Students in the Faculty of Business showed their awareness of news and current affairs during a reading competition which saw the three top groups walking away with prize money totalling R10 000.

The Biz Quiz saw students from various departments form teams participating in the competition, which was aimed to make reading fun.

“Students’ inability to read well, as well as their indifference towards reading, is a common concern among academics,” says Carol Whiting, Language Co-ordinator in the faculty.

“Research has also shown that most students do not read at a level required for academic success at a university.”

Previously Peninsula Technikon ran successful reading competitions, and the Unit for Language and Professional Communication re-launched it this year.

The competition ran over seven weeks with a quiz every Friday. Students were required to read the Business Day of a particular week and answer questions on articles in the newspaper. Copies of Business day were donated to the faculty for this purpose.

The team from the Retail Business Management Department scored the highest number of points and won the coveted prize money of R 5 000, the Management Department took the second spot and won R3 000 and the Human Resource Management Department walked away with R2 000 for their efforts.

Every student who participated in the competition received a certificate of recognition.

Written by Kwanele Butana

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CPUT Libraries is celebrating the success of its Digital Knowledge (DK) site, with the number of academic text downloads registered by the site sailing well past the 10 000 milestone.

The site was launched in September last year as a means for CPUT staff members and students to publish theses, academic papers and other publications to a digital library that could be accessed by both a local and an international audience.

By 11 January 2010, the site reported that users had downloaded academic texts 12 000 times. A report by Google Analytics tracking site visits since the September launch stated that the site had been visited by users from 109 countries, including the US, UK and India.

According to DK’s reporting systems, the most popular CPUT download for the period 11 December 2009 to 11 January 2010 was a dissertation by Patience Aseweh Abor titled “Medical waste management at Tygerberg hospital in the Western Cape, South Africa.” The item was accessed 201 times in the four-week period.

The growing collection of CPUT items hosted by Digital Knowledge is the result of the efforts of Faculty staff members, who have contributed poster presentations, articles, conference proceedings and speeches, and Library staff members who have assisted academic staff, and undertaken the laborious process of scanning documents for the collection.

According to Deborah Becker, who serves as the Digital Knowledge co-ordinator for CPUT Libraries, the University has digitised most of its collection of pre-2005 Peninsula Technikon theses and loaded them into the Digital Knowledge database.

“12 000 downloads emphasises the visibility Digital Knowledge offers and the value of adding items to the collection,” said Becker.

“The library would like to thank staff and students who are contributing to the development of the database.”

The Library is still scanning its collection of Cape Technikon and CPUT theses. Becker, and fellow Library staff member Imraan Baderoen plan to have these texts uploaded by the end of 2010.

Other plans for 2010 include growing the site’s collection of historical photographs and documents and rolling out a means of recording citations in DK,

The Library recently also added a number of e-books to the DK site, which are available for free to staff and students.

The CPUT DK site is hosted by USA-based online publisher Berkeley Electronic Press and is based on the organisation’s Digital Commons platform.

Students and staff members wishing to contribute items to DK can access the site directly at http://dk.cput.ac.za/ or contact Imraan Baderoen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further assistance. For technical enquiries, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Note that to access Digital Knowledge, some users may need to adjust their browser settings.

By Ilana Abratt

Photograph: CPUT Libraries staff members Imraan Baderoen and Deborah Becker are hard at work digitising the University’s collection of dissertations and uploading the texts to Digital Knowledge.

Written by CPUT News
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As a child, Dr Barbara Boswell dreamed of being a writer but without the influence of excellent black South African female writers the young girl expected the dream to remain just that - a dream.

Instead after matriculating she pursued the next best career option and studied journalism- eventually graduating from Peninsula Technikon on the eve of democracy in SA in 1994. Boswell returned a few years later to complete her BTech in Journalism while working as a journalist in Cape Town.

Years later it was while she completed a doctorate in Women’s Studies at the University of Maryland in the States that the idea of finally realising her childhood dream of writing a book finally crystallised.

“My PhD led me to the work of some great, but unknown Black South African women writers and discovering them made me believe I could write fiction of my own,” she says.

“I tried my hand at writing fiction while completing my dissertation, and the novel "Grace" is the result. The novel actually helped me complete the arduous project of writing a dissertation because it provided me with spaces of creativity.”

The novel follows the story of Grace, a young girl growing up on the Cape Flats in the 1980s, who’s past comes rushing back after the reappearance of a long-lost friend. As a victim of domestic abuse herself Boswell says the book explores the impact that violence, both personal and political, can have on an individual’s life.    

Boswell currently teaches English Literary Studies at Wits and says her novel is joining a local literary scene that is exploding with exciting talent.
“We are a very creative nation and our literature is flourishing!,” she says.

“When you look at the number of new books coming out, it is apparent that we have found our voice and are continuing to articulate our experiences in beautiful ways. It's an exciting time to be a writer and reader, as we are spoilt with a number of excellent books, both fiction and non-fiction, to choose from.”

Visit http://www.modjajibooks.co.za/titles/grace/ for more information about the book which retails for around R250.

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.

As CPUT celebrates its 10^th year of existence, the university is set to constitute its Convocation.

Stemming from the Latin word, convocare, meaning to call and come together, Convocation plays an important guardianship role in the life of a University.

Members of Convocation are brought together to honour the university’s traditions, remain connected and committed to CPUT’s future, and discuss opinions on any matter relating to the university.

CPUT’s statutes stipulate that the Convocation consists of the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellors, the Registrar, permanent academic staff, professor emeriti and alumni of the University.

This includes graduates of the heritage institutions, Peninsula Technikon and Cape Technikon, as well as retired academic staff who were permanently employed continuously for 10 years prior to retirement.

All those who have a stake in CPUT are urged to attend this historic event, which will commence after a Special General meeting of CPUT’s Alumni Association on Saturday, June 6^th at 11am.

Vice-Chancellor, Dr Prins Nevhutalu, will address both meetings and chair the Convocation meeting.

To attend the Alumni Association Special General Meeting, Convocation meeting, or both, please RSVP by clicking this link: http://www.cput.ac.za/convocation

Written by Janyce Weintrob

Tel: +27 21 460 3514
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A CPUT alumna has advised graduates to have the courage to follow their hearts and live their dreams in a way that strengthens the nation as well as Africa.

Ilhaam Groenewald, Chief Director of Sport at Stellenbosch University, was the guest speaker at the graduation ceremony of the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences on the Bellville Campus on Saturday.

Groenewald said she believes that everyone has a deep vision that speaks inside them and inspires one to action.

“Seek the wisdom of the people around you and tap into their experiences.”

She urged them to aspire to bring about change and follow their passion.

“There’s power in passion, therefore you need to live your passion,” she said.

“The choice is yours; you can be a victim of your circumstances or a hero of your actions.”

She encouraged the graduates not to follow somebody else’s path.

“Your desire to explore must be greater than the desire not to make a mistake.”

She added that CPUT had made an immense contribution to her journey of passion as she obtained two degrees from the then Peninsula Technikon and in the process was appointed a Student Assistant.

The ceremony marked the beginning of the 2017 Autumn Graduation which will continue throughout the week with three ceremonies per day.

The graduation will see the university confer a grand total of 7 268 diplomas and degrees, including Masters and Doctoral degrees.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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A reluctant start in academia transformed into a deeply fulfilling journey for Prof Bennett Alexander, who recently retired after an impactful career, spanning almost 40 years.

The Faculty of Informatics and Design recently bid farewell to Alexander, who served as Assistant Dean since 2017 and first joined the then Peninsula Technikon in 1985.

Academia was not his first career choice. Alexander graduated with an engineering degree from UCT.

However, the harsh realities of apartheid-era South Africa soon shattered those dreams.

“Like many of my contemporaries, I faced significant barriers as a non-White engineer.”

His initial position as an Analogue Test Engineer at SAMES in Pretoria was marked by exclusionary practices, including "whites only" engineering weekend getaways. Undeterred, he moved to the O'kiep Copper Company in Nababeep as a Control Engineer, only to face a strike from the white Mine Workers Union protesting his appointment. His subsequent role as an Instrumentation Engineer at the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station highlighted the pervasive racial inequities, as he was denied on-site housing provided to white employees.

“By the latter part of 1984, I found myself at home, contemplating my future. It was then that Franklin Sonn, a neighbour, and Thomas van Breda, a family friend, intervened. On their advice, I accepted a short-term contract at Peninsula Technikon.”

“The plan was to stay for six months before returning to the engineering industry. However, what began as a temporary detour turned into a lifelong vocation. Almost forty years later, I cannot imagine a career outside of education.”

“Reflecting on this path, I realise how special it has been to be part of an institution that nurtures future generations. The obstacles I faced in the industry were not just personal setbacks but catalysts that steered me towards a more impactful and rewarding career.”

In 1985, Alexander joined Peninsula Technikon as a lecturer in the Electrical Engineering department. “Upon my arrival, I reconnected with many old friends and acquaintances from university, and other individuals I had learned about through their reputations for academic excellence. This assembly of talented and dedicated engineering professionals, who had also found themselves at Peninsula Technikon for similar reasons, became the driving force behind the institution's commitment to excellence in education and social justice.”

Alexander’s career is filled with memorable moments and significant milestones. In 1990, he was promoted to Senior Lecturer and in 1992 he was nominated to serve on the Academic Development Team of Peninsula Technikon under the leadership of Brian O'Connell, who later became Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Western Cape.

From 1994 to 1995, Alexander served as Acting Head of the Electrical Engineering department, a role that honed his leadership skills. “During this time, I realised the importance of administrative excellence in academic settings.”

In 1996, he obtained his Master’s degree from Indiana State University and in 2000, Alexander established the Electronic Media Centre, which eventually evolved into today's Multimedia Programme. “This initiative reflected my commitment to keeping pace with technological advancements and integrating them into the curriculum.”

In 2001, he became Head of the Information Technology department and seven years later he was conferred the title of Associate Professor. “This recognition was a highlight of my academic career, reflecting years of academic and community work.”

In 2011, Alexander earned a doctoral degree, paving the way for his promotion to Assistant Dean in 2017. “This role has allowed me to shape the future of the faculty and mentor the next generation of academics and professionals.”

Throughout his career, Alexander has been actively involved in learned societies, holding numerous leadership positions. He has chaired the Higher Education ICT Association for over a decade and led various projects, including the TABEISA and TELP projects and several SETA-funded initiatives, focusing primarily on curriculum and learning materials development.

Reflecting on nearly forty years at the institution, Alexander is proud of the many achievements that were made possible through collective efforts and a shared vision for excellence. “Firstly, I take immense pride in the institution itself and its continuous pursuit of excellence. This commitment was a hallmark of Peninsula Technikon and continues to define CPUT today. I see a bright future for our university, driven by its unwavering dedication to innovation and quality education.”

As he steps into retirement, Alexander plans to pursue his passions for jazz music and camping, while staying connected to academia. “Looking back, I am deeply thankful and feel blessed to have had the opportunity to live out my passion for engineering and education. My career unfolded in ways I never could have imagined, and I am grateful for every moment.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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