Research to abate health risks underway
Prof Beatrice Opeolu’s research mission is not just to establish levels of pollutants in the environment, but also to assess possible health risks and develop abatement methods that will be cheap and available in developing economies like South Africa, thus providing a comprehensive approach to solving environmental problems.
Apply now for Vice-Chancellor’s Prestigious Achievers Award
Outstanding Masters and Doctoral students are invited to apply for the Vice-Chancellor’s Prestigious Achievers Award.
Enhancing the scholarship of teaching and learning
Prof Rishi Balkaran firmly believes that there is no problem that cannot be solved.
His view is that the platform for a successful resolution is that your engagement with others must be solutions-driven, transparent, open and honest.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning recently joined CPUT from the Durban University of Technology where he served as Executive Dean: Faculty of Management Sciences.
Balkaran’s objectives at CPUT are: to drive teaching and learning towards the One Smart CPUT 2030 vision; to enhance the scholarship and practice of teaching and learning and develop staff to become the best at what they do.
All of these serve the expressed purpose of ensuring student success and Balkaran says technology must be at the heart of this.
“Work-integrated learning must be the hallmark of every programme that we offer. We must develop new and innovative ways to deliver our services in order to keep up with the current and changing needs of students.”
He adds that CPUT must be a student centred university where engagement of staff and students becomes part of our everyday life. Key to this is the classroom experience of shifting the balance of power from the lecturer to the student.
“Our systems and processes must be student-friendly and geared towards enhancing the student experience.”
Balkaran has as national chair of the SA Commerce Deans Association and chair of the Tourism Educators South Africa. He has just been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Cape Higher Education Consortium (CHEC) and serves on the board of the Western Cape Education Council.
When his busy schedule allows Balkaran enjoys playing table tennis and he is an avid fisherman who looks forward to exploring the Cape waters.
Education professor appointed research chair
Prof Janet Condy, a senior academic in the Education Faculty, was recently appointed as Research Chair: Literacy Development Research Unit.
Bridging the gap between science and practice
The Department of Emergency Medical Sciences’ Dr Navindhra Naidoo is the chair of an expert panel on Evidence-based First Aid for First Responders (FAFR) in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Curriculum to produce critical thinkers needed
The Education Faculty’s Prof Janet Condy is calling for a new curriculum which provides deep, life-worthy learning that is purposeful and of a higher level of complexity.
Full professorship for education fundi
A seasoned academic in the Education Faculty will be delivering her inaugural Professorial Lecture at the Bellville Campus on Monday.
