Universities in the Western Cape are exploring how best they can work together on several key projects that will aid development in various areas in the Western Cape.

 This venture is an initiative of the Western Cape Government (WCG) and the Cape Higher Education Consortium (CHEC), a body that represents the four higher education institutions in the province.

CHEC representatives, government officials and academics recently met at the CPUT Bellville Campus to explore Digital Inclusion under the theme of Social Inclusion, which is one of the four areas identified for collaboration.

CEO of CHEC, Nasima Badsha says various workshops will be held with role-players, where they will discuss the WCG’s priorities and establish a framework for joint research that would support development in the identified areas.

Badsha says the other areas that will be explored are climate change and sustainability, the interface between universities and colleges, as well as dialogues that will speak to key issues of the day.

Those who attended the Digital Inclusion Workshop explored its relevance in the areas of education and health, adoption and community level, access and e-Government.

Head of Strategic Initiatives in the Office of the DVC: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships, Assoc Prof Shaun Pather, is representing CPUT on the Digital Inclusion Task Team.

Pather says that when looking at projects, stakeholders must do so in the context of research uptake.

Research uptake advocates the process by which the knowledge generated through research makes its way to those who need it.

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

Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

A creative Chemical Engineering student is thrilled to have his artwork showcased during a Youth Month exhibition at the Artscape Theatre.

Three pieces by Alane Khoza have been selected for the exhibition, which forms part of the Youth Month Festival by the Western Cape Government.

Alane said art has been a hobby since high school and he learnt about the exhibition through the art club at CPUT.

“The theme was Showcasing Youth Resilience, with sub-themes related to gender and disability, climate action and community. These themes were interesting to me because I had never done work that reflected any of these themes.”

“I enjoyed making the piece titled Fear-solation because it really pushed me out of my comfort zone. I made it loosely and focused more on expressing the emotion and trying to get the correct colours for the mood than I did with trying to get an accurate painting of a wheelchair.

“Fear-solation is an incredible piece, if I do say so myself, because it aims to put the observer in the shoes of the disabled, a change of pace.”

He said Cherice Mangiagalli, Student Development Officer: Sport, Arts and Culture, motivated him when he doubted whether his work was good enough.

“This is such a life-changing experience for me because not only does it build confidence in myself and my work, but it also inspires me to explore more, it gives my fellow artists in the club the hunger to be creative too. The best thing I got from this experience is realising how much support I have around me, sometimes that is something that is very easy to miss.”

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