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
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The DST-UNESCO Engineering Conference kicked off yesterday (September 17) with a day-long event dedicated to students.

Postgraduate students from around the country descended on Bellville campus to deliver papers, inspect each other’s posters and more importantly network.

Prof Mellet Moll, acting Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, said the important factor was for students to get to know their own peers and discover people who think as they do and might be able to contribute to their work.

“The day started off with a chance for postgraduate students from all over to listen to each other and look as peers at each other’s work.

“Prof Veruscha Fester’s opening address really framed the day. She gave the postgraduate students context in terms of what the new world of work would be like for them,” said Moll.

During their breaks students inspected the posters displayed in the Auditorium foyer and at a gala dinner CPUT DEng candidate in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Whigens Ngoie Ilunga, won first prize for his poster “Biodiesel production from edible oil wastewater sludge with bioethanol using heterogeneous nano-magnetic catalysis.”

Kerry-Anne Airey of UCT won the first prize for her presentation “Simulation of discrete machining modelling characterisation of Titanium chip formation during milling operations.”
Moll added that it was important to note the Conference showed a CPUT community at peace. “This type of event promotes the spirit of lecturers and students working together. It was wonderful to see so many CPUT students present their work.”

Today (Tuesday) the DST-UNESCO Engineering Conference begins with an address by Vice-Chancellor Dr Chris Nhlapo followed by the United Nations Resident Coordinator in South Africa Nardos Bekele-Thomas and CEO of Engineering Council of South Africa Sipho Madonsela. Dr Gansen Pillay, Deputy CEO of the National Research Fund, will deliver the keynote address.

The three day DST-UNESCO Engineering Conference is themed Enabling the Fourth Industrial Revolution for Sustainability and Economic Growth and plenary sessions over the three days will cover topics such as Women in Engineering, Space Science and Engineering Education.

*CPUT students can visit the DST-UNESCO career exhibition in the Major Sports Hall on Tuesday 18 September and Wednesday 19 September between 9.00 and 16.00. Fifty of the students who visit during the day could receive gifts.

Written by Theresa Smith
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