DST-UNESCO Engineering Conference kicks off
VISION FOR THE FUTURE: Vice-Chancellor Dr Chris Nhlapo addresses delegates during the DST-UNESCO Engineering Conference.
Monday, 13 January 2025
Representatives from government, industry and academia were among the delegates welcomed to the Bellville campus this morning for the first day of the DST-UNESCO Engineering Conference.
The theme of the three-day conference is Enabling the Fourth Industrial Revolution for Sustainability and Economic Growth.
Prof Marshall Sheldon, CPUT’s Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships, said the initiative was developed to build engineering capacity in the country that is informed by national projects such as the National Development Plan. National Infrastructure Plan, National Skills Development Plan Strategy and specific projects such as the Square Kilometre Array.
“This conference aims to bring together role-players in various engineering fields to discuss opportunities and challenges and to propose strategies to South Africa that we can adopt to develop the engineering capacity in South Africa,” she said.
In addition, the conference aims to raise awareness of the importance of the role of engineering in growing the economy of the country and thereby increasing the quality of life.
CPUT Vice-Chancellor Dr Chris Nhlapo said the conference theme was of particular interest to the institution as the university had recently embarked on a strategy aimed at unpacking the concept of the Fourth Industrial revolution and its impact on the Vision 2030 plan for the institution with a vision of creating one smart CPUT.
He said platforms like the conference were important “so that we can talk in unison about the national approach to the fourth and the fifth industrial revolution.”
This morning’s speakers included Dr Gansen Pillay, Deputy CEO of the National Research Foundation, who delivered the keynote address, and Sipho Madonsela, CEO of the Engineering Council of South Africa.
Written by Ilse Fredericks
Email: Frederickskennediji@cput.ac.za
News categories
- Advancement 13
- Alumni 77
- Awards 42
- Campus Life 20
- Community Engagement 158
- Disability Unit 12
- Applied Sciences 93
- Business & Management Sciences 90
- Education 96
- Engineering & the Built Environment 131
- Health & Wellness Sciences 88
- Informatics & Design 69
- Fundani CHED 25
- Funding 19
- GBV 16
- Graduation 80
- HIV/Aids Unit 39
- Know Your CPUT 65
- Libraries 18
- News 3719
- RTIP 286
- Residences (Accommodation) 14
- Staff 629
- SIIP 38
- Students 1287
- Student Health 43
- Sport, Arts & Culture 115
- SRC 4
- Student Affairs 11
- University Leadership 17
- Varsity Shield 17
- Vice-Chancellor 24
- Work-Integrated Learning 21
- THENSA 10
Latest NEWS
Cheerleaders raise the bar with provincial and national recognition
Thursday, 11 June 2026
Read more
