The relationship between a PhD student and a supervisor can be a complicated one. When this relationship is neither effective nor proficient, it may yield undesirable outcomes, such as academic failure.

However, Department of Civil Engineering and Survey Professor, Rainer Haldenwang and Morakane Khahledi, who graduated with her Doctoral degree in Engineering recently, have maintained a father and daughter relationship for the past 15 years.  Reflecting on her relationship with Haldenwang, Khahledi says: “My first encounter with Prof Haldenwang was in 2004 when I was doing my in-service training at (the) Flow Process and Rheology Centre (FPRC) under supervision of Prof Fester.”

The Free State-born New Generation of Academics Programme (nGAP) lecturer has worked directly with Prof Haldenwang since 2006 as her supervisor for the BTech: Project Management dissertation. During this time, he introduced Khahledi to Prof Raj Chhabra a visiting Professor from India who played a significant role in her development as a researcher. Haldenwang was also her supervisor from 2012 to 2015 when Khahledi was doing her MTech in Civil Engineering. For completion of the Doctoral degree in Engineering, Haldenwang was her main supervisor, and she was co-supervised by Prof Veruscha Fester and Prof Raj Chabbra.

“I learned unique attributes while working with Professor Haldenwang and the key ones are great ethics, professionalism, accountability and responsibility on all the activities. Prof Haldenwang identified my potential and he believed in my success to complete this journey,” says Khahledi.

The 38-year-old research title was: Effect of sharp-crested orifice shape and Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids properties on discharge from a tank. The research focussed on developing an empirical design protocol when using sharp-crested orifices for determining the flow rate of non-Newtonian fluids flowing from tanks.  

To reach the pinnacle of her career, it took, “A great deal of compromise of my family time, desire to achieve what I had started and live the dream of achieving the highest qualification in Civil Engineering.  I feel excited about it and believe it will have a positive impact and influence on the future generation pursuing a similar career,” says the high-spirited marathon runner who has managed to run many marathons and ultra’s including two oceans and comrades during this journey. 

To juggle between her busy schedule and family, the married mother of two says: “It’s time management; I spend one hour and thirty minutes on physical activity to boost my mental strength, spend dedicated days with family, and spend at least two hours for study work and adhere to employment working hours for work purpose.”  

However, she concedes that there were challenges along the way such as balancing the time and responsibility in-between her family, lecturing role and studies. “Exhaustion played a part but I had to endure the challenge.”

The support that CPUT gave her was to give Khahledi an opportunity to be on the nGAP programme.  “I had massive support from my Head of Department, Ashaadia Kamalie and my Civil Engineering colleagues.”

Meanwhile, Haldenwang also reveals that his journey with Khahledi started when she did her BTech Research project under his supervision, then her MTech studies which she completed in 2015 up to her Doctoral degree which she received earlier this week. “Her gentle spirit, willingness to learn and to work hard, has not changed over the years.”

Haldenwang says Khahledi is a self-motivated hard-working, dedicated, humble and kind person who listens and is always willing to learn. “I have seen her mature over the years to where she is today performing her duties in the department with confidence, being a role model to others… Success does not come overnight. I am extremely proud to have been Dr Morakane Khahledi’s supervisor and mentor.”

Khahledi, the family-oriented introvert who is flexible to socialise when necessary says: “My aspiration is to be a professor, mentor and a motivational speaker.” 

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Wholesale & Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&R SETA) has this year awarded bursaries to 316 CPUT students to the value of approximately R30 million.

  The students in the Retail Business Management Department applied for the bursaries after the SETA invited applicants in an advertisement published in national media.

“SETA adjudicates the applications and award based on merit,” says Advancement Director Calvin Maseko.

“The SETA then sends a list of the approved students to CPUT before coming to us for verifications.”

The SETA’s bursaries were awarded to CPUT students as follows:

303 undergraduate students got a maximum of R71 000 each;

Seven continuing students got a maximum of R71 000 each. Previously the SETA funded 96 students and out of the 96 the seven are still continuing with their qualifications;

Four PhD students, got a maximum of R250 000 each and;

12 Masters students got a maximum of R150 000 each.

“The PhD students are CPUT lecturers and this is highly appreciated because it motivates staff members to get higher qualifications,” says Maseko.

The initiative contributes to the university’s targets for the New Generation of Academics Programme.

CPUT has already made books and meals allocation to the students and the invoices were sent to the SETA.

“CPUT highly appreciates this partnership,” he says gratefully.   

Written by Kwanele Butana
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Fundani Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, Prof Rishidaw Balkaran, extended their salutations to scholars on their successful completion of the “prestigious” New Generation of Academics Programme (nGAP).

The nGap is a University Capacity Development Programme funded programme offered by the Department of Higher Education and Training. “The CPUT Scholars who have been recruited into the programme are considered highly capable individuals who are supported as new academics in the academy said Fundani CHED Director, Dr Xena Cupido.

Balkaran said: the nGap, currently the largest programme of its kind, is aligned to the Staffing South Africa's Universities Framework (SSAUF), to assist in advancing the national transformative agenda. “At Fundani CHED we are immensely proud of the nGap scholars recruited into the programme across the eight phases at CPUT. As we successfully complete Phase 1 of the programme, we extend our congratulations to scholars on this remarkable achievement.

“We will continue to create a nurturing and supportive environment, ensuring that scholars receive the necessary resources to achieve a successful outcome.”

Balkaran also extended his congratulatory message, saying: “We are very proud of the achievements of the CPUT nGap scholars”. He said being selected into “this prestigious programme is a testament to the exceptional academic abilities, dedication, and hard work”.

He said: “Most importantly, embarking on this transformative journey will not only shape the life of the scholar but also contribute to the betterment of society, by giving back through the pursuit of knowledge and learning which will make a positive impact on communities, both locally and globally.”

One of the scholars, Dr Motsoko Makhetha, said the recognition serves as a reflection on his journey in the nGAP since joining on a full-time permanent academic position as a lecturer in Product and Industrial Design department in the Faculty of Informatics and Design (FID) at CPUT.

“I was fortunate enough to have a mentor (Prof Andre Van Graan) for my first four years of the programme. I am grateful for his selfless mentorship without even claiming a cent from his budgeted line item because he felt that mentorship programmes should be a normal practice by universities for skills transfer in any case. Prof Van Graan had just retired when he became my mentor and I believe coming from a different department from mine enabled fair discussions between us about navigating university structures, requirements of an academic and preparation on how to handle office politics,” said Makhetha.

He also had the opportunity to participate in some of the national research goals through his research, which formed part of the collaboration with various universities, aerospace and medical companies in South Africa through the Collaborative Programme in Additive Manufacturing (CPAM), which is aimed at qualifying additively manufactured parts for industry application while strengthening links between research and these industries.

Dr Mkhululi Mnguni, another recipient of the nGAP scholarships in the year 2016, who participated for a full six years expressed his gratitude to nGAP for providing him with the opportunity to be part of the Phase 1 nGAP at the Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Computer Engineering (DEECE), in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE).

“My first three years were difficult because it was a development phase in which I required mentoring, teaching, and research development. I was expected to take a reduced teaching load, however, that was not the case for me. So, I had to work harder to achieve my objectives. The last three years (phase 2) was much better because the part was for Induction and early career development, and I was also done with my studies. So, I had enough time to focus on my career development.

“Therefore, I want to personally thank the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and CPUT for helping make it possible for me to pursue my dream of becoming a Doctor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering.”

He said the contribution of the nGAP scholarship allowed him to become an excellent lecturer and scholar. He said the programme has also helped him to achieve the 15 papers published recognised journals that are “DHET accredited and produced one doctor and seven Master’s students”.

“I hope to continue to give back to the university by helping the student to reach their educational goals through scholarships such as nGAP. I would recommend that DHET continues with this excellent programme, and thank you for the opportunity, highly appreciated.”

The other lecturers were Dr Vusi Mshayisa, Dr Sacha West, Dr Morakane Khaledi and Dr Maphelo Malgas, who has since left CPUT.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.