T HE D A V I NCI I NSTI TUTE
S UMMER N EWSLETTER D ECEMBER 2014
Students, Staff, Alumni, Faculty, Associates and Friends
The Da Vinci Institute presents Masters and PhD Information Brunch
The Da Vinci Institute held an Information Brunch for delegates interested in registering for PhD and Masters qualifications. Individuals who are self-directed in terms of their learning journey joined us at the Da Vinci house. Overall 57 prospective learners attended the event to gather more information about the individual programmes and the Mode 2 philosophy that culminates in the Da Vinci study environment. Mr Sechaba Motsieloa warmly welcomed the attendees. “Don’t be shy with your opinions because you will deny everyone else the opportunity to learn from the environment you will be co-creating”, Sechaba Motsieloa, Corporate Affairs Director of McDonalds SA and Chairman of Da Vinci Council; shared his passion of Da Vinci with the delegates. Professor Bennie Anderson, CEO of The Da Vinci Institute, facilitated the session and introduced the Da Vinci dream, purpose, principles and brand promise. The purpose and objective of the PhD and Masters qualifications were also deeply explored. Individual attendees were probed regarding their thoughts on taking their first steps on this journey and how they could embrace this new and innovative way of thinking. This session proved positive and informative for the attendees. After the session, they were asked to indicate their interest in participating in the new intake. A networking brunch was held afterward where interested learners could enquire further with Da Vinci staff.
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Da Vinci proudly introduces one of our new PhD students
James Scott Leonardo group 19 started their first day of the research and dissertation workshop on 23 October 2014. The cohort consists of 33 Masters and PhD students, one of whom is James Scott. James is the publisher at BusinessBrief which is a business management Magazine that provides the decision makers in business with the information they need to make better business decisions. The Da Vinci Institute recently sat down with James to hear his story. “After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, I felt that if I was going to make a success of my career, I should enter an industry that would be likely to experience super-normal growth. It was the eighties and I believed, that in very broad terms, the two industries that would experience super-normal growth would be in technology and in the dissemination of information. I had a broad interest in both. My first foray into technology was successful. I was the FD of a company that developed many budget software applications. The most popular product our team developed has now been rebranded and is a market leader in accounting software – Pastel Accounting. However, I felt the challenges that would beset an entrepreneur in the industry were the high cost of R&D and the continuous threat of competition. With that in mind I started BusinessBrief Publishing. The idea was to create a business that would be critical in the dissemination of information to business professionals and decision-makers. I do believe that I have come a long way in this regard. However, the world is changing and it is changing fast! Since the end of 2007 when the first signs of recession were noticed as well as the ever-increasing changes in technology, the publishing industry as well as many other industries are under pressure to adapt or fail. New technologies are creating an environment where information is growing at an exponential rate and is being communicated and disseminated differently. I have always had diverse interests and an overflow of ideas. I do believe that furthering my ideas in an academic framework will contextualise them better and help ensure that I am able to bring them to economic fruition.� To read the BusinessBrief December 2014/January 2015 edition, simply follow the BusinessBrief logo on The Da Vinci website: www.davinci.ac.za.
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FNB Home Loans Learnership Launch The discussions between FNB Home Loans and The Da Vinci Institute were initiated when Craig Fortuin (Skills Development Manager) and Phumie Mayonga (Training Coordinator) started over 100 Home Loans Employees on the NQF 5 Learnership, the progression of the Home Loans Employees are particularly important to the Skills Development segment. There will be 58 candidates starting the programme at The Da Vinci Institute in January 2015. On 14 November 2014, a launch was held at the FNB Home Loans building. Craig Fortuin welcomed the attendees who consisted of the learners, managers and Da Vinci staff. Craig Fortuin, Skills Development Manager at FNB Home Loans introduced Geoff Law who is a facilitator at Cornerstone, one of Da Vinci’s associates. Geoff engaged with the learners, explaining the Mode 2 concept and how the programme has no exams and only assignments. Mode 2 refers to the applicant of knowledge creation within one's workplace. Cornerstone facilitates the banking modules and Da Vinci remains the conferring institution. Geoff spoke to students about the continual openness to learn and by keeping in mind the work of Bamura; he states that belief determines potential. The potential leads to action which in turn determines the result which confirms that belief. Thrishan Naicker, Key Account Manager at Da Vinci and Carin Stoltz-Urban, Client Engagement Manager at Da Vinci spoke of the difficulty in establishing balance between work, study and family life. They advised that good support at home is essential and that Da Vinci offers student support to our students and are always here to assist. "Da Vinci is the back seat driver and as a student, you will be in the front seat driving but Da Vinci will always be here." Sechaba Motsieloa, Chairman of Da Vinci Council explained that the purpose of Council is to safeguard the academic integrity of the qualification and to guarantee quality assurance and compliance as regulated by the Council of Higher Education (CHE). "Be the best you that you can be because all the other personalities are taken." He asked the students, "What is going to be your legacy? When you want to start a fire, make a spark". Siphiwe Moyo (Head: Learning and Development) motivated the attendees by displaying an energetic and passionate talk. He encouraged students to do well rather then say well because doing is more effective than saying and that their learning journey is in their hands.
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New Student Representatives Appointed The Da Vinci Institute planned and executed an inauguration ceremony that was held at Da Vinci House on 3rd October 2014. Certain individuals were approached to fill these roles on various SubCouncil Committee’s. These include the following Ethics Committee
Boitumelo Maseko
Council
Pieter Louw
Joshua Masha
Institutional Forum
Monica Peethum
Juliette Fourie Academic Board
Walter Chimanyi
Joe Maseko
Este Welman
Examination Committee
Lynne Lourens
Michael Savvides
We believe that there is much value to be gained from an SRC that works well for the good of the students and Da Vinci as a whole.
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President’s Dinner held for PhD students
The month of September reflects the magnitude of such accomplishments made by students as The Da Vinci Institute held their President’s Dinner for Doctorate graduates on Tuesday 16 September 2014. The event was held at short term insurance company Alexander Forbes Head office in Sandton, Johannesburg. The host of the evening was Group CEO of Alexander Forbes and President of The Da Vinci Institute, Mr Edward Kieswetter. The dinner took the form of an intimate dinner with tables situated around the trees in the reception foyer of the beautiful building. The event was attended by Da Vinci’s sixteen PhD graduates with their partners, the respective academic and field supervisors, Da Vinci management team and Council members. The highlight of the evening was the attendance of eight PhD graduates who had travelled from Zimbabwe and joined in the celebration of finally reaching this point in their learning journey. Gauteng Opera, an all-round performing arts and entertainment company with specialities in opera productions provided the entertainment for the evening. The evening neared its conclusion with student speeches from Dirk Taljaard and Elizabeth Mamukwa who shared some of their insights from their learning journey. They spoke of their challenges and shared how they overcame their obstacles. Each PhD student and their partner was called up to receive a Da Vinci gift which was handed over by Professor Bennie Anderson (CEO of The Da Vinci Institute) and Professor Roy Marcus (Chairman of The Da Vinci Institute). Mr Edward Kieswetter in closing shared the following advice…. “You don't have to be GREAT to get STARTED, but you have to get STARTED to be GREAT! Why not get STARTED today?”
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The Annual Graduation Ceremony The Annual Graduation ceremony was held on Wednesday 17 September 2014 at The Linder Auditorium at the Wits Education Campus. It was a grand ceremony attended by over 600 guests. A total of 215 graduates were proudly acknowledged with 182 undergraduates and 33 post graduates. 17 students received their MSc, and 16 received the PhDs. One remarkable story was that of Professor Johann Coetzee and son Jan Andries Coetzee who were conferred and received their PhD degrees together at the graduation. The momentous occasion saw Gauteng Opera sing Gaudeamus Igitur in the academic procession. Two trumpeters and two drummers lead five banner carriers and Council members on to stage. Ms Jean Grundling, Academic Development Manager was the Master of Ceremonies and announced all the students on to the stage. Mr Mahlubi Mabizela, Chief Director: University Education Policy and Development Support, Department of Higher Education and Training delivered a speech at the Graduation Ceremony. His speech reflected on the learning journey of a student, “Nothing comes easily in life: that, to me is one of important lessons in life. “ Dr Wynand Goosen, a Da Vinci alumnus presented the alumni address and welcomed graduates to become part of the Alumni Association.
Mr Sechaba Motsieloa, Chairman of
Council congratulated the graduates and dissolved the congregation. Well done to our 215 graduates, The Da Vinci Institute is so proud of you.
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The Da Vinci Institute will be closed for the holiday season from 12 December 2014 and will re-open on 5 January 2015. We would like to take this opportunity in thanking you for your hard work, passion and positive energy that you have displayed towards Da Vinci during this year. We wish you and your family a happy holiday season. Storm Thomas Manager: Communications