Academics shine at National University Teaching Awards
COMMITMENT TO TEACHING EXCELLENCE: Dr. Vusi Mshayisa and Prof. Sweta Patnaik were honoured at the National University Teaching Awards for their contributions in Food Science and Technology and Clothing and Textile Technology, respectively.
Tuesday, 25 November 2025
Two academics have been honoured at the prestigious National University Teaching Awards (NUTA), which recognise innovation and excellence in university teaching across South Africa.
In the 2024 awards round, Senior Lecturer: Department of Clothing and Textile Technology, Prof Sweta Patnaik, received a commendation for her outstanding contribution to teaching and learning. The commendation acknowledges her innovative curriculum design, student-centred pedagogy, and sustained commitment to student success.
For the 2025 cohort, Senior Lecturer: Department of Food Science and Technology, Dr Vusi Mshayisa was named one of the national winners in the Experienced Teacher category, placing him among the country’s leading university teachers. A total of 50 applications were received from 20 universities.
The award recognises his consistently high-quality teaching, creative use of technology and assessment, and his ability to create an inclusive, engaging learning environment for diverse student groups.
CPUT has welcomed the recognition as an affirmation of the university’s commitment to teaching excellence and its Vision 2030 focus on student success and transformative learning. “These awards signal that the work our academics are doing in lecture rooms, laboratories, and online spaces is having a national impact. Prof Patnaik and Dr Mshayisa exemplify the kind of reflective, innovative, and caring teaching that changes students’ lives,” said Dr Xena Cupido, Director: Fundani CHED.
Cupido said both academics will continue to contribute to institutional projects that strengthen curriculum renewal, assessment practices, and the scholarship of teaching and learning at CPUT. Their achievements also provide powerful role models for colleagues and students, demonstrating that teaching excellence is central to the university’s mission. With two NUTA recognitions in successive years, CPUT is consolidating its reputation as a sector leader in high-quality, socially responsive higher education.
Written by CPUT News
Email: news@cput.ac.za
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