CPUT recently hosted the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) at its Bellville Campus for a special certificate handover ceremony, celebrating graduates whose outstanding historical debt has now been fully settled.

The visit marked a significant milestone in the long-standing partnership between CPUT and the MQA, with the SETA spending over R900 000 to clear the debt of 16 previously funded graduates. The settlement was not limited to debt incurred during the period of MQA funding; the Authority settled the graduates’ full outstanding balances, thereby unlocking access to employment and further study opportunities.

The MQA delegation was led by Chief Executive Officer, Dr Thabo Mashongoane, accompanied by the Chairperson of the Board, Dr Zethu Qunta, and senior executives. During the ceremony, both the Chairperson and CEO congratulated graduates on their perseverance and highlighted the broader challenges many South African students face in funding their studies and obtaining their qualifications.

The MQA began collaborating with CPUT in 2014, initially through student bursary funding. Since then, the partnership has grown substantially. In 2025 alone, CPUT received almost R17 million, benefiting 177 students, primarily in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment.

Historically, the MQA has invested nearly R84 million in CPUT since the partnership began, supporting 545 students.

Beyond bursaries, the partnership has expanded to include a fully funded Lecturer Development Programme established in 2024. The five-year initiative, valued at nearly R24 million, supports nine candidates, mostly black female Master’s and PhD students, who are being developed to fill anticipated academic vacancies. The programme covers salaries, bursaries, professional registration, and participation in local and international conferences.

Additionally, in January 2026, CPUT was selected, alongside North-West University, to implement the MQA Green Hydrogen Project, with the official launch expected in March 2026.

One of the graduates, Anesipho Glayisi, was handed her three qualifications, a Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Management. At her previous graduation ceremonies, she had not received her certificates due to outstanding debt.

“This gave me confidence, motivation, and the resources I needed to reach my goals. My dream is to become a qualified Environmental Practitioner and contribute to sustainable solutions that benefit both people and nature. I also aspire to mentor young people from rural areas pursuing environmental careers,” said Glayisi.

Director of CPUT’s Advancement Department, Calvin Maseko, highlighted the long-term impact of MQA funding. “We tracked the MQA graduates and it is impressive to note that 33 of them collectively own 50 properties, with a combined purchase price of almost R32 million. One graduate owns seven properties, something we are proud of as a university,” he said.

“The employment rate of MQA beneficiaries is 87%, far surpassing the national youth employment rate. Their combined monthly income exceeds R4 million per month and is estimated at R51 million per annum. This means the return on MQA’s investment is achieved within a two-year period. Most of the graduates (61%) are working in the mining and government sectors, meaning MQA is directly investing in its own industry. Furthermore, 60% of MQA students are female, which directly contributes to transforming the employment landscape and addressing the historical dominance of males in the mining industry.”

In their addresses, the MQA leadership emphasised that settling graduate debt is not only about clearing accounts, but about restoring dignity and ensuring that qualifications translate into real employment opportunities.

“The ceremony underscored the shared commitment between CPUT and the MQA to create access, remove financial barriers and strengthen South Africa’s skills pipeline, particularly in engineering, environmental management and related sectors,” said Dr Mashongoane.

“As graduates walked across the stage to receive their certificates, the moment symbolised more than academic achievement. It marked renewed opportunity and a partnership that we want to continue to improve the lives of our youth and create futures,” added Dr Qunta.

Written by CPUT News
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For the first time since its inception, the CPUT Advancement Department celebrated being awarded a challenge grant for meeting and exceeding the 2009 expectations of the Kresge Foundation, one of the institution’s major funders.

The Kresge Foundation is an American private foundation that seeks to influence the quality of life for future generations through its support of non-profit organisations in health, the environment, community development, arts and culture, education and human services.

In 2005, the Foundation committed $10.5 million over 5 years to five South African organisations, four of which are universities including CPUT.

The Foundation made a total of R10.2million available to CPUT for the period 2006 to 2010 to develop institutional capacity to increase the amount of third-stream income for the institution through the establishment and operations of an advancement office, encompassing fundraising, alumni relations, individual donors, campaigns and communication. The grant is released on an annual basis.

Certain targets and milestones were put in place each year for the department to achieve and in return receive a challenge grant from the Foundation.

Having met and exceeded all set targets and milestones for the year 2009, the department received R800 000 in addition to the annual grant.

Advancement Director Dr Garth van Gensen said being awarded the challenge grant was a reflection of the hard work and team effort the department had displayed in the past months.

“It is the first time that we are receiving this challenge grant in the history of the department and that shows that we are doing something right,” Dr van Gensen said. He said the award had motivated the department to work even harder in 2010.

The challenge grant for the 2010 evaluation which will be conducted next year is at R1million if all set targets are met by the department. The challenge grant is specifically targeted at developing the capacity of the department staff.

The Advancement Department is located on the fifth floor, Administration Building on the Cape Town campus and can be contacted on +27 21 460 3389.

By Noloyiso Mchunu

The Advancement department team has a lot to smile about following an exceptionally good evaluation by the department’s main funder, the Kresge Foundation.

Written by CPUT News
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Milcho Damianov has been appointed as the new Director of Advancement at CPUT.

A graduate of the prestigious International Fundraising School at Indiana University in the USA, Damianov also holds a post-graduate qualification in Marketing Management.

The Bulgarian-born director is equally adept at Corporate Communications, a discipline gleaned from his extensive work experience at tertiary institutions in Europe and Southern Africa.

His formidable skills were most recently pivotal to the success of the Uniswa Foundation, which spearheads advancement initiatives at the University of Swaziland. As the first CEO of the foundation, Damianov’s leadership and creative management style were instrumental in promoting the university as a positive, credible and worthy institution.

What followed was an influx of international donor aid, the establishment of public-private-partnerships, corporate social investment and private donations to Uniswa.

This, in turn, allowed the university to invest in the development of world-class facilities on campus such as sport centers and hostels, while scholarship programs ensure that the previously unattainable educational aspirations of thousands of students are made a reality.

And that, in a nutshell, is the essence of Advancement, says Damianov.

“Advancement is all about the empowerment of the dreams of others – making those dreams a reality. One of my roles is to align the activities of the Advancement office with the overall strategic undertakings of the university. I aim to do so by leading with innovation and creativity. “

Positioning CPUT as a world-class, socially responsive university that embraces the cutting-edge of technology is another of Damianov’s principal tasks, as is broadening the partnership networks of CPUT.

“This will be done while successfully retaining our special relationships with existing friends, partners, funders and alumni.”

By Jan Weintrob

Written by CPUT News
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Tucked away on the fifth floor of the Admin building on CPUT’s Cape Town Campus, you’ll find a small unit, the Advancement Department, which packs a mega-punch. Tasked with supporting all who teach and learn at the University by raising funds, in cash or kind, the Department’s new Director, Calvin Maseko, has been in the fundraising and business development field for 16 years.

His last role was at Thembalethu Development, which was linked to the mining industry and implemented community development projects across the SADC region. Maseko also has extensive experience of business development in the non-profit sector, including Child Welfare, Lifeline, and the African Medical Research Foundation.

Maseko is enthused by working in academia and believes that fundraising, or business development in the social sector is the same, regardless of whether one is in an academic institution or working for a non-profit organisation.

“Funders and donors are approached in a similar manner and there are certain principles of relationship building and procuring funds that never change. Whether working on a community outreach project, or raising funds for one of CPUT’s strategic initiatives, similar approaches and interventions can be employed as one adapts to new environments.”

Maseko adds, “Meeting the fundraising targets we have committed to in our strategic plan, and synchronising the activities of the department to ensure we are always focussed on the bottom line of fundraising and friend-raising is key. In every organisation I have worked for, I have always exceeded fundraising targets, and am confident the same can be done here at the CPUT.”

Written by Janyce Weintrob
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Women in all spheres of the CPUT Community were recognised and celebrated during the month of August in a variety of presentations and events.

On 15 August, The Department of Advancement invited female alumni, final year students, international students and Executive Management members to an evening titled 'Unleash the Brand in You' at the Granger Bay Campus. In an event that provided fun and entertainment alongside a more serious focus on the real issues affecting women, various speakers presented on the theme of ‘branding’ in relation to female identity.

Executive Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor’s Office Dr Nomathamsanqa Tisani discussed the CPUT logo and the way in which its deconstruction of the shield symbol represents a break from the traditional symbols used by Universities. Journalism student Ruth Chisesa spoke about the xenophobic label kwerekwere and how such terms make women feel. Cariema Samoodien of the Yardsticks marketing company asked the audience to consider the relationship between ‘you as a woman’ and ‘you as a brand.’

“Women have been out of the kitchen since a long time ago,” said Alumni Officer Nandi Madadasana, organiser of the event, “but how do we interact with each other? This is the century for women. It’s now time to showcase what we can do.”

The Department of Student Affairs held various Women’s Month related activities during August, culminating in the Phenomenal Woman day on 23 August. Wearing caps reading “I am phenomenal,” female students from various campuses were treated to a bus tour and a catamaran trip to seal island. The day ended with an awards ceremony for students and staff at GrandWest.

The ceremony featured Generations star Sophie Ndaba as guest speaker. Students were intrigued to learn that the glamorous actress grew up in an orphanage and got pregnant at an early age. She urged students to never give away their own power to a man, to study, to work hard, earn their own money and become self sufficient in every possible way.

“We went home inspired, motivated, empowered and full of phenomenal new ideas as to how to overcome the challenges in their lives. It is events like these that we will treasure in years to come” said Lindelwa Gayiza, student and co-organiser.

Students who attended the Phenomenal Woman day each received a business etiquette booklet compiled Student Affairs. The booklet was published in an effort to develop CPUT students holistically as Women and as potential business women in South Africa and abroad.

South Africa celebrates National Women’s Day every year on 9 August to commemorate the famous 1956 women’s protest against the pass laws. In addition to celebrating the public holiday, many organisations hold events throughout the month to give thanks to female role models and draw attention to women’s issues.

By Ilana Abratt and Anette Grobler

Written by CPUT News
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In October last year CPUT launched its first ever direct appeal to all Alumni in support of the bursary fund and library development at the University. The appeal went to some 49 000 alumni throughout the world and was generously supported.

To date, over R28 157 has been raised for this fund. Ms Gillian Mitchell, the Director of Advancement, voiced her sincere appreciation to all CPUT Alumni: “We are so very encouraged by the response that we received. Our alumni responded with generosity and integrity. I join the Vice-chancellor in thanking all of our alumni for participating in this appeal.”

Ms Mitchell explained that the CPUT Annual Fund has been established as an annual fund that will continue to raise awareness of key needs at CPUT. As with all teaching institutions in South Africa, only a portion of CPUT’s operating budget is covered by the government grant and student fees. Further funding is raised from research grants and donor funding to support the key teaching and learning programmes.

“The support of our Alumni is critical for two important reasons. Firstly, the participation of our alumni in supporting our university is an invaluable acknowledgment of our success as a teaching institution. The more visible this support becomes, the more we are able to ensure that we attract entering students with potential to graduate with top honours. Secondly, the support of our alumni means that we are able to form a dependable base of financial support for students.”

Bursaries continue to be the only way in which many students are able to attend university and one of the greatest gifts that alumni can bestow is that of access to education for forthcoming generations.

Ms Mitchell went on to say that the most vital outcome of the CPUT Annual Fund is that alumni participate. “The amount of the gift is not the most important aspect. Helping us form a strong, reliable community of people willing to band together in support of our University is a much more important accomplishment.”

In this respect Ms Mitchell particularly thanked the Vice-chancellor, Professor Mazwi-Tanga; the Chair of the CPUT Council, Reverend Lionel Louw and Mr Robin Dixie, a trustee of the CPUT Foundation for their generous gifts to the fund. “I have no doubt that their generous participation will encourage many others to consider support of the CPUT Annual Fund.”

By the Department of Advancement

Written by CPUT News

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The Advancement Department welcomes its new director Dr Garth van Gensen.

Dr Van Gensen joins CPUT from the Central University of Technology (CUT) in the Free State where he was employed as Senior Director: Advancement & Marketing for four years. Before that he worked as Senior Director: Corporate Relations at the same institution.

Prior to his stint of eight years at CUT, Dr van Gensen was the Regional Manager of Prestasi Brokers (now Indwe Risk Services). His region covered the Free State, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape.

Under his leadership, the Advancement department will strive to excel and to achieve greater heights. “We are in a good position despite the current economic climate, my plan is to take the Advancement department to the next level,” Dr Van Gensen said.

Dr Van Gensen holds a doctoral degree in Business Administration from CUT, an MBA from the University of Wales and a BA (Hons) from the University of the Western Cape. He describes joining CPUT as coming back home because although he was born in Cradock, Eastern Cape, his career began when he worked as a teacher at Bishop Lavis High School in Cape Town.

Asked about his views on the current state of higher education in South Africa, Dr Van Gensen said the country’s higher education institutions’ throughput rate needs intervention.

He added that initiatives like the CPUT’s newly launched Centre for Multi-Grade Education were much needed. “It is such interventionist programs that are needed and fortunately donors are also keen to give support as these programs are in line with their own corporate social investment policies,” he said.

Dr Van Gensen looks forward to adding value at CPUT through his studies, experience and expertise in the higher education and private sector. He has researched, delivered papers locally and internationally and published articles on branding practices in a new South African higher education landscape.

His wife, Dr Dawn van Gensen and two children, Gareth and Megan are still in Bloemfontein and the family hopes to be re-united permanently in Cape Town next year. Dr Van Gensen agrees with findings that Cape Town is the best city in Africa and the Middle East in which to work and stay

By Noloyiso Mchunu

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The Advancement Department raised R111 million in bursaries in 2019, which benefitted over 3000 underprivileged students.

“We are grateful to our donors who heeded to our request for funding and helped in the fulfilment of our underprivileged students’ dreams,” says Calvin Maseko, Director of the Advancement Department.

This is a significant increase considering that in 2018 the Department secured R71 million.

Maseko adds that the extra working hours put in by the department’s staff paid off. He also expressed a word of appreciation to staff members from other departments who enabled this huge success.

“The bursary application process is too admin intensive, and as a result some students helped out in the processes. I am humbled by this behaviour as they did us proud,” he said.

Maseko had a few words of advice for students whose sponsors have not yet paid out their tuition fees.

“Over 400 students are still waiting for their fees to be paid by their bursary sponsors. For those who experienced delays, the office of the Vice-Chancellor has authorised that they be unblocked and enabled to register in 2020 if they intend to continue their studies at CPUT,” he says. “The department is following up on the outstanding payments and extends its gratitude to students that have been patiently waiting.”

Written by Kwanele Butana
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The Advancement Department has thrown its weight behind the first social responsibility drive of CPUT’s 10 year anniversary campaign.

With just one week of the School Shoe Drive remaining, staffers from the fundraising arm of CPUT each contributed a pair of brand-new school shoes – and are challenging colleagues to do the same.

Advancement Director Calvin Maseko says, “We’re fully behind this drive, which aims to put shoes on the feet of those who might one day study right here with us. While we’re usually tasked with raising millions to support those who learn and teach at CPUT, this is a small, but tangible way to show we care. We’re urging our colleagues and students on the Cape Town Campus and all other campuses, to do the same.”

Shoes will be collected up until the first week of March. Staff and students can also make this a team effort and get together with a colleague or two to buy a pair of shoes. Any size and make of school shoes for boys and girls are welcome.

Contributions can be dropped off at the offices of the following staff members on your campus:

• Bellville Campus: Yanga Malusi (Administration Building – Marketing and Communication Office, second floor)
• Cape Town:  Samuel Meintjies (Administration Building –main entrance)
• Mowbray Campus:  Alisha Salie (Switchboard – ground floor)
• Wellington Campus: Loretta Adonis (Business Faculty - ground floor)
• Granger Bay: Luke van Rensburg (Hotel School)

Written by Janyce Weintrob

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A passion for nurturing strong relationships with industry is paying dividends for both students and the companies who offer internships to them.

Senior Lecturer in the Department of Architectural Technology and Interior Design, Colleen Cocotos, has established this type of collaboration with Collaborate- an Interior Architecture and Commercial Design firm based in Woodstock. The partnership has seen BTech Interior Design student Siphiwe Conco and 3rd year student Nckubeko Shumane find their wings as Junior Design Consultants at the company, via internships, financial support and a significant amount of hands-on mentoring from Collaboration’s staff.

“When a company see how personally invested lecturers are in their students, it becomes easier for business to offer help in various ways, either through internships, mentorships or offers of financial aid. We also encourage the company to have a stake in choosing a candidate they feel will be the right fit and be able to grow and add value during their internships,” says Cocotos.

She says a major bonus of this close interaction between industry and academia is the feedback received from companies during internships, which speaks volumes about the relevancy of the course being taught.

“It also allows our students not just to get valuable work-integrated learning experience, but to feel honoured and elevated by their engagement with industry.”

Cocotos is quick to praise the administrative and advisory support received from CPUT’s Advancement Department, who expedited a smooth process for the transfer of funds from Collaboration to the students.

Faculties and departments wanting to do the same are urged to work with the Advancement Department to nurture and bolster ongoing industry alliances.

Written by Janyce Weintrob
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The fundraising arm of the CPUT has thrown its weight behind the student-led initiative to ease hunger in residences this International Mandela Day.

Usually tasked with raising millions for the betterment of the university, Advancement staffers jumped at the chance to collect and donate food for those in need.

This is the first Nelson International Mandela Day since Madiba's death in December last year, with literacy, shelter and food security chosen as the themes for the day. Staff member Helena Pietersen says that given these themes, the food collection drive is an especially fitting way to mark Madiba’s legacy.

“We believe that charity begins at home and that donating nourishing food is a simple but very tangible way to show our students that we care. Our project will run for the entire month of July, not just for Mandela Day, and we’re urging all who learn and teach on the Cape Town campus to join in.”

The initiative has been endorsed by the Vice Chancellor and was conceptualised by a group of students from the Assemblies of God Movement on Campus (AOGMC) in Bellville, in partnership with the Bellville SRC, Student Counselling and Student Affairs.

Co-ordinator Abulele Mgijima says non-perishable foodstuffs such as cans of beans, soups, tuna, dried fruit, rice, pasta, mielie meal, peanut butter, long-life milk, flour and sugar etc, can be dropped off at the Advancement Department on the 5^th Floor of the Admin Building on Cape Town campus and at collection points all over Bellville campus.

The food will later be distributed via House Parents to pre-identified needy students.

Please contact Abulele Mgijima on 076 893 9150 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. of the Advancement Department for further info.

Written by Janyce Weintrob
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Staff from the fundraising arm of CPUT are delighted to have not just met, but exceeded their fundraising targets for 2015.

Advancement Director, Calvin Maseko, says this is particularly significant given the events of late 2015, in which student frustration at the high cost of tertiary education resulted in nationwide protests.

“We are thrilled to have achieved our fundraising goals, and extend our warmest thanks to Vice Chancellor Nevhutalu for championing our cause and helping us exceed our targets. Our department is tasked with raising millions to support those who learn and teach at CPUT, and with the visible and vigorous support of the VC, we’re doing just that.”

Maseko says there are many ways to support CPUT and its students, from our My School Card initiative, to safe and swift online donations for our Bursary Fund, as well as companies providing Work Integrated Learning opportunities for students.

Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor is calling on the broader university community to accept the challenge of raising funds for our academically gifted but struggling students.

“I’d love to see students, staff, alumni and members of Convocation all pitching in to truly transform the lives of those who are so deserving of an education,” he says.

“ I’m hopeful that our SRC and Convocation members, in particular, will spearhead fundraising initiatives. In doing so, the university community can unite as never before and work collectively to truly take CPUT from good to great.”

Written by Janyce Weintrob
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