A group of international students are marking their mark at the CPUT HIV/Aids Unit.

Two Human Rights and Democracy students from Sweden, Ellelta Beyene and Sanna Deltin, along with their German counterparts, Niclas Dehmel and Matthias Flug, are volunteering at the Cape Town-based unit.

Their stay at CPUT is part of a compulsory youth service programme, run by their countries.

Beyene and Deltin, who recently arrived in South Africa, first visited Idutywa in the Eastern Cape, before settling in at CPUT.

Whilst in Idutywa, the students lived with a host family in order to learn how democracy had affected the lives of those living in rural South Africa.

Now at CPUT, the students are already hard at work and are participating in a range of activities.

Some of the activities include developing posters and awareness campaigns, voluntary counselling, testing drives and data-capturing. The students also have a number of initiatives they would like to roll out during their stay.

Dehmel, who arrived last August, says he enjoys being part of the CPUT community as well as living in Cape Town.   The German student says he chose South Africa because of the variety of cultures he would be exposed to and good reviews from others who had visited the country.

Beyene is also pleased that she opted for volunteering at CPUT.

 “I’m amazed to see the different cultures, although I’ve visited the continent before I’ve never seen Africa like this.”

By: Thando J. Moiloa

Written by CPUT News
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The Faculty of Business and Management Sciences recently hosted a guest lecture by Swedish academic and researcher, Prof Jens Hultman, titled “Building Sustainable Retail in a Technology-driven environment.”

Hultman is a Professor of Marketing at Kristianstad University, Sweden, with over 20 years of experience in research and teaching in retailing and marketing. He is part of the leadership team of the research platform called FOHRK (Food, Health, and Retail at Kristianstad University) and is also involved in various research projects on food retail marketing and format development in the retail sector.

Guests were welcomed by Prof Victor Virimai Mugobo, the Head of the Department of Retail Business Management, who said the guest lecture will be part of an annual guest lecture series and the “first guest lecture that we are going to have with Kristianstad University”. During the guest lecture, Hultman pointed out that sustainability is a tricky topic in retail, adding that there is an array of interpretations of what sustainability really means and what practices are necessary to strive towards sustainability.

Hultman noted the managerial orientation of sustainability over the years has gone from “why should we care, to how can we manage sustainability in the best way?”

He added that the competitiveness of a retailer is heavily associated with sourcing. “Where they buy, what they buy, how they buy will of course influence their sustainability. Retailers also have a major influence on the decisions consumers make. “If they can influence what and how we consume they also have an ability to function as a transformative power in our society, for example nudge consumers to buy less of something or more of something else.”

Hultman explained that new technology and digitalisation have created the need for multichannel capacity in retail. Digitalisation has also created a situation where the physical store is not a necessary component in retail anymore. “Pretty much every one of us is carrying around a mobile telephone. In the new shopping environment, the way that we shop, is hugely different now compared to 15 years ago.”

The day concluded with a question-and-answer session. In addition to the guest lecture, Hultman also presented a workshop for postgraduate students and staff titled “Navigating Postgraduate Research.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Former CPUT rugby player Glendon du Plessis is making his mark in Sweden where he has been appointed as the assistant coach of the Swedish Women’s Rugby Team.

Originally from the Boland town of Paarl, Du Plessis once dreamed of representing his country on the field, but life had other plans. Instead, he has been presented with “amazing opportunities”, which have shaped his career in unexpected ways.

Du Plessis has played in Craven Week, represented CPUT in Varsity Shield and has played for a number of teams overseas.

He graduated with a National Diploma in Sports Management from CPUT in 2015 and later also obtained his Postgraduate Certificate in Education and has taught at schools in South Africa and abroad while also making a name for himself in the world of rugby.

He has fond memories of CPUT and enjoyed being a member of CPUT’s first-ever Varsity Shield team in 2017.

“I also coached the CPUT Women’s Sevens Team for one year,” said Du Plessis.

While he misses home, he is adjusting to life in Stockholm where he joined the Stockholm Exiles RFC and is learning to speak the language.

He is excited about his new job and will be working with fellow South African and former Western Province and Griquas player, Dustin Jinka, who was appointed as the coach of the Swedish Women’s Rugby Team.

“Things don’t always happen the way you want it to but I believe you should never stop dreaming. If you work hard and do everything to the best of your ability, things will happen for you.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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