Two groups of second-year Office Management and Technology (OMT) broke the mould when they organised seminars as professionals, inviting speakers who are successful alumni in their respective industries. 

The practical project formed part of their second-year Business Administration course and aimed to teach students the various project and events management principles involved in putting a seminar together during the fourth term.

The students were responsible for all aspects including, deciding on a seminar theme, sourcing and hiring a venue, arranging catering, inviting guest speakers, fundraising to finance the event and other co-ordination activities.

Though the planning started early in the year, it all culminated in the panning out of the themed seminars. One group’s theme was ‘A World of Opportunities’, which the other group titled theirs, ‘The Eco Friendly Office’.

Second-year OMT lecturer, Jasmiena Latief, enjoys seeing the fruits of her labour during the seminar presentations.

Speaking to second-year OMT lecturer, Jasmiena Latief, she expressed her pride and enthusiasm at seeing the students’ work.

“I’m amazed at the students because every year they surprise us, even though we can sometimes take them for granted. I’m excited for their future as they have all proved their professionalism with the events and this reminds me why I chose to enter the education sector”, she said.

Melinda May, a student and facilitator for group who presented ‘A World of Opportunities’, shared that everything that they learnt was not in vain, particularly working with groups and different personalities.

“We learnt organising skills, how to review and manage decisions taken, and always needing to have a Plan B and C and D”, May said.

Fatimah Shade, a member of the '‘A World of Opportunities' group.

Another student, Fatimah Shade, said she enjoyed hearing from the speakers, who were OMT alumni.

“I learnt about the variety of industries one can enter with this qualification as well as the different roles you can take on once you’re already in a company. It was really an eye-opener and will help us to push forward with our academics to achieve good results”, she said.

Programme Co-ordinator, Mandie Richards, shared her sentiments, saying she felt the purpose of the seminars was achieved, as the students not only put their theory into practice, but were also encouraged to diversify their career options. 

By: Thando J. Moiloa

Written by CPUT News
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THROUGH sheer hard work and dedication CPUT students have managed to raise almost R60 000 for charitable causes.

Office Management and Technology students hosted an annual fundraising day at both Cape Town and Wellington campuses this month.

And in a separate event, post-grad students who stay on residence in Bellville washed cars and hosted sports days to raise cash for a needy Philippi school.

First-year Business Administration students managed to hand over an impressive R54 000 to the Children’s Hospital Trust - almost R10 000 more than what they raised in 2010.

Office Management & Technology Programme Co ordinator Mandie Richards says students selected the Red Cross after a presentation from the Children's Trust Marketing department.

“A representative explained how the funds raised by the students often save lives and provide necessary healthcare for children,” she says.

“All those who support this cause can be assured that every cent raised will go towards the care for the children.”

Meanwhile, Bellville’s post-grad students have committed to a three-year relationship with the Naluxolo Primary School in Samora Machel.

NEEDY: Postgraduate students have a three-year relationship with Naluxolo Primary School in Samora Machel.

Last year students donated R5000 which helped start a much-needed library and this year they handed over a cheque for R4450.

House Committee Chairman Walter Ngobeni says their donation of cash, old clothes and books may not be huge but made a big difference to the primary school learners.

“For example the shack where one of the learners lived burned down so the clothes we donated will go to his family,” he says.

“Next year will be our final year helping Naluxolo Primary and then we will move on to another school.”

WORTHY CAUSE: Staff and students from Naluxolo Primary school with CPUT Post Graduates.

By: Thando J. Moiloa

Written by CPUT News
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First-year Office Management and Technology students overdid themselves this year by donating R55 600 to the Red Cross Children’s Hospital Trust (RCCHT).

This is the most money CPUT students have ever donated to the RCCHT. Last year’s efforts saw them raise R54 000. 

ENTREPRENEURSHIP: First-year Office Management and Technology students sold various types of foods during this year’s Market Day on Cape Town and Wellington campuses to raise funds for the children’s hospital

For the past six years, first-year students in the Department of Office Management and Technology have been working together with the Trust, in a bid to make a positive impact on the lives of many children in South Africa.

Annually the students divide into groups, compile a business plan and set up stalls at the department’s Market Day.

The student groups on Cape Town and Wellington campuses were extremely innovative with their fundraising initiatives. 

The products they sold were both tantalizing and delicious.  A variety of products were on offer, from fruit salad for the health-conscious, to fast foods and decadent cakes and candy for those with a sweet tooth.

Not only did the RCCHT benefit from the Market Day, the products and ingredients which remained were donated to the Haven Night Shelter in Woodstock. 

The overall winner was the Cape Town campus group Food-4-Thought, which raised the highest profit of R10 000.

By Kwanele Butana

Written by CPUT News
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Office Management and Technology students recently donated R35 000 to the Red Cross Children’s Hospital.

This year’s donation took the students’ overall contribution to the hospital over the past five years to R251 200.

First years in the department undertook the project to raise funds for the hospital as part of their Business Administration subject.

This year saw 182 students taking part in the project in groups, and the group called Heart Warmers made the most profit (R5 300).

The cheque of R35 000 was handed over to the hospital’s Events Manager, Tara van Schalkwyk, at a ceremony on Cape Town Campus.

Non-perishable food which was left over from the fundraising Market Day as well as clothes, toys and stationary were donated to the hospital.

The Cape Town-based hospital admits children of up to 16 years of age from all over Southern Africa.

Head of Department, Mario Da Costa, congratulated the students for their hard work and said the students’ contribution is welcome as it goes beyond CPUT.

Lecturer Belinda Berman emphasised that the donation will go directly to the children who need it most.

Red Cross boasts internationally acclaimed doctors and surgeons.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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Faculty of Business and Management Sciences in collaboration with the Alumni Office recently hosted its annual Diversity Seminar on the Cape Town Campus.

The theme this year was Silent Youth Voices, and all speakers emphasized the need for this generation to make their voices heard and take responsibility for their actions.

Artscape CEO, Marlene le Roux encouraged the audience to recognize differences among themselves and shared what needs to be done in the future to bring about social cohesion, nation building and inclusiveness.

“Now is the time to think, feel and act differently,” said Le Roux.

CPUT alumnus Toni Stuart, who is a fulltime poet, told the audience that she gets paid to write, perform and teach poetry.

Stuart said her poetry comes from silence. “If there’s no silence we won’t hear others’ voices as well as our own.”

A group of Office Management and Technology (OMT) students, whose story was called Youth Voices, received the award for the Best Digital StoryTelling Video and walked away with certificates. 

Charlton Gary Brandt was selected as the Pay It Forward 2016 Champion for the volunteering he has done and continues to do in the community.

All first year OMT students have to engage in the Pay It Forward Project which is linked to the curriculum.

“Students are selected from each class to receive a merit award, based on their engagement with communities, the professionalism they display, the time periods they volunteer as well as feedback from the organizations at which they volunteer. It is imperative that students volunteer their services and in so doing, assist in uplifting communities.  Education is  not about one person being advantaged, it is about communities being the beneficiaries, ” says OMT senior lecturer Mandie Richards.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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Office Management and Technology (OMT) students celebrated National Youth Month by giving back to the community.

OMT students volunteered their services to the Chaeli Campaign, a Cape Town-based Non-profit Organization which provides assistive devices and therapies to children with disabilities. 

The Chaeli Campaign has been given an opportunity to participate in the Spur Shadow Volunteer programme run by the Spur Group, and the campaign chose to render services in the Red Hawk Spur in Plumstead.

OMT students Bahati Mwarabu and Lukhanyo Sidindi joined volunteers from other schools in cleaning tables and assisting the waitrons.

This is one way in which the Chaeli Campaign generates funds as the services of the volunteers will see it receive a percentage of the turnover from the three-hour shift they worked.

OMT Senior Lecturer, Mandie Richards, co-ordinates this initiative in collaboration with the campaign’s project manager, Debbie Cape.

“I have found the experience to be extremely humbling, as students are able to contribute in such a small way and make a difference to the lives of so many children who are challenged each and every day,” says Richards.

She says she wants to have as many of her students involved in other projects as well.

Student Bahati says he enjoyed the experience and was glad that he could contribute to such a worthy cause.

For more information about the Chaeli Campaign, visit chaelicampaign.co.za.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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