CPUT has been congratulated for being a front-runner amongst tertiary institutions in the fight against HIV/Aids. The 7th annual Peer Education Awards Ceremony was hosted by CPUT’s HIV/Aids unit recently.

The aim of the event is to acknowledge the sterling work Peer Educators do in fighting the disease amongst students.

Director of the Higher Education Aids Department (HEAids), Dr Ramneek Ahluwalia, said CPUT is doing very well compared to the 23 other institutions his organisation monitors.

“Peer education is the way forward and I believe in it,” he said.

“CPUT is doing very well and I appreciate your efforts.”

The glitzy event, which was held at the Tuscany Gardens Hall in Rylands, made certain the Peer Educators were centre of attention.

Guests were treated to a song and dance performance as well as a delicious three course meal.

HIV/Aids Unit HOD, Dr Ashraf Mohammed, called the students his ‘A-Team’ and reminded them of the important work they do each day.

“It’s easier for the youth to speak to the youth and tonight is about saying thank you,” he expressed.

The HIV/Aids Unit has also benefitted from a close working relationship with the German government in recent years. The liaison for this programme, Lionel Adriaan, explained the significance of the relationship and introduced two German students currently in SA and working with the unit.

“They bring a wealth of experience here with them and we are grateful to have them,” said Adriaan.

Before the evening ended, students were awarded a certificate for the contributions. 

By: Lauren Kansley

Photo by: Clive Galant (Fundani CHED)

Written by CPUT News
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CPUT recently hosted the inaugural Student Accommodation Risk and Life Cycle Summit.

The summit, which was organised by the Association of College & University Housing Officers International Southern African Chapter (Acuho-I SAC), took place at the Granger Bay campus. Twenty-four Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and affiliates registered for the event nationally, regionally and internationally.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, in-person attendance was limited to attendees from South Africa only, while foreign attendees could participate online.

“The topic of student accommodation has always been a big one, however, the trends and the risk and life cycle of the sector have not been extensively discussed. Acuho-I SAC sought to do this,” said Phillip Chibvuri, from the CPUT Business Unit who is the Board Treasurer for the ACUHO-I Southern Africa Chapter.

“The aim and goal are to get a sectorial risk register, which the association will use to monitor and treat risks and engage various stakeholders including governments, private sector and more.”

The speakers included the CEO of Higher Health, Dr Ramneek Ahluwalia, who delivered the keynote address, Dr Derek Jackson from Kansas State University in the United States, who spoke on financial recovery as well as several other speakers on incident management and disaster recovery plans.

Chibvuri said feedback from the summit is trickling in and the results are encouraging.

“This is just but a step in getting the sector to collaborate more to achieve a greater cause.”

He said the summit gave attendees a deep understanding of incident management and risk management.

 “I am pleased that the members took to understand the world of risk which is inevitable given the times in which we survive, and more importantly, the need to manage the reality of risk in any organisation/operation and communicating it. The sectorial risk register will set the tone for more collaboration among HEIs in this area. We have the information/knowledge at our disposal sometimes and we have to use it to our advantage all the time to manage risks and prepare for incidents.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Blade Nzimande has lauded CPUT for setting up the first vaccination centre at a Post-School Education centre in South Africa.

“I’m very happy to say CPUT has led the way,” said Nzimande during a visit to the Bellville campus yesterday where he visited the vaccination centre and addressed a briefing where the results of the Higher Health Covid-19 impact study on students in the post-school education system were released.

“I must admit I’m really bowled over by what CPUT is doing, which indeed confirms that this is one of our premier universities of technology,” Nzimande added.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo said the institution has for a number of years now had a guiding principle of “One Smart CPUT” and this ethos has never been more evident than in the past year as CPUT navigated the pandemic.

“We have been One Smart CPUT from the very beginning when we realised the gravity of the pandemic unfolding and quickly set up a COVID-19 Response Unit that infiltrated every unit, department and faculty at this university. From the Vice-Chancellor’s office to security we have been meeting every second day to strategise and, with agility, react to the challenges presented.”

He added that the institution never lost sight of another element “which makes us uniquely CPUT, which is our heart”.

“While needing to make tough decisions about the academic project and other institutional processes, we have been careful to never lose sight of the 40 000 individuals who make up our community.”

Nhlapo said this caring attitude is also evident in the vaccination centre, which will not only be vaccinating CPUT staff and students but the broader community as well.

“Staffed by our own CPUT colleagues, the vaccination centre has the capacity to vaccinate in the region of 500 individuals per day and we hope to help as many people as possible.”

The release of the results of the impact study on students in the post-school education system formed part of commemorations for Youth Month.

Other speakers during the webinar included the CEO of Higher Health, Dr Ramneek Ahluwalia, Chief Research Specialist at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), Prof Sibusiso Sifunda, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Prof Tandi Matsha and Prof Mellet Moll, Compliance and Risk Officer, Business Continuity and Covid-19.

The study was undertaken by Higher Health and the HSRC, through the support of the Department of Higher Education and Training, the Department of Science and Innovation and the United Nations Population Fund.

“From the results we know that 53% thought they were at low risk of contracting COVID-19 and 15% perceived themselves as high risk. This reinforces that it is important for students to understand that they are in fact carriers of the virus and whilst they may be asymptomatic, they are at risk of transmitting to their parents and elderly grandparents,” said Nzimande.

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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