WSU, together with five TVET colleges, namely King Sabata Dalindyebo, Ikhala, Lovedale, Buffalo City and Ingwe TVET Colleges signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the Potsdam Site recently in a bid to stimulate skills development and transfer amongst the signatories in areas such as education and training development services, administration services, collaborative research, planning articulation strategy and other educational activities.

“Critical to this agreement will be the issue of articulation – how we link our respective programmes and expertise for the full benefit of all our students. This agreement must also seek to service our students through the sharing of equipment and infrastructure for optimal use amongst the partners,” said WSU Vice-Chancellor and Principle Prof Rob Midgley.

He said central to the partnership would be to avoid working in isolation from its realities and effect positive change by performing optimally for the benefit of the communities within which these institutions operate.

WSU’s Prof Rob Midgley (middle front) takes time to have a group photo taken with the representatives from the TVET colleges

The chief objectives of the agreement will be to develop cooperative and collaborative activities in furtherance of the common interest of the parties; develop educational, research and development activities; participate in cooperative education and development endeavours to meet human needs; strengthen the capacities and capabilities of each member of the partnership through the cooperative use of materials and facilities; promote the exchange of students and staff between education and training, as well as to facilitate the exchange of scholarly information and materials between parties.

Ikhala TVET College Deputy Principle for Planning, Research and Institutional Development Tuletu Njengele hailed the pact as a critical vehicle in laying a platform for TVET colleges to start dabbling in the research sphere.

“One of the critical aspects we’d like the discipline of research to assist us in producing evidence-based data and information as to the effectiveness of our curriculum, the employability of our graduates, and where our students eventually end up so we can begin to come up with interventions to potential gaps in the viability of our programmes,” said Njengele.

King Hintsa TVET College Principle Noluthando Balfour said she’d broaden her outlook on possible programmes within the agreement to help confront some of her institution’s challenges.

She cited issues such as staff development, sharing of equipment and infrastructure and improvement of teaching and learning as some of the more immediate hurdles facing the college.

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The new facility, funded by the Department of Higher Education’s Infrastructure and Efficiency Fund, and the Clinical Fund, is aimed at improving and increasing the University’s medical research and academic output.

The province’s first citizen, Premier Phumulo Masualle will be on hand to deliver the keynote address wherein he’s expected to speak on government’s numerous other initiatives together with WSU as part of the parties’ on-going mandate to improve healthcare in the province.

Other dignitaries set to grace the occasion include AbaThembu king Azenathi Dalindyebo, O.R Tambo District Municipality and King Sabata Dalindyebo executive mayors Nomakhosazana Meth and Nonkoliso Ngqongwa, MEC for Health Dr Phumza Dyantyi, as well as one of the medical school’s founding deans Prof Marina Xaba-Mokoena.

“This world-class campus will house and educate 2,000 medical students who can effectively respond to the region’s local conditions. We want to do more in responding to the needs of the communities we serve,” says WSU health sciences dean Dr Wezile Chitha.

Chitha says eventually all health science operations will be migrated to the new faculty housed at the Mthatha Hospital Complex.

He says the project is critical to consolidating and controlling operations, and creating cohesion for the faculty. This will lead to favourable conditions for maximum academic performance and research output.

“The University is one of world’s top eight medical faculties in problem-based community learning. With the faculty being strategically positioned and in close proximity to the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital and the University’s Health Resource Centre, it means operations such as administration, research, teaching and learning and training will be seamless. We will be able maintain the standard we’ve set,” adds Chitha.

WSU spokesperson Yonela Tukwayo says the project will be constructed in three phases.

The first phase, which has just been completed, includes bulk services infrastructure, earthworks, an administration building, a teaching facility for 600 students and a gatehouse.    

The Administration Building is a 4,500m² double-storey structure that will house six clinical offices and 14 smaller clinical offices with two large boardrooms.

The teaching facility is a 1,350m² double storey building that will be the focal point when entering the campus. On the ground floor, the building will house 10 lecture halls; each will be able to accommodate 60 students. The first floor will comprise 20 smaller tutorial rooms.

“The building’s design is modern; true to its time, region and context with ‘significant’ elegance. Most importantly, the buildings are designed for a flourishing and ideal teaching and learning environment,” says Chitha.

Phase two of the project will see the construction of residences, an auditorium, a research lab, a library, computer labs, student common rooms and a campus cafeteria.

Construction on the last phase of the facility will include more residences and another auditorium, along with campus shops, teaching facilities and health sciences departments.

“The latest development is a clear indication of the strides being gained by the University to help deal with the burden of diseases that are currently confronting our people,” says Tukwayo.

“One of the major focuses of such efforts is to create infrastructure that allows for a conducive and appropriate living, working and teaching and learning environment for our staff and students.

“Through this project, we are honouring these deliverables so we can produce quality graduates equipped with the necessary tools to help improve and add value to the community,” ends Tukwayo.

TIME: 10:30am

VENUE: Mthatha Hospital Complex

DATE: Friday 9 December 2016

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WSU All Blacks rugby captain Ndzondelelo Gemashe was a picture of elation as he scooped the 2016 Sportsman of the Year award, whilst his female counterpart, Vuyolwethu Mahobe took home the Sportswoman of the Year award for her incredible exploits in aerobics, athletics and volleyball.

“This award is dedicated to each and every single teammate that has given their all this year to elevate, not just sport at WSU, but the name and reputation of the university. I’m truly honoured to have achieved this with dedicated and passionate team that has elevated rugby at WSU to another level,” said Gemashe.

WSU All Blacks rugby captain Ndzondelelo Gemashe together with Vuyolwethu Mahobe

It proved a big night for the University’s premier rugby team, the WSU All Blacks, as they also charged for the top honours prize in the Code of the Year category, whilst nine of its players were rewarded for their exploits in the provincial rugby setup.

Softball would edge out three other nominees to take home much-deserved silverware after being crowned winners in the ‘Most Improved Code’ category.

Former Springbok Sevens rugby player Chumani Booi, who took on the task of coaching the All Blacks team in 2016, was also received his just rewards for an immeasurable contribution to the growth and development of rugby at the institution.

Similar awards were presented to long-standing WSU rugby head coach Sipho Metula and team manager Nandipha Majezi for their continued dedication to development of sport at the institution.

WSU alumnus Phumza Kekezwa, a karate black-belt and sensei who’s represented the national team several times in competitions around the globe, was also honoured with a special award for the unrelenting efforts in developing karate not only at the University, but in the country as an instructor and administrator in a number of levels.

WSU’s rugby team after scooping top prize in the ‘Code of the Year’ category

Over 80 trophies, medals and certificates were awarded to the campus’s top sports men and women in nine categories.

By Thando Cezula

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The presidency has released an Interim Report of the Commission into Feasibility of Fee–Free Higher Educationand Training in South Africa. 23 Nov 2016.

Click on the link below to download the full report:

interim-report-on-higher-education-fees

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The six designers fended off stiff competition from over 80 other entrants in the Eastern Cape to make the final eight that will showcase their designs at the inaugural Buyel’ekhaya Fashion Show at the Orient Theatre on 16 December.

Multi-award winning designer David Tlale, who’ll curate the works at the fashion extravaganza, shared his inspirational rags-to-couture story with the more than 80 entrants at a workshop held at the Eastern Cape Audio Visual Centre on Monday 21 November.

“I’m a son of a domestic worker; my two elder sisters are both domestic workers, so I myself come from an underprivileged background. I’ve faced hardships but I’ve never let those hardships determine my altitude. If you want to be successful, I suggest you start dedicating your every second to your dream,” said Tlale.

Multi-award winning world renowned fashion designer David Tlale

He said up-and-coming designers needed to invest wholeheartedly in their craft to bring to being a total paradigm shift that will see the South African fashion industry rise from its substandard state and climb to new heights.

“We need game-changers that will take the baton from the likes of Thula Sindi and David Tlale and run with it. We need designers who won’t be afraid to strive for perfection and thus elevate themselves to international stature. These aspirations need individuals who dare to dream, and dream big,” said Tlale.

The workshop saw the congregants being taken through various aspects of the fashion industry, from the skills aspect to brand management, garment construction, showcasing, casting, retail industry, customer care and book keeping.

WSU lecturer Aaron Sepeng said the workshop was critical in making students understand the close relationship between the teachings in the lecture hall, and putting those lessons into practice in the industry.

“A major focus of David’s address focused on the importance of school and internship programmes. Students need to be aware how critical theory is in laying a basic foundation about the history and techniques from which fashion draws its inspiration. When a client asks for a 40’s look, a designer must be able to immediately know and have an idea of the look and techniques involved. That’s why education is critical in fashion,” said Sepeng.

Students had a chance to engage with some of Tlale’s designs

Phindile Makupula (30), who graduated from the Buffalo City Campus in 2009, was visibly shaken in excitement at the prospects that lie in wait ahead of the Dec showpiece.

The 7Bob Aggressive Clothing label owner who works as a call-centre agent said the platform laid by Khumbul’ekhaya was invaluable in promoting and giving local designers an opportunity to display their talents to the public.

“I’m so overwhelmed and honoured at the prospect of working with and learning from my role models. I wouldn’t change this opportunity for the world. I foresee growth from this experience that will definitely shape my future for the better going forward,” said Makupula.

By Thando Cezula

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The spiritual and culturally conscious works on display reflected on modern-day social confusion in race and religion.

Some aesthetic and yet arousing pieces on show included Andisiwe Diko’s “Empty Spaces”, which interrogates people’s internal convictions as a result of South Africa’s dark past, education and social stratification.

“In my painting and research thesis I showcase different interior spaces. These are the spaces where my ideas of beauty where formed, such as in salons, TV and conversations with my mother,” said Diko.

Another captivating collection is that of a talented print artist, Luzuko Nethi, titled Ubizo: A combination of rituals and healing practices of traditional healers and those of the Zion Christian Church.

“The study contemplates the interface between Christianity and Ukuthwasa, reflecting on how the Xhosa ethnicity has been reformed to accommodate modern society,” Nethi said.

Phila Phaliso’s thought provoking ceramics work titled Crippled Minds explored the relationships between genders using a bullfighting analogy.  “These relationships are defined by power,” she said.

“Given the billions of people around the world with different races and languages, it is inevitable that complex power relationships will spill over to other sexual orientations,” Phaliso added.

The students’ work was assessed by two external moderators to ensure the standard of art is of industry quality.

“I love precision and emotions that have been put into the works. A lot of work was put into these pieces as best as they could. And that is all that one need to do; to do the best you can, as you can,” said student supervisor, Dr John Steele.

The exhibition will be open until Wednesday, 16 November.

By Sinawo Hermans

The post Fine Art students amaze appeared first on Walter Sisulu University.

It’s Tuesday morning 8 October, the excitement, though guarded amidst on-going final exams, is palpable and the eagerness written in the eyes of the young men congregated at the University’s Potsdam Site for a photo session ahead of the looming deadline for submission of players’ head and shoulders shots to competition officials.

As the last player dusts himself off to have his picture taken, his teammate, half-dressed, swings his rugby jersey around and breaks out into song and is duly joined by a bass and tenor devoid of any coherence or technical ability – but the cohesion in spirit and hunger is unmistakeable.

A WSU player leads the impromptu Haka with great passion

“As you can clearly see, the boys are rearing to go come Varsity Shield 2017. The spirit is there, the talent is abundant, and the passion and drive is irrepressible. We will make WSU proud,” says team coach Sipho Metula.

He is quick to credit and attribute the current successes to “warriors” that have left it all on the field and proven instrumental in laying the platform for the current crop to display their talent in.

“It is a great feeling not only for me as the coach, but the entire coaching staff of WSU across campuses, not forgetting the players, especially those that have laid the platform for this team to be the true champions that have put WSU on the map by working very hard to achieving all the goals that we’ve set for them,” adds Metula.

He eases doubts and concerns by assuring that preparations are on track, with off-season training that concentrated on conditioning having been recently slightly completed in October and thus lessened in intensity.

He says the focus has shifted in the pre-season to the more technical and tactical aspects of the game, with more attention being dedicated to on-field related sessions like skills coaching, modified games, patterns of play, and again, highly intense conditioning.

Another WSU All Black tries his hand at the Haka at the Potsdam Site rugby field

“After exams we will be going to the in-season where our major focus will be on full contact with more skills work, more intricate patterns of play, after which, in January 2017, will be playing friendly matches against the likes of Nelson Mandela University, Central University of Technology and Rhodes University. We are in the process of negotiating these warm-up fixtures,” says Metula.

He says the team has nothing to lose and everything to gain going into the tournament, from personal and team development to the exposure and experienced to be gained in the semi-professional set-up that the tournament is organised with.

Metula makes a reassurance that the WSU All Blacks will play hard, impassioned and attractive rugby that will gain the University respect and exposure.

“We’re not going there to merely make up the numbers. We are there to fight for every inch to ensure that we do ourselves and the University proud. We are there to challenge for the title,” concludes.

A mammoth task awaits the All Blacks as they’ll be pitted against the likes of Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Rhodes University, Tshwane University of Technology, University of Fort Hare, University of Kwazulu Natal, and the University of the Western Cape.

By Thando Cezula

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No better motivation could have come for the students ahead of the final exams as over 40 awards, including trophies, medals and certificates were presented to various students for their irrepressible roles and excellence in leadership, academics and service to the department.

“We’ve been through a lot this year as a collective, and to come out on top the way we have shows the spirit and resolve we have as a department to overcome all obstacles. It’s in this spirit that I thank you for giving it your all and never taking your eyes off the ultimate prize, which is to pass the year and progress to the next step,” said departmental head Jose Lukose.

He reminded students of their duty not to concentrate solely on grooming themselves as professionals, but to pay as much attention to other facets that are critical in making them well-rounded individuals that will add value to society upon completion of their studies.

IT Society leadership worked hard to make the day a reality

Final-year student and IT Society Organiser Avile Sibozo praised the initiative’s role in promoting excellence and healthy competition amongst students for the overall elevation of the department’s standards.

“It’s imperative, in order to maintain and improve standards within the department, to ensure that we reward those that have worked hard throughout the year so as to motivate them to improve and inspire to aim higher,” said Sibozo.

An ecstatic Phaphani Tyatya, a third-year student who sits on the society executive as treasurer said he regarded positive academic performance a critical and necessary attribute in any leader’s armoury so as to lead a constituency by example.

Departmental head Jose Lukose

A top achiever in the Project Management 3 category, Tyatya said he was completely overwhelmed by the award.

“This prize makes me realise and appreciated the old adage of hard work pays off. I’m truly humbled and motivated at the same time to do more achieve my goals, and hopefully inspire others in the process,” he said.

By Thando Cezula

The post BCC IT students rewarded appeared first on Walter Sisulu University.

Centre for HIV/Aids director Nomvula Twaise said the book would prove critical in combating the scourge of new HIV/Aids infections, denouncing stigma and discrimination, and improving the quality of life of those infected by the virus.

“This is the second edition following the first one which was developed and published in 2012. We have just completed revising and printing the second edition and we’re now ready to disseminate it throughout the University by way of workshops,” said Twaise.

She said faculty representatives who took part in the revision of the guide were assigned to champion the implementation of the integration of HIV/Aids in their faculties by making sure all lecturers get the book and are trained on how to use it.

The guide’s development was steered by two models that were agreed upon by the institution; the integration/infusion model and the stand-alone model.

“The guide is not prescriptive – it’s designed flexibly enough to be adopted and adapted by the University’s eleven faculties. Its development was guided by the two models. Using the models and other module design criteria, the guide was awarded 16 credits which could be weaved into the programmes as the faculties see fit,” said Twaise.

She was at pains to stress the importance of the endeavour as it seeks to educate, inform and as a result capacitate students with the requisite tools to protect themselves from infection as a result of varied illiteracies about the virus.

Twaise said even if education were completely successful, teaching and learning about HIV/Aids would still have to be an on-going process as new generations of people become adult and need to know how to protect themselves from infection.

“The older generations, who have hopefully already been educated, may need the message reinforced, and need to be kept informed, so that they are able to protect themselves and inform the youth and children,” she said.

Twaise said the guide will not only benefit WSU but all higher education institutions that come across it.

She said already there are two universities that benefited in the first edition and Higher Education and Training HIV/ Aids Programme is also planning to use this guide as an example to assist South African universities.

By Thando Cezula

The post Integration of HIV/Aids into curriculum appeared first on Walter Sisulu University.

Broadband and wi-fi connectivity, tablets and smartphones provide a wide variety of opportunities and innovative products to engage with learners, such as sharing lessons and materials, facilitating discussions, providing off-campus teaching and support and building learning communities.

The EC e-Skills CoLab based at WSU is working with the provincial Department of Basic Education to help prepare schools and teachers to make maximum use of this emerging technology and connectivity. (Schools are the priority targets for the initial broadband roll-outs).

By actively supporting the development of digital skills competencies and digital awareness of the educators, the CoLab is also aiming to contribute to improving the Eastern Cape matric results.

Using ICT in the classroom

The first programme embarked on in June was the rolling out of workshops for designated district ‘ICT champions’.  Teachers were shown how to use social media products which many learners are familiar with as a simple but stimulating way to use ICT in the classroom.  Teachers were also helped to make maximum use of the wide variety of resources available on education websites.

Enhancing basic computer literacy skills of teachers

A second pilot programme embarked on in October involves the training of ‘master trainers’ (e-learning coordinators drawn from throughout the province) to become facilitators of an accredited eLiteracy course for teachers (offered by e-Skills nationally). The plan is for the training to be cascaded down to individual teachers and schools.

“The e-Skills CoLab is excited about the enthusiastic response from department officials and educators to these initiatives”, says Ms Lorna van der Merwe, Acting Coordinator. “There are many opportunities to develop this relationship to benefit managers, administrators, teachers and learners at all of our schools”.

By Lorna Van Der Merwe

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