CPUT’s Advancement Department has unveiled its strategy to celebrate the university’s first decade as a merged institution.

Dynamic new director, Milcho Damianov has presented the department’s “box of goodies” to Vice-Chancellor Mazwi-Tanga and says he is confident that this blueprint will galvanise the entire CPUT community around the milestone in 2015 that marks ten years of excellence at the institution.

Dubbed the “First Decade of Prominence and Prosperity”, the campaign will be launched in March this year and built upon in the following three years. It will both celebrate the past decade and look confidently to the future – a future where all at CPUT will strive to Create, Prosper, Uplift and Thrive.

“The four words are derived from the acronym of our university - CPUT,” says Damianov.

“This massive friend-raising and fund-raising campaign will create new partnerships and develop sustainable competitive advantages for CPUT. We shall prosper by nurturing our students, and uplift the quality of resources, education, and most importantly, communities in the region. Finally, positioning CPUT as world-class university will undoubtedly enable us to thrive.”

By Jan Weintrob

Written by CPUT News
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In a historic collaboration between CPUT and PetroSA, fifteen academically deserving students with a range of disabilities have been offered full bursaries and guaranteed work contracts on the successful completion of their studies.

Darrin Arendse, Vice President of Human Capital at the national oil and gas company, is confident that this will promote a more diverse and inclusive university. Speaking at the launch of the Bursary Partnership last week, Arendse dubbed the initiative “a landmark agreement” which would help build an institution, workplace and country where everyone has a place in the sun.

His sentiments were echoed by Vice Chancellor Mazwi-Tanga, who emphasized that the partnership gives true meaning to equal opportunity. “No potential should be left undeveloped, and the fact that students from the engineering, IT and other scarce skills disciplines were selected makes this doubly important. “

The Vice-Chancellor also acknowledged Dr Nina du Toit’s role, not only in this partnership but for her ground-breaking work in leading CPUT’s fledgling Disability Unit.

“I suspect we are the envy of our partner universities. Through the unit’s sterling work, we can boast that we truly strive to give our students, both able-bodied and disabled, real access to education”

Dr du Toit’s seminal role and influence was further acknowledged by the students’ themselves. Calling du Toit “a mother, mentor and angel all in one”, they also agree that the unit is like a second home to many of them. Students with a range of disabilities – from dyslexia, stuttering, epilepsy , visual and hearing impairment, to impaired mobility, quad and paraplegics are all catered for here.

In conjunction with these critical services offered by the unit, Arendse reiterated PetroSA’s commitment to the Bursary Partnership.

“In our fast-paced society characterised by the pursuit of convenience, it’s easy to ignore the challenges and difficulties faced by disabled people. But our own mindsets can be the biggest disability, by closing ourselves off to the possibilities that a diverse world offers. This collaboration is another example of how we are proudly shattering that tired paradigm, and making real inroads to a more inclusive society for all.”

By: Jan Weintrob

Written by CPUT News
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In October last year CPUT launched its first ever direct appeal to all Alumni in support of the bursary fund and library development at the University. The appeal went to some 49 000 alumni throughout the world and was generously supported.

To date, over R28 157 has been raised for this fund. Ms Gillian Mitchell, the Director of Advancement, voiced her sincere appreciation to all CPUT Alumni: “We are so very encouraged by the response that we received. Our alumni responded with generosity and integrity. I join the Vice-chancellor in thanking all of our alumni for participating in this appeal.”

Ms Mitchell explained that the CPUT Annual Fund has been established as an annual fund that will continue to raise awareness of key needs at CPUT. As with all teaching institutions in South Africa, only a portion of CPUT’s operating budget is covered by the government grant and student fees. Further funding is raised from research grants and donor funding to support the key teaching and learning programmes.

“The support of our Alumni is critical for two important reasons. Firstly, the participation of our alumni in supporting our university is an invaluable acknowledgment of our success as a teaching institution. The more visible this support becomes, the more we are able to ensure that we attract entering students with potential to graduate with top honours. Secondly, the support of our alumni means that we are able to form a dependable base of financial support for students.”

Bursaries continue to be the only way in which many students are able to attend university and one of the greatest gifts that alumni can bestow is that of access to education for forthcoming generations.

Ms Mitchell went on to say that the most vital outcome of the CPUT Annual Fund is that alumni participate. “The amount of the gift is not the most important aspect. Helping us form a strong, reliable community of people willing to band together in support of our University is a much more important accomplishment.”

In this respect Ms Mitchell particularly thanked the Vice-chancellor, Professor Mazwi-Tanga; the Chair of the CPUT Council, Reverend Lionel Louw and Mr Robin Dixie, a trustee of the CPUT Foundation for their generous gifts to the fund. “I have no doubt that their generous participation will encourage many others to consider support of the CPUT Annual Fund.”

By the Department of Advancement

Written by CPUT News

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