CPUT is taking proactive steps towards combating the shortage of highly skilled individuals in South Africa.

With the establishment of the Postgraduate Studies Centre, students will have access to a range of academic support services geared to ensuring that they complete their postgraduate programmes.

Heading up this specialised centre is Prof Stephanie Burton, an acclaimed researcher, who has a vast amount of experience working with postgraduate students.

Prof Burton, an NRF rated researcher, is the former Director of Postgraduate Studies for the Chemical Engineering Department in the Faculty of Engineering at the University Of Cape Town (UCT).

Prof Burton, who took up her new post as Director of Postgraduate Studies on 5 January 2009 , said she is looking forward to heading up the centre.

“Postgraduate students are important for the country. We need to produce highly skilled people,” she said.

Prof Burton said pursuing a postgraduate degree is hard work and the skills required are different from those needed to complete an undergraduate degree or diploma.

“Postgraduates need to work independently. The also need mentors, people who will guide them. We are hoping to provide this,” she said.

This “one stop shop” will not only provide services to postgraduate students, but will also support research supervisors and CPUT staff members pursuing postgraduate degrees. Services will include mentoring, various workshops and training.

Currently postgraduate students have access to support services provided by the faculties and the CPUT Libraries. Prof Burton said these services will continue to be offered and will run in conjunction with that offered at the centre.

Although the centre is based at the Bellville Campus, its services will be replicated at the other campuses. The centre has been set up at the Library Extension and will host its first series of workshops in February.

Meanwhile, Prof Burton, who has a doctorate in Biochemistry from Rhodes University , will also continue her research activities at CPUT. For the past 10 years, Prof Burton has been heading up the Biocatalysis and Technical Biology research group. The group is researching biological ways to make useful chemical compounds and anti-oxidants.

Currently the research group is located at UCT, but will move to CPUT, where it will continue its research activities. The group consists of 10 researchers, of whom five are post doctorates. Plans are in place to expand the group to 15 researchers.

Prof Burton also serves on national boards and is the Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee of the National Science and Technology Forum as well as the Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee of the Scientific, Engineering and Allied Profession Group of South Africa (SETAG).

By Candes Keating, Marketing and Communication Department

Photo: Prof Stephanie Burton (image courtesy of the University of Cape Town).

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Postgraduate students at CPUT will receive the necessary support to ensure they achieve their goals of becoming academics, researchers or expert practitioners in their chosen field of study.

Addressing students at a welcome and orientation session hosted by the Centre for Postgraduate Studies on 9 February 2010 at the Bellville campus, Prof Stephanie Burton said the centre is a “visible, dedicated and interested point of contact” for all postgraduate students.

Established in 2009, the centre aims to enhance the profile of postgraduate activity at CPUT and attract students into the institution’s research community.

Prof Burton, who is at the helm of the centre, said they are also tasked with raising awareness of potential technology innovation as an outcome of postgraduate research.

However, the main task of the centre is to provide a range of support services to postgraduate students.

Prof Burton said pursuing a postgraduate degree is hard work and the skills required are different from those needed to complete an undergraduate degree or diploma.

“Postgraduate students need a wide vision and broad integrated training to understand what it means to be a researcher and what it means to be an academic,” said Prof Burton.

Referring to the centre as a “one-stop-shop” point of contact for postgraduate students, Prof Burton said they offer dedicated support and assistance in all of the processes involved in postgraduate study.

The support services include workshops, seminars, training, mentoring, bursaries and assistance with administration linked to postgraduate studies.

The centre is currently in the process of putting in place policies to ensure that their activities are in line with the priorities of CPUT and establishing committees that will oversee postgraduate activities.

Dr Chris Nhlapo, DVC Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships encouraged students to make use of the services offered by the centre.

He said it is vital for South Africa to increase the number of doctorate graduates.

Currently South African produces only 1 100 doctorate graduates a year.

However, Dr Nhlapo said he is positive, that with the help of the centre, CPUT will play a vital role in South Africa by producing highly skilled individuals.

By Candes Keating

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Acclaimed researcher Prof Stephanie Burton has been awarded the South African Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Beckman (SASBMB) Gold Medal Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution in the field of Biochemistry.

This is the society’s most prestigious award.

It recognizes a lifetime of achievement and contribution to biochemistry and molecular biology nationally and internationally.

Prof Burton, who is the Director of Postgraduate Studies at CPUT, has served the discipline of biochemistry for 20 years. According to SASBMB, she has made a major impact at many levels in research and teaching in the fields of applied biochemistry and biotechnology.

A B-rated researcher, Prof Burton said while the award celebrates her contribution to the discipline it also provides an example to young researchers of what can be achieved through hard work and dedication.

As Director of Postgraduate Studies at CPUT, Prof Burton plays a crucial role in developing young researchers in South Africa.

In 2009, she established the Postgraduate Studies Centre that aims to enhance the profile of postgraduate activity at CPUT and attract students into the institution’s research community.

The centre offers students dedicated support and assistance in all of the processes involved in postgraduate study.

Prof Burton said pursuing a postgraduate degree is hard work and the skills required are different from those needed to complete an undergraduate degree or diploma.

“Postgraduate students need a wide vision and broad integrated training to understand what it means to be a researcher and what it means to be an academic,” she said.

In addition to running the centre Prof Burton is also at the helm of the Biocatalysis and Technical Biology research group.

The group, which was established by Prof Burton, is researching biological ways to make useful chemical compounds and anti-oxidants. The group consists of 12 researchers, all at different levels.

Prof Burton is also actively involved in a number of councils and committees related to her discipline.

She is currently serving on the SASBMB Council and was recently elected as Vice-President of the Federation of African Societies of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (FASBMB) and as a member of the Nominations Committee of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUMBM).

She is also the Deputy Chairperson of the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) and Chairperson of the Science, Engineering and Technological Societies and Allied Professions Group (ProSET).

President of SASBMB Brett Pletschke, said: “She is making, and will continue to make, a major contribution to research and development of biochemistry and biotechnology, both nationally and internationally.”

The award comprises an engraved gold medal which will be presented at a special ceremony of the SASBMB later in the year, at which Prof Burton will present the SASBMB Beckman Gold Award Lecture.

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The Transformation Office in collaboration with the Office of International Affairs hosted the Africa Day celebrations on 25 May 2010 at the Bellville Campus’ Auditorium.

The event - with the theme: African Scholarship - paid special attention to the contributions of Africans to research and development, with the ultimate view of promoting economic growth and wealth.

After CPUT Vice-Chancellor, Prof Vuyisa Mazwi-Tanga, made her welcoming speech, several researchers and academics addressed the gathering, covering a wide range of papers in keeping with the theme for the day.

Dr Daniel Nyanganyura of the International Council for Science (ICSU) Regional Office for Africa spoke about: Strengthening African Scientific Research for the benefit of Society; Prof Stephanie Burton, Director of Postgraduate Studies at CPUT, covered the importance of postgraduate research and training in Africa and Dr Chris Nhlapo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships, looked at Strengthening the Diaspora Network to contribute to research and innovation.

Africa Day commemorates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity on May 25 1963. On this day, leaders of 30 of the 32 independent African states signed a founding charter in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Similarly, the Auditorium portrayed the same spirit in the kaleidoscopic African dress code, comments and opinions expressed on the day. The poetry and the sounds of the Djembe drums reconnected the audience in one spirit.

Dr Nhlapo painted a bleak picture of the research output of Africans as compared to other nationals when one looks at researchers per one million inhabitants.

Africa has 78 researchers per million inhabitants as compared to the U.S.A and Japan which respectively boast 4006 and 5206 researchers per million inhabitants. South Africa on the other hand has 309 researchers per million inhabitants.

Dr Nhlapo said the African Union and Nepad need to play their coordinating and facilitating roles to address the issue of brain drain, and every country needs to establish its own Diaspora database that can be used to create African Diasporas master database.

He said there is a need for the development of a national policy to link development needs with Diaspora resources and to guide activities. “African governments need assistance to effectively harness their Diaspora potential. They should demonstrate their commitment to retain and to re-attract skilled personnel at home and take initiatives to mobilize the diaspora,” said Dr Nhlapo.

Professor Thandi Matsha of the Biomedical Sciences Department deliberated on SA's contribution towards Africa's Development with regards to Research. Prof Matsha participated in panel discussions which also included speakers from Nigeria, Gabon and Zimbabwe.

She said the Ministry of Science and Technology had spent R1, 1 billion rand in research, development and innovation programs while a further R1, 6 billion was spent on human capital and R1, 2 billion on socio-economic partnerships programs.

She diffused some long held fallacies about Africa by mentioning that the Timbuktu Manuscripts which date as far back as the 13th century “Hold the key to some of the secrets of the continent's history and cultural heritage - and shatter the conventional historical view of Africa as a purely ""oral continent"".

The manuscripts provide a written testimony to the skill of African scientists, in astronomy, mathematics, chemistry, medicine and climatology in the Middle Ages”.

Mrs Merle Hodges, Director of International Affairs, said her department would like to pay tribute to their late colleague Jabu Mazibuko, who always had dreams for the development and cultural exchange as espoused by speakers in the recent event.

By Thami Nkwanyane

Photograph: Members of the CPUT community that attended the Africa Day celebrations.

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