engineering FACULTY OF

The year 2014 saw a significant rise in the number of postgraduate degrees awarded by the faculty, with 45 master’s and ten doctoral degrees, and further growth expected in publications and other research output. This has been the result of a strategic path followed in developing research and development (r&D) capabilities that are responsive to local and national priorities for industrial development and socio-economic advancement.

The focus on developing sustainable research programmes in partnership with key enablers in government, industry and academia continued to provide a means of developing critical mass with targeted investment, thereby building high-impact areas of R&D capability. An example is the recent completion of the first South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre through a grant of R105 million from the DHET. This regional centre is set to become a primary source of skills supply and technology transfer for the independent power producers entering the renewable energy sector. Through its wide spectrum of energy-related R&D activities, which includes the development of a new structured master’s programme in Energy Engineering due to commence in 2016, the faculty has now positioned itself as a major national player in this field.

The faculty also experienced continued growth in other areas of research, including the development of nanomaterials for various applications, including water purification; the development of next generation unmanned aerial vehicles; the development of instrumentation for in-line rheological characteristion of fluids; and the development of next generation nanosatellite technology.

The faculty celebrated a successful first year in space for its TshepisoSAT, Africa’s first nanosatellite, which was launched on 21 November 2013. The African Space Innovation Centre under F’SATI has received a significant boost in support of the development of its second generation nanosatellite. Known as ZACUBE-2, the satellite will provide data for maritime domain awareness, opening up further opportunities in maritime-related R&D.

The faculty continues to strive for a balance between industrial impact and socio-economic impact research. The development of gel fuel as a viable alternative to paraffin, together with the design of innovative cooking stoves through the Product Lifecycle Management Competency Centre, is one such governmentsupported initiative aimed at improving the quality of life of marginalised communities. To add to this, the faculty’s patented novel aquaculture plus hydroponics system (referred to as “aquaponics”) has proven to be successful in enabling sustainable economic opportunities, allowing for the simultaneous farming of fish and vegetables.

CONFE r ENCE F u ND i N g (CONFCO m )

Ready for the working world

a group of Industrial engineering students is participating in the employability Improvement Programme, which involves them completing various tasks based on Kaizen methods. These methods demonstrate the importance of work flow, time management and the correct utilisation of resources in the workplace. This initiative is a collaboration between the DHeT and the Japanese International Cooperation agency.

The programme involves students working in an assembly line, hand-assembling over 20 miniature trucks, with the process timed and monitored. This exercise also improves students’ soft skills, such as teamwork, innovation and time management. Through this intervention, students have managed to bring about huge cost savings in manufacturing and service delivery companies, with several securing permanent contracts at the companies where they are currently placed. The e mployability Improvement Programme is now a permanent feature in CPUT’s Industrial e ngineering curriculum.

Researcher

rESEArCH & iNNOvATiON FuND FOr TEACHiNg & lEArNiNg (riFTAl)