With the issue of poor service delivery constantly under the spotlight, a CPUT lecturer is putting plans in place to launch a student chapter of the South African Association of Public Administration and Management (SAAPAM).

SAAPAM is a national body that promotes good governance and effective service delivery through the advancement of professionalism, scholarship and practice in Public Management.

Currently its members only consist of academics from higher education institutions and public service practitioners.

However, Peter Veeran, a Public Management lecturer, who is the head of the Western Cape chapter of the Association, is planning to extend membership to Public Management students.

Veeran said by launching a student chapter they will be able to hold seminars, workshops, training sessions and discussions with students on issues of service delivery in the workplace.

“We want to develop a cadre of students who will go into the public sector and who will provide an efficient and effective service,” he said.

Veeran said if students are passionate about their careers they will do well in their jobs and contribute to promote a better quality of life for the community they serve.

The Western Cape student chapter will be the second to be launched. The institutes’ first student chapter was launched in 2007 in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Veeran said the Western Cape student chapter will be launched during the first term of 2010.

“I have already run the idea by students and they are very excited,” he said.

The student chapter will fall under the Western Cape chapter and will be open to students from all higher education Institutions in the province.

Currently Veeran is on a robust drive to increase membership of the Western Cape chapter.

He recently met with staff members of Provincial Parliament, the Premiers Office and the City of Cape Town to raise awareness of the chapter.

Veeran is also putting plans in place to deliver a presentation on the Association to staff members at Parliament in Cape Town.

“I am using every opportunity to promote SAAPAM,” he said.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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The City of Cape Town in partnership with three of the four universities operating under the banner of the Cape Higher Education Consortium (CHEC) recently held a workshop at CPUT with a view to exploring ways in which the partnership can deliver required skills for staff of the City of Cape Town.

The main objective was to come up with a regional Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) model as opposed to each institution using its own RPL process.

The workshop, held at the IT Centre on the Bellville Campus on 19 August 2009, served as a platform for constructive engagement with RPL practices related to the skills development and training needs of staff in the City of Cape Town.

Delegates from the City of Cape Town, CPUT, the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the University of the Western Cape (UWC) explored innovative RPL programmes and discussed proposals to enhance further provision of RPL services for eligible staff in future.

Nasima Badsha, CEO of CHEC, gave a brief background of the project. Alan Ralphs of UWC mentioned that universities have already taken certain steps. The workshop’s task was to widen the scope by talking about RPL and exchanging ideas about implementing the planned project.

Yolanda Scholtz, Strategic HR: Human Capital Development at the City of Cape Town, said the city had gone through a skills audit in which 90% of management staff participated and were assessed.

She said strengths, weaknesses and gaps to be filled were identified in the process and the role of RPL became clear. She also mentioned that there are people with certain skills who don’t have the qualifications in Accounting that government would need them to have by the year 2013. Staff at supervisory level were also neglected although this was “the most important level in getting the job done.”

Three universities made presentations in which they stated what they have done so far and what they intend doing in future.

At the end it was agreed that there was a need for collaborative planning and implementation of progra between the City of Cape Town and the three institutions. There was a common feeling that there needs to be a central advice and referral office to either be based at the CHEC or City Council’s offices. The office would also deal with program specific information, mentoring, support and tracking, and policy frameworks.

It was also agreed that an invitation be extended to the Office of the Premier (Provincial Government) to join in the project. A working committee of the participating institutions was to continue its work in the implementation of these resolutions.

By Thami Nkwanyane

Written by CPUT News
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The HIV/AIDS Unit will hold the second 2009 Voluntary Counselling and Testing Drive from 7 to 22 September 2009.

Staff and students who participate in the drive have the opportunity to learn their HIV status and are counselled accordingly.

Bellville

• 7 September 2009 - Freedom Square Residence (16:00-21:00)
• 8-9 September 2009 - Auditorium, Bellville Campus (8:30-16:00)
• 10 September 2009 - Tygerberg Campus (8:30-16:00)

Cape Town

• 11 September 2009 -Western Cape Nursing College, Athlone Campus (8:30-16:30)
• 14 September 2009 - Catsville Residence (16:00-21:00)
• 15-16 September 2009 - Student Centre/Atrium, Cape Town Campus (8:30-16:00)
• 17 September 2009 - Mowbray Campus (8:30-16:00)
• 18 September 2009 - Granger Bay Campus (8:30-16:00)
• 21 September 2009 - EWR (16:00-21:00)
• 22 September 2009 - Masimanyane Residence (16:00-21:00)

Written by CPUT News
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Applications for one of the most generous student funding opportunities is open and CPUT students are being urged to apply.

The Caro Wiese Award is sponsored by SA business tycoon and CPUT Honorary Doctorate recipient Christo Wiese and his wife Caro.

Worth R70 000 each the Caro Wiese awards are bestowed on two students (one male and one female) who have achieved academic excellence despite extreme personal hardship.

The Caro Wiese Awards are almost one year old and the 2016 recipient was Matthew Benjamin a Sudanese refugee who walked to SA in 2011 and arrived in Cape Town speaking very little English and with only R200 in his pocket. Determined to study he taught himself English using YouTube videos and eventually enrolled for a Masters course in IT. Matthew successfully graduated last year and thanks to the generous award was able to continue his studies. 

Convener of the award Prof Janet Condy says that while the award is partially based on academic excellence the focus is on the applicant’s personal story.

“CPUT students who have achieved excellent results relative to the opportunities they have had, and who have a track record of high achievement despite the most formidable social, physical, or other personal challenges, are eligible,” she says.

Visit http://www.cput.ac.za/study/funding/caro-wiese-award for more information on how to apply.

Applications close on May 19.

Written by Lauren Kansley
Tel: +27 21 953 8646
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Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.

First year students who plan on registering this week are urged to be cautious about accepting assistance from strangers on any CPUT campus.

Registration is exclusively for students who have received an acceptance letter for a place in one of our programmes.

To keep you and your money safe remember the following:

1. Registration payments can only be made when you register online or at the cashiers in the Administration building of the Cape Town, Bellville and Wellington campuses. Do not pay any stranger purporting to be a CPUT staff member or student.
2. Take care when paying a stranger for accommodation. Make sure you are getting what you pay for.
3. No staff member or student is able to ‘save’ you a place in a programme. Remember no acceptance letter means no place.
4. Registration Assistants will be well placed across campuses to direct you and answer any questions you may have.

First year registration opens on 16 January 2017 and most students will be able to do so online at http://www.cput.ac.za/study-at-cput/undergraduate/register. Also check the page for a registration booklet which explains all the necessary information and may save you unnecessary time queuing at a campus. 

Walk-in applications will open on 16 January 2017. Prospective applicants can report to the relevant faculties as from 16 January 2017 for further details.

NSFAS applications are open until 20 January. Find out more at: https://www.cput.ac.za/study-at-cput/undergraduate/financial-aid-funding/nsfas-funding

Written by Lauren Kansley

Tel: +27 21 953 8646
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.