Cape Town was keen on the idea and allowed the two companies to pilot the project. Part of the requirements was to involve local researchers in order to determine the project’s effectiveness in a South African context.

CPUT’s CWSS Unit had to come on board and in its research findings, it will advise in favour or against the MobiSan Technology.

The Water Research Commission is funding the continuation of the project.

Muanda said: “We will also look at other technologies that were implemented and see if MobiSan meets the requirements. It’s important for us also to find out if they have a remedial plan.”

By Andiswa Dantile

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Ties between CPUT and the Adeyemi College of Education (ACE) in Nigeria were strengthened during a recent visit by international scholar, Dr Itunu Awosika.

Awosika was at CPUT’s Faculty Education on an international scholar visit programme which is funded through Head of Department for Senior Phase and Further Education and Training Department, Professor Lungi Sosibo’s, research fund project.

During the opening of the three-day event, Sosibo said: “This visit is a realisation of the partnership that I initiated when I visited ACE in September and October in 2019, through the Research Exchange Programme that was funded by the CPUT Research Directorate.”

During her visit, Awosika presented seminars on teacher education in Nigeria. The focus of day one was on the Nigerian teacher education system, with special focus on university practising/demonstration schools, and teacher-supply demand. Presentations on day two focused on teaching-practice placements, mentorship and evaluations at both CPUT and ACE.

“The idea was to benchmark standards and practices at the two institutions, and to determine best-practices that could be adopted,” Sosibo added.

On day three, Awosika held a closed session with Teacher Practice (TP) coordinators in order to assist with reviewing and evaluating the Faculty of Education TP policy.

Awosika who also revealed that it was her first visit in SA, said: “Prior to my visit, people had tried to discourage me because of the ugly xenophobic occurrences of the past and despite me being liberal, there was a kind of mixed feelings regarding my acceptance and safety in Cape Town, but my experience since l arrived has been a pleasant, heart-warming and worthy of the journey made down here.”

She added that her interaction with people in CPUT has given her the opportunity to assess the environment and people and, “l must place it on record that I am very pleased with the people and their very pleasant and peaceful environment… CPUT would be welcome to ACE, Nigeria anytime for us to establish a lasting partnership by signing the MOU [memorandum of understanding] that would boost our relationship for mutual benefits.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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CPUT has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with an American multinational technology and consulting corporation to enhance the training of its staff and students.

This will include the latest emerging technologies aligned to university curricula and the Information Technology industry needs.

The International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) manufactures and markets computer hardware and software, and offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in a wide range of areas.

Dr Chris Nhlapo, DVC for Research, Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, told the IBM delegation during the signing at the Bellville Campus that the university is engaged in national wealth creation through regional partnerships and innovation.

“The National Skills Development Strategy informs our partnerships with other institutions and companies,” he said.

Susan Puglia, IBM Vice President of University Programs and Vice Chair of the Academy of Technology,   says CPUT’s commitment to ICT education and research is very much in line with IBM’s work in Africa.

IBM is helping universities with cyber security training and forecasted that data management will offer a plethora of jobs in the future as the internet was driving masses of data daily.

Dr Naguib Attia, Vice President and Chief Technical Officer of IBM in the Middle East and Africa, told the gathering that CPUT is the first university in South Africa to acquire the certified technical training on ERP software.

Attia says he wants the collaboration programme to produce experts that he can subsequently recruit into the company as well as certified students and lecturers who will train others.  

Vice-chancellor, Dr Prins Nevhutalu, says this was a historic moment for CPUT and asked IBM to use the university as a conduit for the corporation’s programmes.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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Academics from leading African universities gathered this week at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) to attend the 2nd U6 International Conference, a consortium of six African universities. The conference’s theme is “Research and Innovation for sustainable development”.

During his opening address, CPUT Vice-Chancellor Dr Prins Nevhutalu said as a university that aims to be at the heart of technology and innovation in Africa, “we cannot successfully achieve that if we do not immerse ourselves in the ambitions and aspirations of Africa as a whole”.

“You all need no convincing of the potential of Africa and African Institutions – and particularly African intelligentsia, which is well represented here. It is this human capital, not just the rich deposits of Gold in Ghana or Platinum in South Africa or oil in Nigeria, or wildlife resources across the African plains, or any of the other natural resources that have made Africa the go-to continent, that will light a fire to propel this giant called Africa forward. It is this human force that has to be used for the good of Africa rather than a force of destruction that we humans have often become to ourselves and our finite environment,” Dr Nevhutalu said.

Professor Is-haq Oloyede, former Vice-chancellor of the University of Ilorin in Nigeria, said the idea of the U6 came as a result of the need for collaboration between African universities. He said when CPUT signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of Ilorin, they got to know about other relationships that the two have with other African universities ultimately realising that “your friend’s friend is your friend”. The Vice-Chancellors of these universities finally met to form the U6 from the bilateral relationships they had in February 2012.

Keynote speaker Professor Philip Lloyd spoke about renewable energy and sustainable development. He mentioned that society is faced with the challenge of balancing the social, economic and environmental challenges of sustainability and development. He said while energy is a source of wealth creation, the perceived costs to the environment is overstated. He said there was a gap between what science has discovered and what society stresses about. The conference covered a variety of subjects including Agriculture and Food Sciences, Environmental Issues, Technology Innovation and Energy Efficiency, and Business and Education.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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CPUT is involved in a number of mutually beneficial partnerships with France and recently further cemented ties with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the French Embassy to offer French for Professional purposes at the University.

Head of the International Affairs Department Merle Hodges says the aim of the MOU is to improve students’ employment potential in Francophone Countries or French companies, as well as to develop cultural competence.

The program is also offered to staff members in faculties where they are collaborating with French organizations or where there is future potential for collaboration.

The French Attaché for Language Damien Guyard implemented the program at CPUT by sponsoring the appointment of French lecturer Helene Audouit.

Audouit commenced classes several weeks ago and says she has had an overwhelming response from students and staff members.

“The majority of students are motivated, as well as the staff,” she says.

Apart from focusing on basic French terms, such as “what is your name” and “where do you live,” Audouit says she tailors her lessons according to the student groups and links it to the CPUT courses.

“For example, I have two groups in Food and Beverage and we are studying terms related to the food industry,” she says.

Currently Audouit hosts classes on the Cape Town, Wellington and Granger Bay campuses in the Faculties of Business and Management Sciences and Applied Science. 

The classes run till November 2016.

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

True to its vision of becoming the heart of technology education in Africa, CPUT is strengthening ties with its African counterparts.

Recently two staff members from the Faculty of Business, Mandie Richards and Belinda Berman, visited The School of Management Sciences at Polytechnic of Namibia to discuss various areas of collaboration.

CPUT and Polytechnic of Namibia signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2013.

“This has been a positive move, as it provided an opportunity for a cultural exchange with our African counterparts,” says Richards, a senior lecturer in the Office Management and Technology Department.

Richards says the collaboration between the two institutions emphasises that international exchanges also include exploring educational, social and economic opportunities in Africa.

“Each session provided so many opportunities for future collaboration and strengthening the ties with our Africa partners,” she says.

The faculty is looking forward to staff and student exchanges between the two institutions, especially within the Office Management and Technology Department. Other areas of collaboration include curriculum development as well as joint research initiatives.

Discussions also focused on student and staff development programmes as well as transformation.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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In recognition of the university’s dedication to rugby development, the Western Province Rugby Football Union (WPRFU) has announced the CPUT team’s admission as a fully-fledged competitor in the provincial league. 

The Union made the announcement recently during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CPUT on the Bellville Campus. The agreement will see the optimal utilisation of the campus’ sporting facilities to be used by regional schools.

WPRFU President Thelo Wakefield said the signing was a great moment for the Union to announce CPUT’s promotion to the provincial league as UCT, UWC and Stellenbosch University are already in partnerships with the Union.

Wakefield said the university will become a full member of the Union with effect from January 2019 and CPUT would in future compete alongside other universities without having to be attached to another team, as was the case previously.

Wakefield congratulated Dr Chris Nhlapo on his appointment as the university’s Vice-Chancellor. He recalled a day ten years ago on which he inducted Nhlapo to the university as the then newly-appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology, Innovation and Partnerships.

“We have the resources,” he assured CPUT. “The goal is to turn CPUT rugby into a professional sport. Thank you for allowing us to partner with you.”
He urged the university to play its home matches on the Bellville Campus as he argued that rugby brings life to campus.

Nhlapo said the university is more than ready to play its matches on campus and added that the involvement of university students in sports would help undo the effects of the unrest of the last three years.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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Information Technology Department Senior Lecturer, Dr Errol Francke, was the chief guest speaker at the Business Analytics and Smart Innovation Conference (BASIC) 2024, recently held in India.

The international conference was hosted by Vivekanand Business School (VBS) in Mumbai, and Francke said he was honoured to have been invited by the host institution as their chief guest speaker.

The four-day event dealt with a Smart Innovation Idea Competition, the Social Innovation Idea Competition, and the Research Conference. Speakers from Canada, Singapore, India and South Africa honed in on Data Analytics and its role in transforming society and the business landscape.

“My presentation was titled: ‘The Rise of AI and its Impact on Big Data Analytics for Social Innovation’. The keynote address explored the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in unlocking the power of big data for social good. The world is saturated in data, presenting both challenges and opportunities for social innovation. Traditional methods struggle to handle this data's sheer volume and complexity, hindering our ability to extract meaningful insights and drive positive change.”

Francke said the presentation was well-received, and he made valuable contacts for further research collaboration.

Aside from the conference, Francke’s other duty was to hand over a Memorandum of Understanding between CPUT and Vivekanand Education Society’s Business School to their director.

This MoU aims to develop academic and educational collaboration in areas of mutual academic interest and to promote mutual understanding between the two institutions. Each institution agrees to explore establishing an International Centre at the partner campus to manage the following collaborative activities in the academic areas of mutual interest based on equality and reciprocity:

• Study abroad in India and South Africa
• Partner delivery and curriculum development in the country
• Joint research
• Staff and Student Mobility
• Staff development, education, and training

“Reflecting on my visit to Mumbai and tapping into the spirit of Mongane Wally Serote, I am reminded that India is not just a country but an emotion. A bustling city where riches glimmer, and fortunes are made each day in mansions perched high and proud. While diamonds gleam and champagne flows from the privileged, the cries of empty bellies rumbling are lost in the dust of the Mumbai slums and streets.

“I reflected on how Gandhi and Mother Theresa would view modern Mumbai and whether they again would stand up and fight for the plight of the poor and marginalised as they did decades ago. Despite that, I am heartened by the humility and appreciation of the people with whom I interacted. The staff and students of VBS were a real pleasure to work with, and they are grateful for our collaboration with them.”

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