CPUT is collaborating with the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) on a project that will increase the number of students who opt for careers in science and technology.

The project focuses on introducing STEM teaching methods at local high schools.

The term STEM refers to teaching and learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This concept advocates the use of basic and hands-on projects to teach science and maths at schools.

This project has been running in the United States for several years and has played a huge role in motivating learners to study science and maths at schools and opt for science and technology-based careers.

Dr Christina Carmen from the UAH has been running a successful STEM project in her community for several years, and this week introduced the concept to teachers and CPUT staff members at a workshop held on the CPUT Bellville Campus.

Carmen says STEM requires teachers to use simple technology projects to explain complex science and maths concepts.

An example demonstrated at the workshop was the construction of a basic catapult.

“A catapult is simple to construct, mobile, light and easy for students to associate with many complex scientific, mathematical, technological and engineering-related principles,” she says.

Principles that can be explained through the construction of the catapult range from mass to motion.

Carmen says for STEM teaching methods to be a success, schools must link up with universities that can develop the teaching tools, such as the catapult. She says the project has positive spin-offs for university students, who gain the opportunity to design and construct products and devices.

CPUT’s Ben Groenewald, who is responsible for initiating the collaboration with UAH, says the institution will explore how they can work closer with schools in developing STEM learning tools.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News

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CPUT Information Technology students are sharing their knowledge and helping to excite the next generation of female IT specialists through a unique programme.

The students were selected as facilitators by Code4CT, a programme which hopes to empower young African women, exposes them to opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) careers and encourages them to leverage technology for social change.

Prima Inderlal, Work Integrated Learning Co-ordinator for CPUT’s IT Department, initiated the collaboration with Code4CT. Code4CT’s Andrea Petersen said it recruits facilitators who are enrolled in a STEM field as well as those that have a working knowledge of using HTML, CSS and JavaScript to create websites and mobile applications. 

During the April holidays the students served as facilitators for the Intro to Coding module for Grade 10 learners as well as for the Front End Development and Data Science Modules for Grade 11 learners.

Petersen said Code4CT’s programme runs until December and the facilitators have been invited to teach for any or all of the modules. She said the students completed three days of training earlier this year which focused on what it means to be a Code4CT ambassador, curriculum & LMS (Learner Management System) training as well as classroom conduct and crisis management.

Petersen said CPUT students would benefit from being part of Code4CT in several ways including exposure to the local tech industry through various speakers who attend Code4CT classes and events, increasing their knowledge of web development and having their CVs shared with local tech companies that Code4CT has connections with.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Fundani Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED) recently launched the Institution’s Science, Technology and Mathematics (STEM) Club at the Bellville campus.

Mathematics Support Lead and STEM Coordinator, Dr Frikkie George, said the purpose of the establishment of the STEM Club was to contribute to the two dimensions of CPUT’s V2030 – Oneness: creating a community of STEM students with Ubuntu principles, and Smartness: advancing the conceptions of technology.

STEM Club Chairperson Sarah Tshabangu said the purpose of the club was to magnify the Maths and science experiences of the students and to support them by bringing together all the STEM students and providing them with learning spaces such as boot camps.

Her deputy, Mano Tshebeletso, said their aim was to improve the quality of education through involvement in learning spaces, research projects, as well as competitions. “And also [to] invite fields professionals that are STEM related for discussions to promote general awareness and encourage networking. Furthermore, we shall interact, engage, and cooperate with other student support structures at CPUT,” Mano remarked. Fundani CHED University Capacity Development Grant Project Team member, David Haarhoff, said the student support for student success is the key focus of the Fundani CHED at CPUT. Haarhoff said the Student Learning Unit (SLU) located in Fundani CHED houses the STEM Sector, providing Mathematics and Science support for students in different departments at CPUT. The Fundani CHED STEM Club was established in April 2022 to assist with STEM support and to meet one of the imperatives of the UCDG STEM Research Project at CPUT.  “The vision and mission of the STEM Club is to build an inclusive STEM student community, fostering affinity for STEM disciplines, and lowering the STEM attrition rate – especially among students from disadvantaged background,” he said.

George said the launch signals the creation of a safe, fun and brave space for students to express themselves and improve the development of their critical thinking skills of the science and maths concepts they learn in lectures.

The launch included beautiful renditions by the CPUT choir, scientific demonstrations by the students, input from academics from University of the Western Cape, CPUT as well as the Cape Town Science Centre.

“I’m ecstatic with the positive feedback and happy that the day was successful. In terms of our broader goal, this has been a stepping stone in respect of dispelling the notion or stigma attached to STEM subjects. All external partners and internal partners are on board in helping us achieve our goal,” enthused Haarhoff.

Speaking at the event, Fundani CHED Director, Dr Xena Cupido, highlighted the importance of working towards CPUT’s Vision 2030 and STEM pedagogies supporting student success. Cupido’s address also focused on the following topics:

• Move away from student deficit approach
• Toward dialogic approach which engages students and academics in the stem sector
• Processes of co-creating curriculum can be seen as a way of promoting democratic values in higher education
• Drawing upon a democratic approach
• Emphasise that learning is closely connected to the participation, subjectification, and negotiation of meanings.
• Focus on the transference of power, authority and voice to the students in a decolonising university space - working in partnership.

“Student needs access to high-quality STEM learning experiences that affirm their identities as important members of the STEM community who are working to make the world a better place,” said Cupido.

George said the STEM Club will play a very important role in the eventual establishment of STEM Centres at the various campuses of CPUT.  He added that the launch will make the CPUT community aware of the existence of the STEM Club and the opportunity to establish partnerships and networks with external partners.

Haarhoff added that they managed to forge partnerships with stakeholders who committed to “ensuring that they are on board in terms of supporting us to ensure that our goal is achieved”. “This has opened many doors for the STEM Club, and we look forward to working together.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The Fundani Centre for Higher Education Development’s (CHED) STEM Club magnificently hosted the National Science Week (NSW) event recently.

The purpose of the hybrid event with about 35 attendees, 15 online was to celebrate the Science, Technology and Mathematics (STEM) sector across the University community as this was for the National Science Week. The theme was: Celebrating the role of basic sciences in the modern world. The aim was also to create more awareness in terms of the STEM sector and services offered to students and “how best we could possibly assist students in achieving their goals”.

STEM Coordinator, Dr Frikkie George, said there was a great need to host such events to collaborate, network and encourage students. “The latter is required considering the subject matter of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths”. There was a great turnout of students, an excitement that one cannot express as well as a hunger for assistance in those particular subjects.

“The event was successful; indeed, it is a pity that only a limited number of students could attend due to COVID-19 restrictions. The students were very excited, and the presentations of the guest speakers, Fundani CHED Director, Dr Xena Cupido and Department of Chemistry Lecturer, Dr Elise De Vries, addressed contemporary issues in the STEM field. The organisation and the activities developed smoothly,” added George.

The STEM Club was established in April 2022 and this was its second event. George confirmed that besides celebrating the National Science Week “we aimed to expose the STEM Club to the CPUT community”.  He said the feedback after the event was very positive and gives them the opportunity to spread their footprint at the other CPUT campuses.

For this event, the CPUT STEM Club conducted science-based activities, and focused on the role and value of Science, Technology and Mathematics in celebration of this year’s National Science Week. Students had the opportunity to display various science experiments, engagement from the floor in terms of discussions as well as the panel discussion, discussions from both lecturers as well as students reflecting the importance of the STEM sector at the University.

“The eye-catching and exciting science demonstrations enthralled the imagination of everyone who attended,” George observed.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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Various departments in the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences have been working in unison to assist schools with a Life Sciences revision programme and plan to continue the good work this year.

The collaborating departments are Emergency Medical Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Somatology, Medical Imaging and Therapeutic Sciences, Ophthalmic Sciences and Dental Technology, and the Centre for Community Engagement and Work Integrated Learning, Service Learning division.

Dr Kareemah Najaar, senior lecturer in the Department of Emergency Medical Sciences, said the pandemic has further disadvantaged many underprivileged matric Life Sciences learners because they cannot access Wi-Fi or smartphones. Thus online remote learning was not an option for them.

She said the development of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) remains a focus area for the country's economic growth.

To support the STEM vision and provide socio-economically disadvantaged students with an opportunity to qualify and apply for science programmes at the tertiary level, Najaar sought to expand inter-departmental collaboration within the faculty.

She said Dr Wendy Solomon (Biomedical Sciences) and Michael Paulse (Somatology) had been integral to this project since 2019.

“We realised that for this community engagement to be more effective within the current climate, inviting our sister departments to join could only amplify and accelerate the vision.”

In August last year, Wynberg High School hosted the Grade 12 learners of Lavender Hill High School.”

Four major topics, selected by the teachers, Nabeelah Israel (Wynberg) and Monia Lewis (Lavender Hill) were revised. A maximum of 15 learners were placed with three tutors.

“121 learners attended the session with an astonishing number of faculty lecturers, postgraduates, and undergraduates available as tutors and facilitators. The tutors diligently provided a safe environment for the students, and consequently, the system's efficiency was remarkable to observe.”

The collaborating departments created an environment where the participating matric learners could still physically attend a Life Science Revision programme while conforming to COVID-19 protocols.

“The Covid-19 ‘friendly’ classroom was designed into a classical horseshoe shape, with desks spaced adequately apart. Thus, The students could engage with the tutors who positioned themselves within the centre of the horseshoe while maintaining a safe social distance.”

Before entering the classroom, a register was taken, all participants’ temperatures were recorded, and their hands were sanitised. In addition, all desks were sanitised before each session and after, and the classrooms remained well-ventilated. It was compulsory to wear a facial mask covering the mouth and nose.

 “This model proves that it is possible to conduct revision programmes for those who do not have access to basic technology such as Wi-Fi and smart devices under COVID-19 conditions. We are excited to run our revision programmes with the 2022 matric students. We are most certainly prepared for the challenges that may have previously limited us, in the past,” said Najaar.

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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DigitALL: Digital Innovation and Technology for gender equality was the theme of the annual International Women’s Day event recently held at CPUT.

The event was presented by the Division of Student Affairs and Centre for Diversity, Inclusivity & Social Change, in collaboration with the Faculty of Informatics and Design, in partnership with HERS-SA.

In his opening remarks, Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, said women are grossly underrepresented in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) fields in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“It is also a fact that we need more girls in Africa in STEM and the key question is how to get them there. My observation is that if this is not addressed, if this is not changing, women will remain in jobs that are likely to be replaced by technology. These are low paying jobs or less economically impactful jobs. And you don't want to fall into that particular trap.”

He said the mindset that STEM is the domain of men must change.

Prof Driekie Hay-Swemmer, Executive Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, said this annual event “reminds us of women’s achievements, challenges and ongoing gender equality struggles”.

“Whether we like it or not, women are still fighting for their place in the sun. On the other hand, a day like today also reminds us of women’s remarkable progress in various fields.”

Hay-Swemmer outlined the Vice-Chancellor’s Prestigious Schools STEM Project to the audience and said this empowering initiative had not only made a significant impact on the lives of women but also plays and will play a pivotal role in achieving Sustainable Development Goal number five: Gender Equality.

“This programme at CPUT stands as a beacon of hope, breaking down barriers and stereotypes about women in STEM and it has provided a platform for women to showcase their talents and skills and intellect, providing that gender should never be a limitation to success.”

Central SRC President, Sinelizwi Notshikila, said International Women’s Day is a day “that we're compelled to reflect not only on the contributions and progress that we've made, but on the challenges that still confront us, particularly as young black women navigating the digital landscape in South Africa”.

“As we navigate the exciting possibilities and challenges of the digital age, let us not forget that for centuries women have fought against discrimination and inequality and, while significant strides have been made, we cannot be ignorant about the unique struggles faced, particularly by young black women in our society.”

The event included a presentation by Louise Banahene from the University of Leeds titled: Student inclusivity: A case of Leeds University using a gendered lens.

The keynote speaker was Dr Kolosa Madikizela, a CPUT alumna, whose 20-year career spans across the construction, property development and engineering sectors, where she has occupied senior management, executive management and CEO level positions at various multinational organisations.

“There is importance in days like this. We still need them. For a very long time women were at the back of the bus and very often we weren’t even on the bus. So, these days are about making us get there. But I think if all of us as women take on this baton of being pioneers and bring other women along, the fight can actually be won. We can have a voice instead of being just the noise.”

Other speakers included Prof Tembisa Ngqondi, Dean of the Faculty of Informatics and Design who spoke on the topic of Bridging the gender-digital divide through mentoring and Brightness Mangolothi, Director, HERS-SA, who spoke about coaching and mentoring as an integral part of young women’s student development.

The programme also included a panel discussion, with the panel made up of Thandekile Ndlovu, SRC member, Ayabonga Sawula, Amajita/HeforShe Ambassador and Tshitso Mosolodi, Snake Nation Africa Director & Co-Founder.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The at-risk Science and Mathematics students from numerous departments recently attended the STEM (Science, Technology, Education & Maths) mid-year boot camp intervention programme held at South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre.

The students came from the departments such as Maritime Studies, Marine Engineering, Mathematics, Marine Physics, B.Ed. FET Physical Science and Mathematics, Industrial and Systems Engineering and Engineering Mathematics. The STEM boot camp has been designed to prepare students for the mid-year assessments.

The CPUT STEM Support Lead, Dr Frikkie George, says the boot camp intervention programme is one of the imperatives of the University Capacity Development Grant (UCDG) STEM project funded by the Department of Higher Education & Training (DHET). The first Bootcamp was conducted in 2022 during the September recess. The Bootcamps take place twice a year - in May to prepare students for the mid-year assessments and in September to prepare students for the year-end final assessment.

“The Bootcamp targets at-risk mathematics, physics and chemistry students identified by lecturers. The interest and requests from students to attend grew, however, due to funding we can only accommodate 50 students in May and 100 in September,” said George.

During the bootcamp students worked through the assessments of the first semester in discipline specific sessions. Lecturers, Jerome Tangkeh from Mathematics and Physics Department, Rhulani Saka from Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, tutors, and STEM Club members facilitated the bootcamp sessions. The bootcamp was well attended despite the short notice to students and the timing of the bootcamp (last week of lecturers). Over the two days 95% of the students attended. The difference in the results of the pre-diagnostic and post-diagnostic tests indicate a 5% improvement.

To quantitively determine the success of the bootcamp intervention for recording purposes, students write a pre-diagnostic test at the start of the bootcamp and a post-diagnostic test at the end of the Bootcamp. The facilitators also randomly interview students during the bootcamp to qualitatively determine the students' experiences of the different sessions. The facilitators also track the academic performance in the mid-year and year-end assessments of the students who attend. “These measures are important to indicate whether the bootcamp makes an impact in the academic performance of students who attend the bootcamps.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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Many of CPUT’s top students come from important feeder schools, especially in the Western and Eastern Cape, that produce quality students who easily adjust to the academic demands at the Institution.

As such, the Office of the Vice-Chancellor recently hosted a breakfast engagement with high school principals and community leaders from the feeder schools. The event was held at the Bellville Campus. This annual event is one of Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo’s initiatives aimed at strengthening relationships with “our stakeholders” and facilitating dialogues to identify areas of support and collaboration.

It was attended by the Western Cape Education Department Council, high school principals and community leaders. The event was a resounding success that brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, and the discussions were lively, coupled with meaningful connections for mutual benefit.

In her opening address, Prof Henriette Hay-Swemmer, Executive Director: Office of the Vice-Chancellor, said: “I am so excited to see that community, university, the Western Cape Education Department chair and deputy chair are here because we also want to share with our story and our passion, particularly in making a difference in our surrounding schools. And more importantly, specifically, in terms of STEM [ Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics]. We are all very concerned…The fact that our children do not want to take maths and we must turn this around. It’s very often, a small group of people that come together like us that can say enough is enough. We must turn the point.”

In his keynote address, Nhlapo said there was a looming teacher crisis especially with regard to teachers in Maths and Science. “We want to produce engineers…So the dream is to make sure that we can actually have the STEM institute and help all the students at this region of the country. We have had a number of interventions across the Peninsula and outside the province.”

The guests were also taken on a tour of the Clothing and Textile Technology labs and Food Technology Station.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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