The winners of the first-ever Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Awards were revealed during a recent ceremony at the Bellville Campus.

The awards honoured exceptional student leaders and dedicated administrative staff.

Outlining the background to the awards, Prof Driekie Hay-Swemmer, Executive Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, said: “When we recognise the hard work of staff and students, we do more than just celebrating it in a particular moment. We ignite a spark that encourages even greater efforts. And that is also what we want to achieve with this initiative. Recognition serves as a reminder that hard work does not go unnoticed and that every step toward excellence is worth celebrating”.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo said it was an incredible honour and a privilege to be part of the ceremony, adding that it “has been long in the making”.

Nhlapo said the CPUT community has diligent staff and students who habitually exceed their job description and go beyond the proverbial extra mile or call of duty.

“As the Vice-Chancellor and principal of this majestic institution, the MIT of Africa, I want all of us to embrace excellence.”

The winners in the staff category were:

First place - Nomalizo Mapasa – Mapasa was described as a beloved person on the Wellington Campus, a mother to many students “who walked many extra miles”.
Second place - David Haarhoff
Third place - Isaac Paul
Fourth place - Selema Molopa and Tumiso Mfisa

The winners in the student category were:

First place - Bulela Limba - Bulela is the chairperson of the Student Christian Organisation. Bulela guides a team that hosts spiritual and community events, creating an inclusive environment for over 100 members. She's also the provincial chairperson of Make a Mark Africa in the Western Cape and directs volunteer teams and coordinates youth empowerment programmes for underprivileged communities. She's also part of the Golden Key International Honour Society.

Second place - Athenkosi Sobada – Athenkosi is a member of the Golden Key Honour Society CPUT chapter and has been a teaching assistant at CPUT, mentoring and assisting students with their studies and providing pastoral care. He has also been involved in the Bellville Campus first aid responders team.

Third place- Rorisang Makgana – Amongst other things Rorisang has established tutoring classes on campus, attended by many students. He also launched a YouTube channel, making his tutoring accessible to a broader audience of students facing learning challenges. He is also a Golden Key member.

The recipients of the Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence in Quality Awards were also announced during the event.

Dr Siyanda Makaula, Director of the Quality Management Directorate outlined the Excellence in Quality Awards and said: “You can’t define excellence without taking into consideration quality. You can’t define quality without taking into consideration excellence.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Executive Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Driekie Hay-Swemmer, distinguishes herself as a servant leader.

One of her biggest wishes is to assist colleagues in becoming the best they can be. “I want to plough back my knowledge and experiences and [I] want to see CPUT being a leading university of technology, known for excellence and ethical leadership,” Hay-Swemmer declares. The Cape Town-born academic studied at Stellenbosch University, after matriculating from Grabouw High School.

Both her parents left school when they were 16 years old.  Because of this, she grew up “poor” and had to work during school and university holidays.  “I was a first-generation student and the only one of my siblings to attend university,” she says.

“My parents were salt of the earth people and taught me the value of hard work, honesty, perseverance, loyalty and to never give up.”

The youngest of four girls, Hay-Swemmer’s first job was that of an isiXhosa teacher and she spent most of her career in Bloemfontein at the University of the Free State.  She joined CPUT in December 2019 from the BA ISAGO University in Gaborone Botswana where she was the Vice-Chancellor since July 2018. She adds that she has faced many challenges to get to where she is today. “It was certainly not easy.  I raised three children as a single mother, [while] on the other hand trying to build my career while being the best mother I could be,” she says.

“I hardly ever took holidays, worked over weekends and worked 18 hours per day.  Fortunately, I love my discipline and my job – work is easier if you are passionate about it.” 

Hay-Swemmer had to learn to be assertive in ‘a man’s world’ as she was often the only female or one of two females on an executive team.  “I had to break down the stereotyping of female leaders in senior positions and [I] was always mindful that I must be a role model for all my female colleagues – especially those younger than me.”

She says her love for knowledge and lifelong learning, to work on her weaknesses, to stand up when she falls, to turn a challenge into an opportunity and to have a sense of humour, keeps her going when things get tough and help her to see the bright side of life.

Obtaining a PhD was certainly a big highlight for her – especially being the first and only one to obtain a PhD in her family.  Becoming a full professor was another big milestone for her.  “All the hard work paid off, all the long and lonely nights doing my research and writing articles came to fruition.  I was proud when I was appointed a DVC Academic.”

However, she feels that women are still underrepresented in senior management positions in higher education.  “I believe more needs to be done to create growth opportunities for women.  They should be more supported and affirmed.  Successful female leaders in higher education should not underestimate their role to mentor upcoming leaders.  Sadly, everyone talks about mentorship but we do not see much of it in real life.”

In her position at CPUT, she supports the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, in his very challenging role.  Apart from that, the following divisions report to her: Quality Assurance, Academic Planning and Institutional Research, Advancement, Marketing and Communication, Transformation and Internal Audit and Risk management.

The ‘very straightforward’ person who cares for people advises young women, “to be comfortable with yourself, who you are and never allow those titles and success to get to your head”. Hay-Swemmer believes that CPUT is playing a leading role in sensitising staff, students and the broader CPUT community on the important role of women in society. However, she says: “There is more to be done to empower women in higher education.  More mentorship programmes are necessary and maybe we should seriously consider an academy for female leaders in higher education.”

*For the duration of Women’s Month, we will be profiling several high profile CPUT women whose achievements and activities help us to become One SMART CPUT.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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Empowering young women is at the heart of an exciting initiative recently launched at CPUT.

Attendees at the inspiring EmpowHerSA-CPUT launch event, presented by the Centre for Diversity, Inclusivity and Social Change and the Division of Student Affairs, were invited to join the programme as mentors or mentees with the aim of empowering undergraduate students to reach their full potential.

Prof Driekie Hay-Swemmer, Executive Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, said she was excited about the event and told the students that they could not have been at a better place than at the event, surrounded by inspiring women being part of the EmpowHer project.

She said it was sad that the playing fields were still not equal and added: “We will get there”. “What I see across the country and at CPUT is that women are taking up their legitimate space in various platforms.”

The Faculty of Applied Sciences’ Prof Beatrice Opeolu said the EmpowHer idea was conceptualised last year during her sabbatical at the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

She said women globally have limitations to their career progression for many reasons, including the roles that traditions and cultures have placed on them, and this impacts on their productivity.

“We know there are opportunities mostly for postgraduate students but not for undergraduate students and that is the gap. I thought if I had opportunities as an undergraduate student that I had much later, maybe my career trajectory may be different from what it is and maybe it would be more productive.”

With two colleagues in Nigeria, Emi Alawode and Prof Ganiyat Olatunde, along with Nonkosi Tyolwana, Director of Institutional Transformation, Social Cohesion CPUT, the idea was conceptualised.

“We were able to deliver on two workshops that will empower two cohorts of students at the Federal University of Agriculture and the Olabisi Onabanjo University. For me what was interesting about those two cohorts, when we started most of them didn’t know that they could actually put a CV together.”

She said many of participants in the Nigerian cohorts now had profiles on LinkedIn and the two cohorts were vibrant and growing.

“They have been able to tap into some opportunities since we started the programme.”

Tyolwana encouraged attendees to be part of the first cohort of EmpowHer-CPUT and said there would be an induction of the mentees and mentors.

Other speakers included Central SRC secretary-general, Nonele Ganyile and Wendy Kondlo, chairperson of the District Six Local SRC while attendees were awarded the opportunity to ask questions and share experiences.

Several inspiring young women who have excelled in several areas, including sport and academics were recognised during the event.

They will be profiled during an upcoming campaign.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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CPUT recently celebrated the closing out of phase one of the Institutional Audit (IA) and marked the launch of the second phase.

The Council on Higher Education (CHE) defines the IA as an external quality review process of an institution’s quality management system and its constituent elements, based on that institution’s identity, nature, context and strategic goals.

In her welcoming address, Prof Driekie Hay-Swemmer, Executive Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, said the occasion was a very special one on the CPUT calendar and paid tribute to the staff of the Quality Management Directorate and its Director, Dr Siyanda Makaula.

She said institutional audits are a major project “and yet with deadly precision, planning in a meticulous way, we started and rolled out phase one of the Institutional Audit”.

The various working group facilitators, Self-Evaluation Report writers and student engagement working group shared their experiences.

In his message of support and appreciation, Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, said the Higher Education Act of 1997 assigns the responsibility for quality assurance in Higher Education South Africa to the CHE.

He said this responsibility is discharged through its permanent subcommittee, the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) and its mandate, among others includes: quality promotion, Institutional Quality Audit and programme accreditation.

“Institutional Audit constitute one of the mechanisms through which the HEQC carries out its responsibility for quality assurance. We know that the audit will focus on institutional policies, systems, procedures, strategies and resources for quality management of the core function of teaching and learning, research and innovation, community engagement, including the relevant academic support services. More specifically, IA will seek to assess an institution’s capacity for quality management of its academic activity in a manner that meets its specified mission, goals and objective and engage appropriately with the expectations and needs of various internal and external constituencies.”

The Vice-Chancellor expressed the hope that the Self Evaluation Report is going to assist the institution to reflect “and be the better selves”.

He said the institution was ready for the CHE site visit scheduled to take place from 10 to 14 October.

Prof Rishidaw Balkaran, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, said the entire event and the entire audit process journey reflected two things: oneness and smartness.

In the closing remarks, Dr David Phaho, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships, said CPUT would ensure that any shortcomings identified by the institutional panel were addressed while the institution would continue to improve any areas it was already doing well in.

“Continuous improvement will be our institutional mantra in our envisaged improvement plan at the end of the audit process.”

During the event, held at the Auditorium on the Bellville campus, tribute was paid to the Quality Management Directorate’s Luclaire Airey who recently passed away.

Hay-Swemmer said Airey had played a pivotal role in establishing quality assurance systems, processes and policies and acknowledged to role she played in preparation for the IA.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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CPUT continues to show its commitment to the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) with members of the Executive Management recently receiving training on GBV and their responsibilities.

Nonkosi Tyolwana, Director for Institutional Transformation, Social Cohesion and Diversity, said the training is the university’s response to the Policy Framework on addressing Gender-Based Violence in higher education and a call by the Department of Higher Education and Training for universities to respond adequately to the scourge of GBV

“This is also in preparation for the rollout of GBV training across the university. CPUT has approved the Terms of Reference for the establishment of a high-level Institutional GBV Committee that is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor and led by EM members. The committee, comprised of Management and the SRC, will be inaugurated at its first meeting soon.”

She said the training, which took place online, was also to map out the GBV roll-out plan across the university

CPUT has partnered with the Western Cape National Prosecuting Authority. The Training is led by Adv. Lizelle Africa and Adv. Mark Kenny of the Western Cape National Prosecuting Authoring (NPA)  

Prof Driekie Hay-Swemmer, Executive Director: Office of the Vice-Chancellor, said the training was revealing, direct and broad-minded.  

“The training was spot-on, alluding to the 21st-century environment during which the broader understanding/characterising of sexual identities were explored/ explained. There is a lot of training that needs to occur – starting from the early childhood development years and accompanying parent support programmes, the basic school education approach and curriculum.” 

The training will be rolled out and cascaded down to all levels.  

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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The Quality Management Directorate (QMD) recently hosted a workshop for the postgraduate and undergraduate Students’ Quality Desks (SQDs).

The workshop was aimed at capacitating the SQDs for the quality tasks ahead in 2023. The primary purpose of the workshop was to help the SQDs to fully understand the CPUT’s quality management systems and support provided by QMD, and the importance of their engagement in quality conversations and participation in the institutional quality assurance activities. “The workshop exposed SQDs to the QMD’s annual operational plan and activities. There were also discussions on higher education quality in South Africa, in general,” said QMD Director, Dr Siyanda Makaula.

Makaula said the workshop was geared towards smart student engagement and learning experiences as espoused in CPUT’s V2030, “by engaging students and allowing them to actively participate in quality activities at CPUT”. “By establishing postgraduate and undergraduate student Quality Desks, QMD aims to improve the relationship between students and QMD.”

In recognition of the leadership capabilities and active participation of SQD members in the 2022 academic year, QMD and the Executive Director: Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Driekie Hay-Swemmer, presented Leadership Achievement Awards to SQD leaders. “The awards were given to the SQDs in appreciation of their efforts towards improving the quality management system at CPUT, promoting student engagement in quality activities and in recognition of the role they played in the success of the Institutional Audit site visit conducted by the CHE,” Makaula said.

Written by CPUT News

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The CPUT Convocation recently hosted industry stakeholders, alumni and other partners during a successful business breakfast and networking session.

The theme of the event, which was held at the Cape Town Hotel School, was: Towards Vision 2030 and Beyond.

Guests were welcomed by Programme Director, Dr Thobekani Lose, who emphasised the importance of collaboration and encouraged the guests to share ideas.

Prof Driekie Hay-Swemmer, Executive Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, briefed the audience on Vision 2030 while Dr Laurine Platzky, Chairperson of Council delivered a message of support.

“Rest assured that we are doing what we can do in our space in the Council and we hold the executive to account, said Platzky.

Convocation President, Lwandile Socikwa, said the university was a well-functioning organisation and told the guests “today you are officially friends of Convocation”.

He explained the role of Convocation in building partnerships for the university.

“What we stand for is real strategic partnership and opportunities that will be able to add value to the vision but also create value for your own organisation in the spaces that you operate in.”

He said there ought to be a symbiotic relationship with partners “with mutual value and that value must be built on ethical principles and it must be built for the benefit of the student”.

An opportunity was granted for a question and answer session between stakeholders and university representatives.

Registrar Sello Mokoena delivered a word of thanks whereafter guests and university representatives took some time for networking.

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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Parents and learners braved the cold rain to witness the launch of the Atlantis Special Economic Zone STEAM Programme at Saxonsea Secondary School recently.

CPUT is an implementing partner of the programme with ASEZCo. The project is targeting 40 Atlantis youth with Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) extra curriculum education. The learning interventions will include but is not limited to Entry Level Electronics; Introduction to Programming; Physical Computing; Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Grade 8 learners. This programme will provide hands-on learning opportunities that promote creativity, motivate discovery, and increase knowledge retention.

CPUT will conduct 26 Saturday STEAM sessions in one of the five schools in Atlantis in which there is an appalling lack of science labs and equipment in local schools. The University will host the learners at the science labs to expose them to well-equipped labs for further hands-on learning and for the learners to use the technology to develop their projects. Towards the end of the project, CPUT will host a STEAM competition where the participating schools will solve a specific challenge through STEAM. The winning model, prototype or concept will be given a prize.

Addressing the local learners, Prof Driekie Hay-Swemmer, Executive Director: Office of the Vice-Chancellor, said: “My message is very simple this afternoon; is that the dreams that you have can come true. One is never a victim of one’s circumstance and it doesn’t matter where you are coming from but where you are going.” Hay-Swemmer, who signed a memorandum of understanding, emphasised that the learners can be big achievers in STEM related subjects.

Advancement Department Director, Mandla Maseko said: “We are committed to the partnership. ASEZ has STEAM and we have STEM. Their SEZ focuses on green tech, and we have SARETEC. We should have created this partnership long time ago.”

Maseko said the STEAM project has opened possibilities for CPUT and ASEZ to partner on renewable energy and when they visited five schools on 1 August, they saw that most of the schools did not have science labs or if the labs were there, they were not well equipped. He said this discourages learners and the educators from paying attention to Maths and Science. Maseko promised that CPUT will open its labs to the learners to conduct experiences and projects, as a way of augmenting the learning.

“We want to catch the learners as early as Grade 8 to ensure that continue doing STEAM subjects up until Matric. In this way we will be developing our own pipeline of students who will be studying science qualifications at the University and the SEZ will be preparing the youth of the area to take up job opportunities availed by companies in the SEZ.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce

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CPUT is dedicated to maintaining ethical practices and recently Prof Driekie Hay-Swemmer, Executive Director: Office of the Vice-Chancellor and Sibusiso Mtatase, Compliance Manager, qualified as certified Ethics Officers, accredited by The Ethics Institute, in association with the Stellenbosch Business School.

The qualification empowers individuals, within organisations like CPUT, to drive the institutionalisation of ethics management plans and ensure its compliance across all levels of the institution.

Hay-Swemmer said that throughout history, the importance of ethics and compliance has been undeniable.

“Businesses and universities must prioritise compliance with laws and regulations to succeed. By adhering to these guidelines, universities can ensure that their operations are transparent, ethical and lawful. Failing to adhere to established rules can have serious repercussions, including significant legal penalties, financial losses, and damage to one's reputation.”

“It is essential to prioritise compliance to avoid these adverse outcomes and maintain a robust and trustworthy image in the eyes of stakeholders and the broader community. Therefore, universities must prioritise compliance and ethical behaviour as a critical aspect of their operations. The shift to establishing ethics as a stand-alone function reflects the reality businesses and universities face today.”

She said the Internal Audit, Compliance, Enterprise Risk Management and Quality Management functions report to her and the qualification would equip her with the knowledge to provide better leadership to those reporting to her and to lead by example.

“It furthermore would assist me in identifying where ethical concerns may arise at CPUT, staying abreast of the research on creating an ethical culture (and what an ethical culture looks like) and keeping CPUT focused on operating by its values.”

Mtatase said the significance of completing this certification lies in his commitment to upholding the highest ethical standards within his professional role.

“As the head of the Compliance function at our university, I bear the responsibility for ethics management as well. It is vital that I possess a comprehensive understanding of ethical principles, frameworks, and best practices.”

“By obtaining this certification, I have enhanced my capacity to guide and oversee ethical conduct throughout our institution, fostering a culture of integrity. Given that I am entrusted with the responsibility of assisting in ensuring that the university is managed and governed with the utmost ethical standards, in alignment with sound corporate governance principles, it is only natural that I equip myself comprehensively to fulfil this noble responsibility effectively.”

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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Parents and teachers of learners from five schools in Atlantis and numerous guests joined CPUT and ASEZCo in their Atlantis Special Economic Zone STEAM Project certificate award ceremony and competition event held in Saxonsea Secondary School recently.

The CPUT and ASEZCo have joined forces to ignite a passion for Maths and Science among the youth in Atlantis. This collaborative initiative aimed to foster innovation and offer tailored support for about 40 Atlantis youth with Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) extra curriculum education. The learning interventions included but is not limited to Entry Level Electronics; Introduction to Programming; Physical Computing; Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Grade 8 learners. The STEAM project provided hands-on learning opportunities that promote creativity, motivate discovery, and increase knowledge retention alike.

• The objectives of the STEAM interventions were to:
• Challenge learners to think critically.
• Motivate learners to be attracted to STEAM careers.
• Enable learners to integrate cross-disciplinary knowledge to solve problems.
• Promote a learn-by-doing approach.
• Enable learners to participate in real-world projects.
• Give an opportunity to basic education learners to learn from each other, across different schools, while taking an active role in the development of emerging technology and groundbreaking research; and
• Make STEAM attractive to basic education learners, so that the learners can continue doing STEAM until Matric.

In the closing ceremony the learners showcased their Robotics skills with a friendly competition. Four teams competed against each other in a quest to be the STEAM champions of Atlantis. ASEZco Business Development Executive, Jarrod Lyons, provided an overview of ASEZ and the STEAM programme, and said his company was committed to real and impactful change in the community. “This change will be brought by ASEZco’s ability to contribute to an enabling ecosystem, which requires skills and enterprise development at its heart.”

Prof Driekie Hay-Swemmer, Executive Director: Office of the Vice-Chancellor,gave an overview of CPUT and the CPUT STEM programme. Hay-Swemmer, also paid special tribute to the Advancement Department for their sterling job in making the project a success. “I am so proud of you, and I am so proud to be your line manager, and to see the work that you’re doing and the legacies that you’re leaving behind. Staff from the Centre for Civil Engagement and Community Service, whenever there is something that we want them to do within the communities, they’re just there. And they are absolutely fantastic people to work with.”

She continued: “This is indeed a very very special afternoon.”

Addressing the learners, Hay-Swemmer said: “My message is simple here this afternoon, you can do it, you’ve already done it. Don’t’ settle for less in your life. The sky is really the limit if there is a limit or ceiling on you. Whatever you dream and think of and desire through hard work, be surrounded by positive people, people that will build you, it’s possible… Don’t give up on your dreams…You are good, you are bright enough and you’re smart enough. Well-done to everyone here and also to the parents. CPUT is proud to be associated with all of you and we are going to take a keen interest to see where life is going take you.”

Prof Bennett Alaxander, Deputy Dean: Faculty of Informatics and Design, also gave an overview of the IT industry (from learning to work/business) for young people. Meanwhile Prof

Andile Mji Dean, Faculty of Education, CPUT gave an overview of the Education sector, urging parents to encourage their children to choose Maths and Science as subjects of choice and discouraged them in taking Maths Literacy as their choice.

Chanelle September, project beneficiary, said: “I would like to thank you for this opportunity and thank you to everyone for making this project a success. This has really been a great experience. During these past few months we as the STEAM, we have learned a lot from extraordinary people.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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CPUT Live Radio, an exciting platform which will serve as a hub of communication, learning and creativity, was recently launched.

The new platform will give students the opportunity to express their voices and aims to embody oneness and smartness as envisaged in Vision 2030.

Prof Driekie Hay-Swemmer, Executive Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, welcomed the guests to the hybrid event and said the project was a special one.

“It is special because it will be run entirely by our talented students as part of their training and experiential learning. Our students can take the reins and showcase their skills in broadcasting, journalism, production and so much more. Under our esteemed academics and professional leadership of MCD (Marketing and Communication Department), we will give guidance and oversight, our students will have the chance to shine and unleash their creative potential on the airwaves.”

Prof Tembisa Ngqondi, Dean of the Faculty of Informatics and Design, said the project is a collaboration between the Faculty of Informatics and Design, the Department of Student Affairs and MCD.

She said the project would allow students to develop and produce content while preparing their portfolios, hence giving them the opportunity to showcase their skills set.

Ngqondi said the project included the values of ethical content generation.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo said the content would showcase the vibrancy of CPUT life in all facets, including highlighting the programmes, services and opportunities available to students.

“It will also document the developments related to learning and teaching at CPUT and profile cutting-edge research and responsive community engagement projects undertaken by our staff. It will also serve as an archive that documents the development of the institution.”

Nhlapo said that in the medium term the project had the potential to be a one-stop shop where all related media content is housed. In the short term the focus would be audio content.

“To all our students, particularly creatives, this is your laboratory. This is where you have to practice to be the best that you can be. Our role as leaders is to provide an enabling environment for you to be the best version of yourselves. All of us must be content creators. And any interested member of the CPUT community is welcome.”

Journalism students will have an aspect of their coursework geared at generating content.

Messages of support were delivered by representatives of Council, the Convocation and the Central SRC.

Dr Sisanda Nkoala, an academic at UNISA and former CPUT Media Department academic thanked industry partners, including CPUT journalism alumna for their support.

Guests were also given the opportunity to listen to some of the first podcasts produced by the students.

Student Aiden Mcconney, who is one of the trainees of the project, described the experience as eye-opening and said the training had taught her about the many aspects of media and taught her new skills.

“I’m grateful to have been a part of this”.

Nonkosi Tyolwana, Acting Dean of Student Affairs, congratulated the students who have completed a training programme and handed over certificates to them.

Dr Garth van Gensen, Director of the Marketing and Communication Department, delivered a vote of thanks and expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the project.

He said many radio personalities started off at a campus radio station.

Click here to listen to the podcasts.

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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Delegates from more than 30 institutions participated in the 2024 Higher Education Quality Assurance Forum (HEQAF), recently held at the Cape Town Hotel School.

The three-day event was hosted by CPUT, in partnership with the University of South Africa, under the theme: Quality as Transformation - Looking Back to The Future of Quality Assurance in Higher Education.

The forum sought to explore insights into the relationship between quality and transformation with an understanding of the need for a transformed higher education landscape, and that higher education quality is pivotal to higher education transformation.

The delegates were welcomed by Dr Siyanda Makaula, CPUT’s Director: Quality Management Directorate and chairperson of the HEQAF organising committee.

“What we are trying to unpack is that quality without transformation is not quality and transformation without quality is not transformation,” he said.

The event delved into four sub-themes:

• Quality as Transformation
• Transformation of leadership, governance and management of the quality function
• Student engagement and student voice(s): essential elements for a quality student learning journey
• Quality assurance and technology in higher education

Prof Driekie Hay-Swemmer, Executive Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, delivered a message of support from the Vice-Chancellor’s Office.

“Together let us champion a transformative agenda that empowers our institutions and enriches the lives of learners across the nation.”

Unisa’s Prof Luvuyo Lumkile Lalendle delivered a message of support on behalf of the Office of the Vice-Chancellor: Unisa.

“As we deliberate today let it be about the students, not about us. It is important to unmute the student voice at our campuses and make each day count for them. Our universities need to deal with student segmentation and tailor-made intervention to facilitate quality learning and support for the brightest stars of our population and our generation. This workshop must preoccupy itself with what is worth knowing and doing in the quality space,” said Lalendle.

The forum included a combination of keynote addresses, abstract presentations by delegates, panel discussions, and reflections on practices aimed to stimulate discussions on the theme.

The speakers included Makaula, Lalendle, Dr Violet Makuku (Director - Global Quality Assurance Association), Dr Britta Zawada (Director: Institutional Audits at the Council on Higher Education), Olivia Mokgatle (Executive Director: Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at Walter Sisulu University), Prof Sandile Songca (Head of the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology at the University of Zululand, who formerly served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning at UKZN) and Prof Zayd Waghid (CPUT Faculty of Education).

Written by Ilse Fredericks

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