CPUT’s first December Graduation kicked off today with the capping of Faculty of Informatics and Design students in the Major Sports Hall on Bellville campus.

In total some 5 220 graduands from six faculties will be capped at 12 ceremonies, which will include the conferring of 49 Masters and 10 Doctoral degrees over four days.

“Graduation is a major highlight of the academic year and we are very pleased to end off this rather challenging year with such a big celebration of our students’ achievements and our institution,” says Acting Vice-Chancellor Dr Chris Nhlapo.

Nhlapo will be present at all 12 ceremonies, some of which will be presided over by CPUT’s new Chancellor Thandi Modise.

He looks forward to sharing in the joy of the graduands and their families. “I am greatly honoured to witness our students reaching the pinnacle of their academic journeys so far. It is indeed a great cause for celebration and I feel really privileged to have a front-row seat,” Nhlapo adds.

The Faculties of Business and Management Sciences, Informatics and Design as well as Education will award Dean’s Medals to their outstanding students.

There will be three ceremonies per day at 09:00, 14:00 and 19:00 and all ceremonies will take place on Bellville campus.

Each ceremony will be live streamed.

Use the hashtags #WeAreCPUT and #CPUTsummerGrad2017 when posting memories on social media.

Written by Abigail Calata

Hundreds of qualifications were conferred during the CPUT Spring Graduation on the Bellville Campus today.

The event is one of the highlights of the CPUT academic calendar and provides the university with an opportunity to celebrate and recognise the achievements of students from all faculties.

During this year’s Spring Graduation CPUT will confer 989 diplomas and degrees, including 45 Masters and Doctoral degrees, in two ceremonies on the Bellville Campus.

This was the first graduation which Chancellor Thandi Modise presided over since her installation as CPUT chancellor, and marks a new era for the university.

Modise, who is also Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, has succeeded former Finance Minister, Trevor Manuel, who was the inaugural chancellor at CPUT.

The morning ceremony saw qualifications being conferred to students who completed academic programmes in the faculties of Applied Science, Business and Management Sciences, Education, Health and Wellness Sciences as well as Informatics and Design.

Acting Vice-chancellor, Dr Chris Nhlapo, told the audience that the day represents several years of study which required sacrifices not only from the graduates but also from their partners and family members.

“The number of our graduates show that we are making great strides in research and innovation,” said Nhlapo.

In the afternoon ceremony graduates in the Faculty of Engineering will be capped, including 21 Masters and Doctoral degrees.  

Written by Kwanele Butana
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Dr Agnes Chigona is changing the world, one research paper at a time.

A research fellow based in the Faculty of Education, Chigona’s research is providing the world with insight into the 21^st century classroom and also guiding those involved in the education sector, how to achieve success through the implementation of new technologies.

And when not researching, Chigona supports and assist fellow colleagues to write and publish research papers in academic journals and conference proceedings. She also plays an important role in assisting postgraduate students in the faculty to develop good scholarship.

She shared her take on research with CPUT news:

What is your area of research?

My research focuses on education in the digital age i.e. teaching and learning in the 21st Century where integration of the Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) into curriculum delivery is expected. Such integration is important because classrooms are mostly occupied by learners who have exposure to new technologies such that they spend most of their time on the internet on smartphones.

Educators are required to leverage the ICTs for teaching and learning to ensure effective communication and curriculum delivery to the 21st Century learners. I therefore, seek to understand the adoption and integration of the ICTs into curriculum delivery in schools.

Why or how did you become interested in this specific area of research?

From the project I was involved in during my postdoctoral at UCT in 2009 and 2010, it became clear to me that teachers need to be trained and modelled to teach with and through ICTs. I therefore, turned to look at what higher education institutions are doing to ensure new teachers joining the teaching professional are well modelled and equipped to integrate the ICTs into their pedagogies.

I have conducted a lot of studies on how teacher education is preparing new teachers to teach with new technologies. There is a need for teacher education programs to be redesigned towards technological pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK) to enable the teachers to teach with and through ICTs effectively.

You have published extensively. What motivates you to keep on researching and writing papers?

My research subjects, teachers in particular, motivate me to keep on researching and writing papers. The teachers as foot soldiers of the education system have so many challenging stories to tell. Through my publications I contribute towards the sharing of their stories to the world. I find such assistance to the teachers satisfying.

The thrill of receiving an acceptance of a manuscript for publication in an academic journal surpasses the pain I go through producing each article.

Also, observing academics locally and internationally citing my research publications and having the ‘H’ index growing fast is one of the big motivating factors.

What do you attribute your success to?

The passion I have for my research focus coupled with drive and determination has led to my success in academic research. My family who cares much about my wellbeing has been the x-factor to my successful research career. They help me to live a balanced life. They also afford me a relaxing environment where I could be ‘me’ after a stressful working day.

Do you have any words of advice for the generation of women researchers behind you?

Never take peer-reviews on your research projects and manuscripts personal; rather look at them as a learning process.

Have a drive, determination and passion in research. Surround yourself with people who have interest in your success. But most of all, live a balanced life career wise, spiritually and socially to be able to achieve more and enjoy life.

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

His ability to break new grounds and trust his instincts has earned Dr Clive Kronenberg a coveted National Research Foundation C-Rating.

Kronenberg is the latest researcher to join the ranks of CPUT’s rated researchers.

A leading education and social science researcher, Kronenberg’s research interest lies in the intersection of critical thinking with values education.

Students in the western world especially have been exposed to a value system that is very self-centered and Kronenberg says there must be a push towards a value system based on respect, cooperation, compassion, human progress and equality.

“Students often know their rights, but scholars argue that that there exists a dire need for students to become more fully aware of what the concept of ‘values’ entails, which ultimately forms the core foundation of our social lives,” he says.

Though scholars have explored the topic of values education, Kronenberg says much room exists for further exploration and development in this area.

Based in the Faculty of Education and Social Sciences, Kronenberg has played a key role in postgraduate research and has recently been tasked with developing and growing other research niche areas in the faculty.

“My new profile involves developing research in the domain of rural education, whilst also empowering and managing advanced students to engage in professional research processes and mentoring staff in areas related to peer review journal publication.”

As one of Africa’s foremost scholars on matters related to the Cuban education system, which is widely regarded as one of the most successful education systems in the developing world, Kronenberg will also continue his research activities in this area.

This international undertaking has been made possible by an award obtained from the University Research Funding Committee.

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

Staff, students and international visitors recently celebrated the launch of CPUT’s first Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Venue. 

The modern facility is based in the Engineering Building on the District Six campus and was made possible through the IMPALA project. 

Jon Rubin, who developed the COIL concept, said it is “a way to connect the students in your classroom to the world.”

“It’s an opportunity for your courses to be enhanced through the input of others and for you to contribute to the teaching and learning in other countries.”

Education students and lecturers Felicity Titus and Vanessa van Staden, who were involved in the COIL pilot project between CPUT and the University College of Leuven-Limburg, were given the opportunity to share their experiences.
Four lecturers and 100 students from the two institutions were involved in the project and according to the CPUT lecturers it helped to “broaden the perceptions and worldview of our students”.

The University of Antwerp’s Piet Van Hove, who is the IMPALA coordinator, said the project tries to bring together expertise and experience from the different partners in Europe and South Africa to advance internationalisation in higher education.

The project provided the funding for the video conferencing equipment in the new venue, which will support the COIL methodology.

Prof René Pellissier, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships, said One Smart CPUT focuses on the two dimensions of human-centricity and “technology-enabledness” in order to provide a relevant and excellent higher education to our students.

She said COIL is not only about the technology, “it is about a new mind-set of learning in an expanded space where the learning can take place naturally and solutions-oriented, bringing internationalisation to the classroom”.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Faculty of Business and Management Sciences recently welcomed this year’s cohort of international exchange students to CPUT.

Part of the students’ orientation week included a Welcoming Luncheon which was hosted by the Faculty’s Associate Dean Ivan van der Heever and Dr Diane Bell, Manager: Special Initiatives and Projects.

The students also participated in a campus tour, a library orientation and information literacy training session, a tour of the Peninsula and a cultural tour.

The tours were led by Bell, Nicole Umwizerwa, Co-ordinator of International Exchanges, and Siphelele Mblashwa, Assistant to Co-ordinator of International Exchanges.

The students come from European universities, namely, Carinthia University in Austria, Ravensburg University (Germany), Nuertingen-Geislingen (Germany), Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (Germany), Fontys University (Netherlands), IPAG University (France) and Odisee University (Belgium).

The BMS Faculty receives approximately 50 exchange students per year who come to CPUT to undertake undergraduate studies for a semester within the faculty’s various departments. For the first semester of 2019, the faculty has received 23 students from its partner universities in Europe.

“In return, we send between 12 and 15 students per year to our partner universities. Our students participate in three-month and six-month academic exchange programmes which count towards their present studies,” says Umwizerwa.

Two deserving students are selected by their respective departments and nominated for the faculty’s international exchange programme.

Written by Kwanele Butana

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Established researcher and award-winning teacher, Prof Candice Livingston, was “in total disbelief” when she was awarded a C3-rating by the National Research Foundation (NRF).

Livingston, who first joined the Education Faculty in 2012 as a part-time lecturer in the English Department, has always had a passion for reading and writing and has a special interest in storytelling, autobiographical learning and fairy tales (as part of teaching children’s literature).

“I was that child whose punishment for naughtiness was to have my books taken from me. I was that child who hid in the library at break so that I could read. My dad was also a book hoarder, so I was exposed to many genres from a very young age. I was lucky enough to have had the most fantastic English teacher in Matric and she gave me my love for literature. She also showed me what a good teacher should look like.”

She studied at North West University where she completed her BA and a Higher Diploma in Education. “I then followed this up with a BA (Honours) in English Literature. I then taught for a few years, in London and in South Africa. At the age of 28 I decided to focus on becoming an education specialist and completed my Bachelor of Education (Hons), my Master’s in Education and finally my PhD.”

Livingston wears many hats in the Faculty of Education.

She is an Associate Professor, the research coordinator on the Wellington campus, coordinates the postgraduate and honours programmes and is the faculty language coordinator.

Livingston said her research has always focused on literacy in one form or another.

“My PhD focused on online writing and my current research focus is on decolonising the language curriculum and its associated pedagogy.”

Her career highlights have included being appointed to the English National Language Body (PanSaLB). “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and to sit on a committee that really has a say in language issues in our country, is a privilege. Another highlight has been my service to the Council of the English Academy of Southern Africa. Regarding my time at CPUT, a highlight was receiving the Institutional Teaching Excellence Award in 2021.”

She describes the feeling when she received her NRF rating as a true out-of-body experience.

NRF ratings are allocated based on a researcher’s recent research outputs and impact as perceived by international peer reviewers. The rating of individuals is based primarily on the quality and impact of their research outputs over the past eight years, taking into consideration the evaluation made by local and international peers. It identifies researchers who count among the leaders in their fields of expertise and gives recognition to those who constantly produce high quality research outputs. Ratings are awarded in the following categories:

• A – Leading international researchers.
• B – Internationally acclaimed researchers.
• C – Established researchers.
• P – Prestigious Awards.
• Y – Promising young researchers.

Outside of work, Livingston loves to spend time with her teenage daughter.

“I have a gorgeous 18-year-old daughter, Kristin, and she is currently in Matric. She keeps me very busy as she has provincial colours for both athletics and water polo. So, when I am not sitting next to the athletics field or at the pool, I am a complete homebody. My favourite thing to do is snuggle on the couch with my dogs, a good book and a hot cup of tea. I am also a ‘plant-parent’ and my house is a bit of a jungle, to be honest.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The University of the Western Cape (UWC) Faculty of Education held a most productive face-to-face postgraduate student-focused workshop recently, where CPUT and the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) collaboratively dissected the topic for the day: Utilising Phenomenology as a Research Methodology in Education.

The workshop was attended by the seasoned phenomenological researchers, novice academics and postgraduate doctoral students from the three higher educational institutions in South Africa. At the robust postgraduate workshop led by Dr Karen Koopman, Senior Lecturer, Department of Educational Studies at UWC, two CPUT final-year doctoral students, Byron Abrahams and Clive Brown gave insight into their respective studies, which embraces a phenomenological research design.

Abrahams, Mathematics specialist in the Faculty of Education is supervised by Prof Yusuf Sayed and Dr Sharon McAuliffe at CPUT. He states: “In my doctoral study, I am using a Hermeneutic phenomenological research design to explore the role of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) in developing teachers’ competence in integrating technology into their practice and to understand better the provision of equitable and quality teaching and learning”.

Brown, Intermediate Phase Teaching Practice Coordinator and GET Advisory Board Secretary, is undertaking doctoral studies at UKZN and being supervised by Prof Sarasvathie Reddy within the School of Education. He states: “My research study proposes to understand a final group of Intermediate Phase student-teachers' lived experiences while completing Teaching Practicum in diverse South African schooling contexts”.

Both academics have collectively and most recently published an article within the African Perspectives of Research in Teaching & Learning (APORTAL) Vol 6 (3) (2022) Special Issue. The articles are titled:

• CPD and The Development of Teacher TPCK For Technology Integration: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study [Abrahams, McAuliffe & Sayed, 2022].
• Critical Reflections On Researching Lived and Learning Experiences: Towards A Critical Phenomenology [Samuel, Reddy & Brown, 2022].

All the articles in this special issue consist of teaching and learning studies in which the authors applied a phenomenological research design. https://www.ul.ac.za/aportal/index.php?Entity=Special%20Issue%202022

Koopman emphasised the importance and benefits of doctoral cohorts in higher education institutions and their relevance in supporting postgraduate students to succeed from start to finish. Brown also reiterated that in his view, the take-home message of the postgraduate workshop focusing on phenomenology illuminates the importance of ‘human experiences’ and quotes the sentiments of Higgs (1995) by stating, “The world is in us, and we are in the world”.

Written by CPUT News
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Three academics from the Faculty of Education recently visited Chandigarh University (CU) in India, as part of an International Faculty Exchange Programme.

They are Prof Hanlie Dippenaar (Assistant Dean: Faculty of Education), Dr Sharon Mc Auliffe (Senior lecturer: Mathematics, Mowbray campus) and Dr Rolene Liebenberg (Senior lecturer: Mathematics, Wellington campus).

The visit was by invitation of Prof Rajan Sharma, Director of International Affairs at CU and International Office of Chandigarh University.

CU prioritises international collaboration and hosts many international scholars. Through this, they expose their students to lecturers and scientists from across the world, which enhances critical thinking and dialogue. Chandigarh University received a QS World Ranking of 771-780 for 2024 and ranked number one amongst private universities in India. After only 11 years it is the youngest university to emerge amongst the top 1.7% universities of Asia.

During their visit, the CPUT delegation met lecturers from Poland, the UK and Georgia. As visiting Faculty of the Chandigarh University, the three lecturers from CPUT were involved in teaching English and Maths to pre-service student teachers. They interacted with staff, undergraduate-, postgraduate-, and Master’s students and attended meetings to discuss potential collaboration and ideas to strengthen this partnership. Excellent opportunities to co-supervise undergraduate, graduate and Doctoral (PhD.) students, participate in externally funded projects as co-principal investigators, and to write joint project proposals for international funding were identified, not only in the Faculty of Education, but also for other Faculties.

They expressed a warm word of thanks to Chandigarh University for their generous hospitality and look forward to further collaboration.

Written by CPUT News
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Prospective students are invited to come and explore CPUT’s exciting 2025 course offering during our annual Open Day on 11 May 2024.

The event will take place at the Bellville Campus. It will showcase our exciting degree and diploma programmes in our six faculties - Applied Sciences, Business and Management Sciences, Engineering & the Built Environment, Education, Health and Wellness Sciences and Informatics and Design.

Whether you want to be a teacher, a journalist, a jewellery designer or a nurse – CPUT has something for everyone ready to kickstart their careers.

Open Day will also allow learners to interact with staff members and students who will be on hand to assist with information.

The event will run from 9:00 to 16:00 and the venues on the Bellville campus will include the Major Sports Halls, the Student Centre, Old Education Building as well as faculty venues.

Written by CPUT News
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