Universities in the Western Cape are exploring how best they can work together on several key projects that will aid development in various areas in the Western Cape.

 This venture is an initiative of the Western Cape Government (WCG) and the Cape Higher Education Consortium (CHEC), a body that represents the four higher education institutions in the province.

CHEC representatives, government officials and academics recently met at the CPUT Bellville Campus to explore Digital Inclusion under the theme of Social Inclusion, which is one of the four areas identified for collaboration.

CEO of CHEC, Nasima Badsha says various workshops will be held with role-players, where they will discuss the WCG’s priorities and establish a framework for joint research that would support development in the identified areas.

Badsha says the other areas that will be explored are climate change and sustainability, the interface between universities and colleges, as well as dialogues that will speak to key issues of the day.

Those who attended the Digital Inclusion Workshop explored its relevance in the areas of education and health, adoption and community level, access and e-Government.

Head of Strategic Initiatives in the Office of the DVC: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships, Assoc Prof Shaun Pather, is representing CPUT on the Digital Inclusion Task Team.

Pather says that when looking at projects, stakeholders must do so in the context of research uptake.

Research uptake advocates the process by which the knowledge generated through research makes its way to those who need it.

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

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

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Forum being hosted by CPUT is in full swing today.

The event kicked off with a dinner at the plush Cape Town Hotel school on Thursday evening where around 26 Research Leaders from across the country attended.

SHARE: Guest speaker Nasima Badsha works to encourage collaboration between the four Western Cape universities

DVC for Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships at CPUT, Dr Chris Nhlapo welcomed the guests warmly and expressed his pleasure at hosting the bi-annual event.

He also encouraged guests to set aside their competitiveness in favour of an atmosphere of sharing.

“This event is not just for CPUT, it is for all of us,” he says.

“We can share best practices and knowledge. Competition can be destructive.”

Guest speaker Nasima Badsha from the Cape Higher Education Consortium (CHEC) echoed Dr Nhlapo’s message while describing the work her institution does.

CHEC promotes collaboration between the four Western Cape universities CPUT, Stellenbosch, UCT and UWC and markets the region as an education hub.

The body is also currently tracking all 2010 graduates from these institutions for a major study on the career growth of students.

Today the forum will hear addresses delivered by members of the National Research Foundation and the Department of Higher Education and Training.

A delegation from the Ethiopian Embassy will also present their research capacity development project.

By Lauren Kansley

Photos by Clive Galant

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

The City of Cape Town in partnership with three of the four universities operating under the banner of the Cape Higher Education Consortium (CHEC) recently held a workshop at CPUT with a view to exploring ways in which the partnership can deliver required skills for staff of the City of Cape Town.

The main objective was to come up with a regional Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) model as opposed to each institution using its own RPL process.

The workshop, held at the IT Centre on the Bellville Campus on 19 August 2009, served as a platform for constructive engagement with RPL practices related to the skills development and training needs of staff in the City of Cape Town.

Delegates from the City of Cape Town, CPUT, the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the University of the Western Cape (UWC) explored innovative RPL programmes and discussed proposals to enhance further provision of RPL services for eligible staff in future.

Nasima Badsha, CEO of CHEC, gave a brief background of the project. Alan Ralphs of UWC mentioned that universities have already taken certain steps. The workshop’s task was to widen the scope by talking about RPL and exchanging ideas about implementing the planned project.

Yolanda Scholtz, Strategic HR: Human Capital Development at the City of Cape Town, said the city had gone through a skills audit in which 90% of management staff participated and were assessed.

She said strengths, weaknesses and gaps to be filled were identified in the process and the role of RPL became clear. She also mentioned that there are people with certain skills who don’t have the qualifications in Accounting that government would need them to have by the year 2013. Staff at supervisory level were also neglected although this was “the most important level in getting the job done.”

Three universities made presentations in which they stated what they have done so far and what they intend doing in future.

At the end it was agreed that there was a need for collaborative planning and implementation of progra between the City of Cape Town and the three institutions. There was a common feeling that there needs to be a central advice and referral office to either be based at the CHEC or City Council’s offices. The office would also deal with program specific information, mentoring, support and tracking, and policy frameworks.

It was also agreed that an invitation be extended to the Office of the Premier (Provincial Government) to join in the project. A working committee of the participating institutions was to continue its work in the implementation of these resolutions.

By Thami Nkwanyane

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