3 minute read
Tourism
Education and training
Open Day at the Jouberton Campus of Vuselela TVET College.
North-West University (NWU) is working together with Walter Sisulu University (WSU) on a new Covid-19 vaccine candidate. The results of preclinical trials in June 2021 were described as “very promising”.
Prof Markus Depfenhart, who holds extraordinary appointments as a professor at both universities, developed the vaccine candidate, the trials for which are being run at the Pre-Clinical Drug Development
Platform at the NWU.
NWU has ambitious aims with regard to accommodating students in residence: 50% of contact students and 75% of first-year students is the goal. There are 38 NWU-owned residences on three campuses and one off-campus residence in Vanderbijlpark. There is also some rented accommodation which amounts to more than 10 000 beds managed by the university.
The CHE has announced that the NWU Bachelor of Laws (LLB) programme has received full accreditation.
A new qualification, Mechatronic Engineering, has been added to the courses offered by the Faculty of Engineering. The Bachelor of Mechatronic Engineering programme has been approved by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), enabling graduates to compete internationally. The faculty now offers eight specialities, including industrial and electromechanical and chemical engineering (minerals processing). Partnerships include Sasol, Eskom, Denel
Aviation, Telkom and Sappi.
The Faculty of Engineering is a leading department in terms of innovations and plays a role, together with the NWU Technology
Transfer and Innovation Support Office, in commercialising ideas by creating companies.
The university and its researchers are leaders in many fields, including astrophysics, tourism, solar energy and extruder technology.
Among the research entities at NWU, there are five chairs allocated by the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI): Astrophysics and Space Physics, Coal Research, Biofuels and other clean alternative fuels, Nuclear Engineering and Early Detection and Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Africa.
The University of South Africa (Unisa) has three branches in North West, at Rustenburg, Potchefstroom and Mmabatho.
SECTOR INSIGHT A Covid-19 vaccine candidate is being tested at NWU.
Training and skills
A new, third, stream is being piloted at 11 schools across the province. In addition to the existing technical and academic streams, vocational will be offered. The new option includes 13 new subjects and is intended to widen the options available to young people.
As part of this initiative, three schools will increase their enrolment of pupils wanting to study agricultural subjects. Fifteen
Education and skills training are making an impact
Impala Rustenburg’s local economic development strategy boosts employment potential.
Impala Rustenburg is committed to delivering a lasting positive contribution to local communities and those affected by its activities. Its local economic development (LED) strategy focuses on collaborating with government, the Royal Bafokeng and other mining companies to identify and implement high employment generating projects through public-private partnerships.
Since 2018, Impala Rustenburg and the
Royal Bafokeng Nation (RBN) have collaborated in developing a strategy and project plan to identify projects that will support job creation and create sustainable livelihoods beyond mining. This strategic initiative actively pursues partnerships with key players in sectors that have the highest potential of creating employment opportunities for youth living in the region of Impala Rustenburg’s operations.
To support this thrust, Implats’ comprehensive education and skills development programmes span the entire education value chain, from early childhood development through to higher levels of schooling and continuous skills development. In promoting quality schooling, Impala Rustenburg supports 33 schools – 21 primary and 12 high schools – in the Bojanala Platinum District Municipality. To mitigate the impact of months of schooling missed due Covid-19 lockdowns, the operation provided academic support to more than 2 000 matric learners, who received catchup classes in maths, biology, life sciences and geography ahead of their final exams.
Impala Rustenburg also implemented a teacher-mentoring programme, supporting 12 teachers in eight local schools to improve their teaching skills. Impala Rustenburg monitors the learners’ performance, which continues to be encouraging. During 2020, the Impala-supported schools in the Rustenburg region achieved an average matric pass rate of 85%, compared to 79% achieved at other local schools. Platinum Village and Sunrise View secondary schools, both constructed by Implats together with its social partners, achieved 100% and 94% pass rates, respectively.
Impala Rustenburg also delivered several infrastructure projects this year in support of education. These include constructing a new early childhood development centre, Phase 2 renovations of the Kutlwanong School for the Deaf, renovating and equipping three libraries in the Eastern Cape, which is a labour-sending area for the operation, and constructing 12 new National School Nutrition Programme kitchens in Taung and Ganyesa. ■
