The Faculty of Business and Management Sciences (FBMS) recently launched the HoD (Head of Department) Capacitation Programme, which is designed to assist HODs to manage and lead, to feel empowered and confident to execute their role.

The event was held at Granger Bay Campus. Prof Renitha Rampersad, Assistant Dean: Research & Innovation, provided the opening and the welcoming of guests. Acting Manager: Strategic Initiatives and Projects Andiswa Mrasi and Black Ops Inc. team founder, Sven Wolf, an Alumni of CPUT, Wolf presented the project’s overview. Wolf and Mandy Jones, HOD: Marketing presented the introduction of module 1, then the User trial (HoDs) which was followed by engagements.

Mrasi said: “As a leader and manager in a particular discipline, the head of department is expected to be actively involved with the management, planning, lecturing and research within the department, as well as ensuring that the mission and the strategic objectives of the University are manifested in set objectives executed at a Departmental level.

“The Head of Department plays a vital role in the University leadership, simultaneously having to understand and shape the "big picture" (vision, goals and direction) of the institution while also giving meticulous attention to the details of running a department.”

Mrasi, who is also the leader of the programme, hailed the feedback that they received from all the HoDs who attended the “successful” launch.

The objectives of the programme are:

• Capacitate newly appointed HoDs.
• Can be used as a refresher course by existing HoD.
• Most of the modules are presented by experienced HoDs in the Faculty. This is aimed at ensuring knowledge transfer and retention.
• Contribute to positioning the university as an employer of choice.
• Integrate performance development as a leverage to developing and growing staff.

“We have reached a very important milestone, one that speaks to Focus Area 4 of the Vision 2030 and that is Smart Human Capital. With this programme, our intent is clear as the faculty, we want to ensure that every academic department head is well equipped. Afterall, to achieve our bold objectives, we heavily rely on these very academic departments,” Mrasi continued.

“We wish to thank most sincerely Black Ops Inc. team lead by Mr Sven Wolf for their technical expertise and meeting our demands.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The Strategic Initiatives and Partnership (SIP) Directorate recently hosted Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences who has an existing collaboration with the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences (FBMS).

The aim was to touch base with FBMS and to expand the collaboration to other faculties.

“In this regard, the SIP Office was contacted to engage in discussions as to how we can expand on the partnership, in particular there was interest with the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE),” said Dr Tasmeera Singh, Manager: International Relations SIP.

The CPUT delegation included SIP director, Prof Judy Peter, Prof Veruscha Fester: Assistant Dean: Research, Technology, Innovation & Partnerships (FEBE), Dr Fareed Ismail: Senior Lecturer/Researcher of FEBE and Xolelwa Bashala: Office Administrator of Strategic Initiatives and Partnership meanwhile Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences was represented by Veronika Wäninger: Non-EU Mobility of Stabsabteilung International Office.

Peter extended a warm welcome to everyone present in the meeting. Fester conducted a presentation about the FEBE which included the CPUT structure and background:

• FEBE structure and governance
• CPUT V2030 Focus areas applicable to FEBE
• FEBE Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes
• Faculty research focus areas
• FEBE Flagship projects

Peter conducted a short presentation about the Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships:

• The CPUT Smart Focus Areas
• SIP Internationalisation role
• Facilitate student leadership and agency
• CPUT active partnerships (Erasmus+, African and International)
• International Education Forum

Singh said the meeting was “very good” as there is great potential for expanding the collaboration constructively.

There were also discussions on potential collaborations around engineering management, staff exchange for Nano and 3D printing fields of research. Singh added that the “successful meeting was a starting point for further engagement with different faculties across CPUT”.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The Dean of the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences (FBMS), Prof Paul Green, recently hosted a delegation from Tshwane University of Technology’s Faculty of Management Sciences, led by the Executive Dean, Dr Edgar Nesamvuni.

The purpose of the meeting was to establish SMART engagements and collaboration between the universities. In the higher education environment where resources have been dwindling, both Deans expressed the intention to build partnerships to leverage each other’s strengths as an avenue for growth.

The meeting followed an open agenda with Green showcasing the FBMS, using the faculty video, followed by a presentation from Nesamvuni.

In the discussions that ensued, similarities in programmes, challenges with supervision capacity, strategies to improve staff qualifications and third-stream income generation were shared.

Both parties concurred that the meeting was beneficial and that further collaboration would follow. Green and Nesamvuni agreed to pursue a Memorandum of Agreement as a next step to formalise the engagement between the two universities.

Written by CPUT News
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National Research Foundation-rated researcher Dr Nyx Mclean, who specialises in LGBTIAQ+ identities and communities and their use of digital technology to form public and counter-publics to resist the status quo, was recently hosted by the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences (FBMS).  

Speaking at the event, the Dean of the FBMS, Prof Paul Green, said that although South Africa is working towards a society which is free of discrimination, “We also need to be aware of the privilege afforded to certain members of society whilst members of the LGBTIAQ+ community are often marginalised”.  He said: “We need to ensure that we are respectful of an individual's affirmed gender identity, name and pronouns, as knowing and using a person's correct pronouns fosters a culture of inclusion, makes people feel respected and valued, and thus affirms their gender identity.”

Mclean, a Research Associate at Rhodes University, regularly consults on policies that seek to include gender and sexual identity.  They engaged over 180 staff members and students in an inter-active conversation driven by questions posed from the audience and started the conversation by identifying with their pronouns, being “they” and “them” and invited the audience to share their pronouns.

The former CPUT academic said it’s essential to be comfortable with your identity and provided details of organisations that could assist you. They emphasised that gender is not “clear cut and is fluid”. Mclean further stated that often, cisgender people assume that their gender identity is clear-cut and are not aware that there is gender diversity. Using the incorrect pronoun causes hurt, which could be intentional or a lack of understanding.  Mclean also referred to a social media drive creating awareness about gender expression and the normalisation of pronouns.

They responded to a myriad of questions as to how to address people with the correct gender pronoun. Mclean said: “It is safe enough to ask the person, and you might find it uncomfortable, as in our society we are generally taught to unconsciously or consciously categorise people based on what we have learnt”. They informed me that this is referred to as gender attribution. Mclean also emphasised the importance of the tone being one of kindness when enquiring.

Mclean said their worldview is advocated through an intersectional and inclusive lens and ethical university.  Senior Lecturer and Chairperson of the Transformation Forum in the Faculty, Mandie Richards, said academic institutions, organisations and civil society need to work towards a culture of acceptance and respect, which is inclusive of all people.

“Our worldview may often be influenced by a narrative which is uninformed and intolerant of people who have different viewpoints and who do not fit into a box, and so creates a disruption to the status quo with which we are familiar,” said Richards. 

She stated that the institutions must address policy, and academics must reflect and provide an inclusive curriculum that integrates content that reflects the diversity of students and communities in which they live. 

Human Resource Management Department Lecturer Taryn Kroukamp emphasised the need for people to understand that discrimination happens “all around us”.  Kroukamp said: “The freedom we fought for should include our freedom of expression and gender identity terms.” She stated that respect and inclusivity “are key for us to move forward”.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce

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An academic in the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences has penned a chapter in an international book about the value of multilingualism in education.

Sithembele Marawu, the faculty’s Language Co-ordinator, has contributed a chapter in the book, The Multilingual Edge of Education, which was published recently by Palgrave Macmillan.

Marawu says the book emanated from the International Conference on Urban Multilingualism and Education which was held at Ghent University, Belgium in 2013. Subsequent to the conference, he was asked to develop the paper into a book chapter.

“My chapter is about the value of code-switching as a pedagogical resource,” he says. “It’s based on classroom discourse and it analyses the communicative repertoire of a teacher as they interact with learners in both English and IsiXhosa.”

The chapter, under the title “Teaching in two languages: the pedagogical value of code-switching”, emphasizes that the learners’ mother tongue is a pedagogical resource and is in contrast to the dominant view that indigenous languages don’t have a role to play in pedagogy.

“All languages can be used in education,” he argues. “We’re still perpetuating the colonial hegemony which imposed English as the only language of teaching and learning.”
He adds that it feels good to have his paper selected for inclusion in the book which boasts some of the leading scholars in the field of bilingual or multilingual education such as Jim Cummins, Piet van Avermaet and Kathleen Heugh.

“The book is relevant as it says multilingualism is a resource that can be used in classrooms for educational purposes.”
The book can be ordered online and its chapters can also be bought separately.

Marawu has just completed his PhD degree at Rhodes University and will be graduating next month.
He adds that later during the year, he hopes to publish articles based on his doctoral thesis which investigated classroom code-switching as a pedagogical resource in multilingual classroom settings.

Written by Kwanele Butana
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Women in sport challenge gender pigeonholes and social patterns, make inspirational role models, and show men and women as equals.

Led by the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences (FBMS), the Sport Management Department in collaboration with the Western Cape Provincial Government, Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) invited stakeholders from the sports bionetwork to be part of an influential Woman in Sport (WIS) Conference to make gender equality a lived reality in and through sport.

The two-day conference was recently held at Kelvin Grove Club in Newlands, Cape Town. Sport Management Department Lecturer, Dr Janice Hemmonsbey-Lodewyk said 2023 is (unofficially) dubbed the year for women's sports, with a series of sport events hosted in South Africa, such as the ICC Women's T20 Cricket World Cup, the Netball World Cup, and South African women's soccer team's victory in the WAFCON, which qualified them for the Women's FIFA World Cup. Hemmonsbey-Lodewyk stated that coach Desiree Ellis showed “tremendous leadership” in the team's achievement- making it to the last 16.

“It is from this backdrop that the Sport Management, DCAS decided to leverage the opportunity to host a WIS Conference to raise awareness, discuss pertinent issues, and highlight the achievements of women in sport, whether it is through leadership, participation in events, research and academia, and policy development.”

The conference with the theme: "Critical Global Issues Related to Women in Sport," underscores the significance of the challenges and opportunities that women in sports face on a global scale, was also aimed at identifying the practice and knowledge gaps to take the conversations forward and delve into further research topics. The target audience was both industry leaders in the space of women's sport, as well as academic professionals who conduct research in the area of women’s sport.

In his opening address, the Faculty Dean, Prof Paul Green, said the conference underscored “the significance of the challenges and opportunities that women in sports face on a global scale”. “As we embark on this two-day journey of exploration, discussion, and enlightenment, we are privileged to have a lineup of distinguished keynote speakers who will provide invaluable insights. On Day 1, we will be graced by the presence of the Honourable Minister, Anroux Marais, who will share perspectives on ‘Women in Sport: Past, Present, and Future.’ Furthermore, we have the privilege of learning from two outstanding women in leadership, Dr Laurine Platzky and Romaney Pinnock,” Green continued.

“As we delve into the critical global issues related to women in sports over the next two days, let us remember that it is through collaboration, dialogue, and shared knowledge that we can work towards a future where women in sports are given the recognition, opportunities, and support they truly deserve. Together, we can create a more inclusive and equitable world of sports for all.”

The delegates came from the Western Cape Government (Sport and Recreation), the CPUT community and networks, North-West University, and Istanbul Bilgi University. Prof Kamilla Swart from Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar had graced the delegates with a keynote address on women in sport leadership. Delegates from the South African Football Association (SAFA) and Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) were also in attendance. Head of Women's Football at SAFA, Pinnock was a keynote speaker with Dr Laurine Platzky, Chair of Council at CPUT. They both talked on women in sport leadership. The Logistics Manager: 2022 Men’s FIFA World Cup and Infotainment Manager of the Women’s FIFA World Cup, Natasha Petersen, had a seat at one of the panel discussions where she shared some behind the scenes insights to her international experience as a woman in an international sporting environment.

The event ran smoothly, and the panel discussions were insightful and touched on a variety of pertinent issues. “The contextual South African challenges (such as safety aspects to participate in sport and lack of proper sporting infrastructure), seemed to be a common theme throughout the discussions. However, the conference highlighted many strides that the industry has made in women's sport participation at an elite level,” Hemmonsbey-Lodewyk observed.

She added that one of the objectives of the conference was to have a balance of discussions from industry and academia on key issues of women in sport. “The panel and keynotes showed the diversity, in terms of their respective representations. There were clear discussions on key areas of improvement which can be picked up further from a provincial government perspective, as well as an academic (research) perspective.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The Faculty of Business and Management Sciences (FBMS) recently hosted its 6th Annual Diversity webinar.

This year’s theme was: Disrupting the Status Quo: Networks to Enable Employability. The webinar brought together various role players who have disrupted the status quo and thought outside of the box. “Their narratives highlighted the importance of creating and exploring networks to enable employability which then enhances entrepreneurship, and thus breaks the cycle of poverty, and contributes towards economic sustainability,” said senior lecturer, Mandie Richards, who is the faculty’s co-ordinator for transformation and social cohesion

Dean of the Faculty, Prof Paul Green, said the world as we know it has changed and with the change comes a need for thinking differently.

“When one envisages breaking the status quo, it requires a different mindset at a very high level, at a board level, as to not only imagine the future but strategic ways in achieving the goals and in the process providing opportunities to ensure that various communities, both urban and rural are advantaged. Academic institutions like ours have a pivotal role to play and should be preparing students by creating an environment which stimulates students so that they change their mindset as to how they become employable or find opportunities so that they are creators of employment.”

The speakers were: Gerhart Wiencke, owner of Urban Oasis, Vusi Vokwana, founder and director for Kasi Catalyst and FBMS students, Aviwe Jacobs, Phindile May and Mzovuyo Mabandla who are business partners in Urban Tshisanyama.

“As the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences strives towards creating futures for students, we are continuously engaged in curriculum renewal and aligning to 21st century skills and integrating skills which contribute towards graduate attributes and employability. The harsh realities of unemployment, however, requires a shift in focus as to how we engage and for the creation of networking opportunities,” said Richards.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Faculty of Business and Management Sciences’ (FBMS) newly launched state-of-the-art smart classroom is set to redefine the learning, teaching and assessment landscape.

At the launch of the cutting-edge venue, situated on the District Six Campus, Prof Paul Green, Dean of the Faculty, welcomed the attendees and said the innovative space was not merely a room but “a hub designed to transcend traditional boundaries, facilitating a spectrum of academic and collaborative activities.”

“Our collective vision of One Smart CPUT, as envisaged in the Institution’s Vision 2030, has been met with resounding enthusiasm in the FBMS and the action of the faculty expresses that this morning.”

He said the venue had been purposefully designed and would be able to host a myriad of functions including advanced postgraduate classes, webinars, colloquia as well as facilitate hybrid academic events and advisory board meetings, among other things.

“The Faculty of Business and Management Sciences is immensely proud to pioneer this transformative initiative in line with CPUT's ambitious Vision 2030. This smart venue embodies our commitment to excellence in education and serves as a beacon of innovation for the entire institution.”

Attendees were treated to a demonstration of the smart venue’s functions and capabilities.

Prof Rishidaw Balkaran, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, said the facility “creates the conditions for much more production and productivity in terms of our academics”.

He thanked Green and the Faculty for their commitment to the project.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo said what was key about the mission of the institution “is that we are saying CPUT transforms its students through world class researchers who inspire knowledge production and innovation that are cutting-edge”.

Nhlapo said CPUT was ready to be the MIT equivalent in Africa.

He said he anticipated that other faculties would follow suit.

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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The Dean of the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences (FBMS), Prof Paul Green, recently heaped praise on a celebration of academic achievement, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of excellence by the CPUT staff members and students who have completed the SAP S/4 HANA course as well as candidates from our industrial partner Shoprite.

Green was speaking at the SAP S/4 HANA graduation ceremony, recently organised by the Centre for Enterprise Research Partnership and Innovation in Africa (CERPiA) and the Advancement Department and held at the Cape Town Hotel School. “It is with great pleasure that we gather here today to honour the dedication and hard work of our graduating students who have successfully completed their SAP S/4 HANA certification under the auspices of the Centre for Enterprise Research, Partnership, and Innovation in Africa (CERPIA),” said Green.

CERPIA is an institutional centre established by Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo. CERPIA through CPUT is a member of the SAP University Alliance (UA) since 2009, which seeks to transfer theoretical and practical scarce digital business systems skills to university students in preparation of entering the job market. These digital business systems skills are driven by Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) principles using SAP Software as a tool. CERPIA education partners are SAP University Alliance, University Competent Centre (UCC) and the industry partners.

CERPIA SAP education manager and trainer, Jerry Ansen, said the purpose of these courses was to equip student and staff with the knowledge and skills required to effectively use SAP software for managing business operations and processes. Ansen added that the courses are for students and staff to master SAP ERP skills, and enhance their digital business skills and to enhance students employability.

He said BANKSETA sponsored 38 students of which 31 graduated and ETDPSETA sponsored 29 staff of which 23 graduated. The SAP programmes were introduced to CPUT by Ansen, and he has been the pillar behind the skills development of staff and students since 2009.

All students are welcome to attend the courses as there is no selection criteria, “We depend on funding for students from Advancement Department”. “Graduates get to learn 21st-century ICT digital skills, be empowered to take current job opportunities and be competitive in the market space.” Addressing the graduates, Ansen said: “Congratulations!! And I wish you all the best in your professional digital business skills careers.”

31 CPUT students graduated from SAP S4 HANA in:

• Human Capital Management
• Financial Accounting
• Materials Management
• Master Data Management
• Project Management

There were three staff members in SAP S/4 HANA – TS410 and eight candidates from Shoprite Group ltd and SAP S/4 HANA- Materials Management. CERPIA, as the driving force behind advancing digital business skills, plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of “our students and the broader community,” Green remarked. “As part of the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences… We are committed to equipping our students with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in their chosen fields.”

He added that through the FBMS integration of SAP skills into their curricula and the provision of certifications, “we empower our students to stand out in a highly competitive industry”. “This strategic focus on SAP not only enhances graduate employability but also ensures that our students are well-equipped to meet the evolving demands of the digital economy. It is this emphasis on practical, industry-relevant skills that makes our graduates more marketable and sought after by employers.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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