A senior lecturer of the Food and Technology and Horticulture Department is the first woman to be elected to an executive position of the South African Association of Food Science and Technology (SAAFoST) in nearly 50 years of its existence.

Dr Jessy Van Wyk, of the Bellville campus, shared her views on her achievement: “I feel very honoured and proud. It feels good to know that many years of involvement in SAAFoST culminated in this.”

SAAFoST is a learned society for food scientists and technologists. Students, academics and qualified food scientists and technologists can belong to the organisation. Dr Van Wyk joined the organisation over 20 years ago while she was still a student.

“The aim of the organisation is to promote science and technology in the country among academia and industry and to create a forum where knowledge, technology and advances in the field can be shared,” said Van Wyk. “We are very serious about promoting the field of food science and technology among students, and that is one of the reasons why we make bursaries available for students who are studying in the field.”

The organisation has about 2000 members across its three branches in the Western Cape, Northern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.

Dr Van Wyk has many plans for her term of office. “For the next two years I would like to raise awareness of the benefits of membership for students. I would also like to contribute to the Association playing a more meaningful role in Food Science and Technology education, for example by facilitating knowledge and skills transfer between industry and the universities. I would also like to contribute to working towards the status of SAAFoST being elevated into the class of world-renowned organisations, such as the US-based IFT (Institute of Food Technologists).”

CAPTION
Leading the way for women: Dr Jessy Van Wyk

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For the first time in CPUT’s history, the institution hosted 235 primary school learners for an educational campus tour in early August. Staff members of eight departments namely - Marketing; Jewellery, Fashion, Industrial and Graphic Design; Somatology; Environmental Health and Management; Food Technology; Civil Engineering; Horticulture and Analytical Chemistry - on both the Cape Town and Bellville campuses, welcomed Grade 6 and 7 learners from the Sun Valley Primary School, Fish Hoek into their lecture rooms and laboratories.

During the visit, learners were exposed to the different teaching environments of the various departments and were given an overview of each course. Student Recruitment Officer in the Marketing and Communication Department, Thandokazi Mtshekisa, said this new initiative serves as a great starting point for CPUT to target younger learners and possibly influence their choice of a tertiary institution and career path. 

“This is the first time that CPUT hosted a primary school for a campus visit and it is definitely the start of many more. I believe that it will motivate them to make an educated and more informed decision when they eventually start thinking of career options. We also wish to instill the value of higher education at an early age.”

Food and Technology lecturer at the Bellville campus, Anthony Obilana, was one of many staff members who welcomed this new initiative.

“I was very impressed with the learners’ enthusiasm. They seemed really keen to learn more about the course and also interacted very well with the staff. I think it is important that children get this kind of exposure from a young age.”

The Grade 6 learners have enjoyed a practical in the Food Technology lab on the Bellville campus.

Dean of the Informatics and Design Faculty, Professor Johannes Cronje said campus tours, such as these, serve as a great way to market the Faculty and the Institution.

“The learners showed much interest in the courses. They were very inquisitive and asked a lot of questions. As a faculty, we encourage learners to come and visit to see what we have to offer and how our students work within our environments,” he said.

The school’s Grade 6 and 7 Head, Allison Nuttall, who accompanied the learners on the tour said: “The girls especially enjoyed visiting the Civil Engineering, Horticulture and Food Technology departments, which helped them realise they have other career options.”

One learner, who particularly enjoyed the tour, was Grade Seven learner, Jaimie Kruyer. She said although she is still undecided about her future career path, the visit to CPUT helped her to realise more options.

“It was a really good educational experience. I learnt a lot about all the different courses, especially within the Technology sector, which I never knew one could study for. It was a lot of fun,” she enthused.

By: Sonia Koopman

Written by CPUT News
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