Uwc csss update 1 aug sept 2014

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UPDATE University of the

FEATURE: NEW AT CSSS! E-MAIL ADVICE FOR STUDENTS – WE ARE ONLINE DIRECT TO YOU! THERAPEUTIC SERVICES

JULY/AUGUST

Make use of the e-mail advice line at the Centre for Student Support Services. Rather reach out before you freak out! E-mails are completely confidential and responded to by a professional staff member.

Western Cape

2014

Email us at studentadvice@uwc.ac.za

WELCOME TO THE FIRST EDITION OF UPDATE This UPDATE is by students, for students, about students - and it gives an exciting snapshot of our support and development programmes which occupy a special place in our institutional and student life. We are very proud to showcase some of the many projects and programmes in which our students excel. Thank you to all the students and staff who have contributed to the wonderful achievements reported in this update. We are so proud of you!

OFFICE FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITES

Yours Sincerely BIRGIT SCHREIBER (PHD) CSSS director, UWC

UNIVERSITY OF NAMIBIA AT UWC, CENTRE FOR STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES - SEEKING CLOSER ALIGNMENT WITH THE ACADEMIC PROJECT On 1 July 2014, CSSS hosted, at UWC, UNAM’s Disability Unit. The purpose of the interaction was to share knowledge and experiences, as well as to develop and strengthen relations between colleagues of the two universities.

Their exploratory visit to CSSS included a presentation of the support and development framework, a discussion of different organisational structures, as well as the sharing of operational experiences and best practice ideas. UNAM‘s Dean of Students and the Disability Unit are closely aligned with the academic programme and they seek to improve their alignment by exploring how best to infuse the academic programme with inclusivity practices.

The visit was led by Dr Cynthy Ya Otto, who is the Head of Department of the Department of Educational Psychology and Inclusive Education, and by Ms Penandino Kandjii, who is the Coordinator of the Disability Unit. They were accompanied by 8 students and their support staff.

UWC’s Disability Unit, which is considered a benchmark in disability support and development, has grown enormously over the past 5 years, with 300 students who declared themselves as living with a disability. The Disability Unit has 170 students registered for disability accommodations and concessions, and has a range of resources and support equipment.

GENERAL NEWS

UNAM’s Disability Unit, along with other student support and development units, is in the process of restructuring.

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY (NYU) HOSTS DR BIRGIT SCHREIBER​ Dr Birgit Schreiber, Director of the Centre for Student Support Services, was invited to visit New York University in February 2014 to share her insights on the professional development of Student Affairs from a South African perspective. During her, Dr Schreiber addressed both staff and students on best practices to create enabling learning environments which are supportive and developmental for the range of students’ potentials Prof Teboho Moja, who extended the invitation to Dr Schreiber indicated that New York University was keenly interested to not only expand students’ international experience abroad, but to also to internationalise their student life locally at NYU Manhatten and at their portal sites in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai.

Dr Birgit Schreiber and Prof Teboho Moja have established a collaborative research initiative to continue to explore the ambit, role and function of Student Affairs higher education globally.​

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OFFICE FOR ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES MENTEE DAY 2014: STUDENTS ENSURING STUDENT ENGAGEMENT​ The University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) Centre for Student Support Services (CSSS) held its fourth annual Mentee Day in April 2014, under the theme “Mission: I’m Possible”.

Mentee Day is part of the Peer Mentoring Programme (PMP). The PMP is a broad-based student support and development programme that was born out of the realisation that senior students could help first-year students adjust to and cope with being at university.

LEADERSHIP AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILTY

Mentee Day enables mentors and mentees to interact and

deepen their relationship with each other, student and development staff, and the broader campus. This year’s Mentee Day comprised a mixture of challenging and fun individual and team-building activities that required mental and physical perseverance. The message was clear to all: you can achieve anything you put your mind to – especially with the support of peers.

Dr Birgit Schreiber, Director of CSSS, explains: “The best way to enable integration of our first-year students is to ensure that they have meaningful relationships with their seniors, who function as mentors and role models, guiding them through the beginning of their academic careers. We’re really looking forward to Mentee Day 2015.”

STICKY FINGERS: ENTREPRENEUR INSPIRES STUDENTS TO GET THEIR HANDS DIRTY Being an entrepreneur means making the most of every opportunity, making use of every resource at your disposal, and always being on the lookout for new challenges. On 15 April 2014, entrepreneur Bongani Magama Tungamirai (owner of the popular Sticky Fingers Restaurants) shared his story at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) Entrepreneurship Initiative.

“A few years ago I was sitting in lecture theatres myself,” he said. “As an entrepreneur, I’m grateful for moments like this, which validate the hard work and late hours.”

Sticky Fingers was launched on 18 June 2010. The award-winning Sticky Fingers ribs were a happy accident. “I didn’t know how to make ribs, but at some point I’d worked as a waiter at the Hussar Grill, and I asked one of my old friends to teach me. He told me how to do the preparation, and to put it in for one hour. I left it in for two by mistake, but I didn’t have money to rebuy – so I served the overcooked ribs. The customers loved it – and so our rib style was born.”

Soon people from all over were coming to taste the ribs, and people raved about the relaxed environment and comfy booths. So Bongani kept pushing himself, trying to differentiate his restaurant, trying out new foods like burgers and pizzas and all kinds of new meals with different toppings. “That’s one of the advantages of not being franchised,” he noted. “You don’t have to stick to other people’s limits, and you can create and develop your own brand.

If you’re genuine, people will see that and will want to support you.”

Sticky Fingers has grown from strength to strength, opening a second location in 2013, and a third in 2014. Bongani has big plans for the brand. One day, he said, it could compete with the greats of South African fast food, like Spur and Wimpy. All it takes is drive, vision, and hard work.

CONTACT US

Centre for Student Support Services Online: www.uwc.ac.za/Students/SD/CSSS Email: csss@uwc.ac.za Phone: 021 959 2299