CAREERS SA - Thutong

getting you set for the future

Careers sa

western cape eDItIOn 2018/19

Prosperity through Partnership

https://twitter.com/isetcareerssa

https://www.facebook.com/shikinahmedia/

The 2018 edition of the Cape Town International Film Market and

Festival will take place from October 9th – 19th 2018 at venues across the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.

For this year’s Industry Program (the full details of which can be found at www.fi lmfestival.capetown), the CTIFMF has made a concerted effort to focus on outcome driven programs with tangible results that will benefi t both

emerging and experienced fi lmmakers and industry professionals.

The 4-day program offers an array of skills development master-classes, highly informative panel discussions, and intense and engaging networking opportunities. With an eye to the CTIFMF’s themes of CREATE, COLLABORATE, CELEBRATE, the

industry program is a unique opportunity for people looking to get into the world of fi lm production to get a hands-on sense of the diversity of opportunities within the space and to learn about these opportunities from a

range of experts.

The various sessions include experts from the South African context, from across Africa with

strong representation from Kenya and Nigeria, and from further afi eld, industry talent from Brazil,

Canada (TIFF), the UK, Germany (Berlinale), France (Cannes), and the USA.

Highlights of the 4 days include panel discussions on topical and relevant issues such as the importance of emerging technologies within the industry. An space for audience to experience VR at its best will also be on display.

A comprehensive session on VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality), as well as the importance of crypto currencies and blockchain, will include experts Brian Afande, (Black Rhino VR Kenya) Ingrid Kopp (Electric South), Toni Caradonna, (Ethereum Movie Venture), and Karl Carter, (Snake Nation, USA). Toni will also present a separate Masterclass focusing on block chain and cryptos for Dummies.

Within the focus on tech and digital, there is also a look at web-series with case studies that will include producers in this space such as, Dorothee Wenner - Kinshasa Collection and Kelly-Eve Koopman - Coloured Mentality.

Various other sessions such as the Meet the Makers series will provide various perspectives and “behind-the-scenes” insights into iconic and successful African fi lms. These sessions will cover themes such as Performance, Visual Style, Lo-Fi, Children Content, Documentaries and Local / Global Success.

THE CTIFMF:GET CONNECTED TO THE BUSINESS OF FILM

www.fi lmfest.capetownV&A Waterfront9 - 19th Octoberwww.fi lmfest.capetownV&A Waterfront9 - 19th October

FILMMARKET&FESTIVAL

THE

2018

ED

ITIO

N

CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL

CREATE COLLABORATE CELEBRATE

FULL MARKET PASSES

4 day market pass Incl. screenings: R750

4 day market pass Excl. screenings: R500

4 day market pass (student) Incl. screenings: R400

4 day market pass (student) Excl. screenings: R350

DAY PASSES:

Per day (10 or 11 or 12 or 13 Oct) Incl. screenings: R250

Per day (10 or 11 or 12 or 13 Oct)Excl. screenings: R200

For more information: WWW.FILMFESTIVAL.CAPETOWN

GET YOUR TICKETS SOON TO AVOID MISSING OUT

w e s t e r n C a p e 2 0 1 8 / 1 9

contents16

58Publisher - Calvin PillayEditor – Nicky Attenborough Creative Department – Mark Rust – [email protected] Advertising – Phillip Mostert – 073 236 7215 – [email protected] Accounts and Admin – Althea Pillay – [email protected]: +27 21 788 1580Fax: 27 86 613 0599 Email: [email protected] Website: http://shikinahmedia.co.za

MISSION STATEMENTTo be the leaders in enabling the local and national publishing and educational institu-tions to deliver online career opportunities and material to all high-school learners across the country.DISCLAIMERAll rights reserved. Reproduction of this magazine in whole or in part thereof is prohibited without prior written permission of the publisher. The views expressed herein are those of the writers exclusively and not necessarily the views of the editor. Shikinah Media CC cannot be held responsible for perceived errors in advertisements or any consequences thereof.©

0 4 I s e t C a r e e r s s a

InternatIonally recognIsed and qualIty certIfIed engIneerIng apprentIceshIp traInIng.

D E N E L T E C H N I C A L A C A D E M Y

Denel Technical Academy (DTA) is a highly recognised and reputable Apprentice Training and Advance Type Training Academy. DTA offers training in aircraft maintenance and other general engineering trades. The relationship between Denel Aviation and Denel Technical Academy ensures that apprentices have proficient experience in the aviation industry. This is done through an integration of experience in the workplace and the theoretical learning institution. Denel Technical Academy employs experts and highly experienced instructors to produce artisans who are able to compete on the global stage.

Atlas Road, Kempton Park, 1619, Gauteng, RSAT: +27 11 927 4465 | F: +27 11 927 2361 | E: [email protected] | W: www.deneltraining.com

AVIATION TECHNICAL TRAINING:

• Aircraft Avionician• Aircraft Electrician• Aircraft Instrument Mechanic • Aircraft Radiotrician• Aircraft Mechanic• Aircraft Structural Worker

ENGINEERING TRADE TRAINING:

• Electronics • Machine Tool Millwright• Toolmaker & Jigmaker• Turner & Machinist• Welder• CNC Training

APPROVALS & ACCREDITATIONS

• South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA)

• Approval No. ATTC 004 & AC 002• The local Training Authorities.

InternatIonally recognIsed and qualIty certIfIed engIneerIng apprentIceshIp traInIng.

D E N E L T E C H N I C A L A C A D E M Y

Denel Technical Academy (DTA) is a highly recognised and reputable Apprentice Training and Advance Type Training Academy. DTA offers training in aircraft maintenance and other general engineering trades. The relationship between Denel Aviation and Denel Technical Academy ensures that apprentices have proficient experience in the aviation industry. This is done through an integration of experience in the workplace and the theoretical learning institution. Denel Technical Academy employs experts and highly experienced instructors to produce artisans who are able to compete on the global stage.

Atlas Road, Kempton Park, 1619, Gauteng, RSAT: +27 11 927 4465 | F: +27 11 927 2361 | E: [email protected] | W: www.deneltraining.com

AVIATION TECHNICAL TRAINING:

• Aircraft Avionician• Aircraft Electrician• Aircraft Instrument Mechanic • Aircraft Radiotrician• Aircraft Mechanic• Aircraft Structural Worker

ENGINEERING TRADE TRAINING:

• Electronics • Machine Tool Millwright• Toolmaker & Jigmaker• Turner & Machinist• Welder• CNC Training

APPROVALS & ACCREDITATIONS

• South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA)

• Approval No. ATTC 004 & AC 002• The local Training Authorities.

54 Senior Scientist SAMRC Q+A

56 Specialist Surgeon Q+A

58 Out-of-this-World

60 NASA Deputy CTO Q+A

64 Living Maths Space Tour

66 Top Achievers 2017

ENGINEERING68 Engineers Develop Smart

Material70 Q&A: Engineer (Mintek)72 Q&A: Head: Process Control

(Mintek)

76 Civil Engineer Q+A

78 Design Engineer Q+A

80 Electrician (Student) Q+A

82 Introducing the Centres of Specialisation (Cos)

Programme at Tvet Colleges

84 False Bay Tvet College

tEchNoloGy86 Researchers want to Teach

Computers to Learn like

Humans

88 French South African

Institute of Technology

90 Senior Engineer Q+A

92 Associate Professor

(Research) Q+A

96 Sadtu Gives Hope to Learners in Rural Areas

06 Western Cape MEC08 Forward10 Ed's note12 How to pass Matric12 Nelson Mandela 2018 Centemary

INNovatIoN16 2018 Innovation Trends

18 The Technology Innovation

Agency

22 Air Traffic Controller Q+A

26 Airline pilot Q+A

28 Combat Officer Q+A

30 Air Force HR Officer Q+A

32 Internal Sales & Customer

Service Reperesentative

Q+A

34 Master Mariner Q+A

38 Snr Lecturer UNISA Q+A

40 Associate Professor UNISA Q+A

42 Senior Lecturer School of Computing UNISA Q+A

44 Doctoral Candidate UNISA Q+A

48 Life Orientation

ScIENcE50 Ten Tips to Prepare for

a Career in Science and

Technology

52 Doctor SAMRC Q+A

I s e t C a r e e r s s a 0 7

M e s s a G e

t he subject decisions that young people make at school are important for their post-school options. choosing a career is

incredibly important, and requires matching interests with skills, strengths and capabilities. ensuring that our learners develop these skills and choose the right subjects for the careers that interest them is of the utmost importance.

It is very frustrating if, once a learner completes their schooling, they find that they do not have the requisite subjects they need for their chosen course of study, or if they study further and then discover they are unable to make a living or find employment.

we are educating for the purpose of empowering our young people to be productive members of society. we want them to have the right skills to find jobs that are available or to start their own businesses.

to achieve this, we need to ensure that learners develop critical skills that they need for the 21st century.

we know that we are living in a rapidly changing world. we know that many of today’s jobs will be automated soon or simply won’t exist. we also know that people do not generally have one career for a lifetime anymore and that many of the jobs we have to prepare our learners for do not yet exist. preparing a child for a world that does not exist is a difficult task for any teacher. we therefore, need to ensure that learners have the critical skills needed to survive and succeed in any world.

Learners must be able to adapt, survive and flourish in a rapidly changing world. the skills they need include what we call the four “cs”, namely:• creativity• critical thinking• communication, and• collaboration

a Hanover research analysis also identifies a second tier of important skills – Flexibility and adaptability, Global and cultural awareness, Information Literacy

and Leadership. these are the skills that are regarded as essential for a person to be able to be economically active in the 21st century.

In addition to career guidance and developing critical skills such as the four cs, we need to equip our learners with future skills in order for them to maximise opportunities when they leave school. It is essential in the modern economy to be computer literate, and many jobs are and will be needed in the field of technology in the future.

One of the western cape Government’s strategic priorities is to ensure that learners are ‘digitally literate’. we have identified eLearning as a game changer that will help to level the playing fields in education in the western cape, and will help to ensure quality education in every classroom in every school.

we believe it is a game-changer because it will enable all our learners –and teachers - to access modern technology and in so doing more easily access a variety of resources that would otherwise not be available to them.

I am also passionate about technical and vocational education. we are short of some critical skills in these areas, whilst at the same time have an extremely high youth unemployment rate. we need to promote technical skills and artisanship far more and rectify some of the negative perceptions that many people still hold regarding these noble professions.

as a Government, we must strive to create a ladder of opportunity that young people can use in order to become productive and employable adults with brighter futures so that we break the cycle of poverty that still exists in far too many of our communities.

I believe that through career guidance, we can teach our learners far more about what careers are available, and also which ones provide better opportunities for employment or entrepreneurship.

It is also vital that we concentrate on

empowering our young people to become employers themselves or to be able to run their own small business so they can provide for themselves and their families.

Globally it has been proven that countries that cultivate entrepreneurial support have reaped the benefits in their economy, boosted investors’ confidence, and increased job creation. In addition, they have also reduced crime, uplifted the living standards of citizens and contributed to a stable community development.

the world, africa, south africa and the western cape are facing many different challenges which require creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and excellent communication to deal with them. these include on-going, grinding and increasing crime, unemployment and poverty.

these are also features of the 21st century, which pose specific challenges for education in south africa and the continent as a whole.

supporting learners in developing critical and well as future skills will assist them in making well-informed choices about their futures, which can lead to them having a more optimistic outlook on life, sense of purpose and a greater level of contribution that they make to their families and society. I would therefore, like to commend Iset careers sa on this informative publication.

working together as a nation in navigating the right education for the careers of our learners could help build a country of substantially reduced social ills such as poverty, unemployment and crime. Thank you.

Debbie SchäferMinister of Education in the Western Cape.

Message froM Minister schäfer

F O r e w O r D

The

majoriTy of

SouTh african

learnerS,

parTicularly

low-

income and

youTh lack

foundaTional

SkillS and

knowledge

in Science,

Technology,

engineering,

and

maThemaTicS

for the Learners

J ob opportunities in Innovation, science, engineering and technology (Iset) sectors are growing fast. But too few of our

high school graduates are ready for university, college or careers in steM areas. “the majority of south african learners, particularly low-income and youth lack foundational skills and knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics”. employers report a shortage of talent for steM-specific jobs in areas such as healthcare that require “basic steM competencies.” these gaps have broad implications. they limit not only individual prospects for postsecondary credentials and family supporting work they also limit local provincial and national prospects for a competitive economy and a vibrant society.

the demands of 21st-century higher education and the 21st-century workplace require “21st-century skills.” the ability to memorize facts and procedures in the areas most commonly tested will be useless without the ability to apply knowledge and skills within and across disciplines.

Like the term “college and career readiness,” the term “21st-century skills” has been defined in many ways. However,

21st-century “competencies” are crucial for success in education, life and work, and the degree to which they are incorporated into new national standards.

skills should be organised into three clusters – cognitive, interpersonal and intrapersonal – that include competencies such as critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration and teamwork, and learning to learn.Implementing rigorous math and science standards across the country is an important part of preparing more students for steM college courses and careers. But it is not the only work to be done. schools across the country have essential roles to play in creating the infrastructure needed to promote lasting improvements. Issues to address include teacher quality, school leadership, learner supports, graduation requirements, and strong public/private and community partnerships.

reshaping teacher preparation and on-going professional development to provide meaningful training in steM subjects is one of the key changes required. refocusing school leaders to support teachers trying out new curriculum and instructional techniques is also critical. Finding ways to provide equitable opportunities and effective instruction for historically disadvantage learners from different income backgrounds and ethnic groups will be crucial to closing achievement gaps. providing learner supports such as specialized services, dual enrolment programs, and career planning advice are necessary to motivate a broad range of young people. Graduation requirements must include sufficient steM coursework.

establishing broad-based partnerships can bring together education, business, and community representatives to advocate for the changes noted above and other reforms that will lead to college and career readiness. Thank you.

Calvin Pillay Founder and Publisher ISET CAREERS SA


Department of Basic Education website

HERE’S HOW:

The newspaper

Your high school

Your cellphone

Make a call

Click here: http://www.education.gov.za/MatricResults/ExamResults/tabid/175/Default.aspx

Enter your: - Exam number- Home language- Personal details (name, surname etc) NB: THESE ARE NOT THE

FULL RESULTS!

They will just state whether or not you passed and with what symbol you passed – B for Bachelors Pass, D for Diploma, etc.

Matric results are published in all of the big Newspaper brands, such as:

to get your results directly from the department.

You will get your results via sms as soon as the department releases the results.

Two days a�er the initial results are released, your school will

give you your results.

This is not the o�icial matric certificate, it is just your results for each subject.

SMS your exam and ID number to 35658

DBE

Hi

View your results!

1

2

3

THE RAPPORT

THE ARGUS

THE STAR

NEWS24 (ONLINE)

DIAL

082 152

There is a once-o� cost of R3 when you register

HOW TO CHECK YOUR MATRIC RESULTS 101:

Powered by:

www.eduone.co.za

e D ' s n O t e

We are very excited to publish our WesterN cape 2018 issue of ISET CarEErS Sa! this digital publicatioN has beeN specifically desigNed to help prospective studeNts succeed iN their oNliNe eNdeavours as they iNvestigate career choices.

WeLcoMe

I t is my sincere pleasure to welcome you once again to Iset careers sa, a leading-edge online education solution, created to help equip Grade

8 - 12 learners for careers in the new knowledge economy.

Iset careers sa, the fastest growing online magazine in conjunction with the provincial education Departments of south africa are spearheading a national career guidance platform to maximise career opportunities to our learners. these career guidance and Q&a’s help learners acquire the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to identify options, explore alternatives and succeed in society. these careers better prepare learners for the changing workplace of the 21st century.

career guidance has always been important but only recently, got the recognition it deserves. earlier, people

sought out career counsellors, for a change in careers, only after they got a job and were unhappy with it. now, people recognize that this isn’t ideal. what is noteworthy is to consider why people change careers.

It doesn’t take much thinking to understand that someone who does that was never convinced of what career they should take. such a decision usually stems from school. Many learners make career choices based on the most picked career among their peers. they don’t, for once, consider what they like until it’s too late.

picking a career usually comes after picking a course. If a learner doesn’t pick the right course, it would inadvertently affect their career choice. a recent study showed that 1 in 3 learners are unhappy with the course that they picked. that is nearly half a million dissatisfied university students! such figures only point to one

clear truth - the importance of career guidance in schools.

Decisions made in High school often make or break a learner’s career. experienced career counsellors are trained to understand students thinking and their potential. Once a learner’s potential is understood, the counsellor is able to guide the learner to the best career suitable for him/her and help them make the decisions that ensure career success.Learners want to be successful and they don’t mind getting help. they may feel shy at first or think it’s weak to take help, but it is our responsibility to help them build strong careers. Having a career counselling cell in schools is the first step in doing that. It is a great first step indeed.

nicky attenborougheditor

deciSionS

made in high

School ofTen

make or break

a learner’S

career.

experienced

career

counSellorS

are Trained To

underSTand

STudenTS

Thinking and

Their poTenTial.


I always wondered

why somebody didn’t do something about that…

Then I realised…

I AMSOMEBODY

that can make adifference

Free from Vodacom, MTN & Cell C Networks and all Telkom Landlines

Call the Childline Tollfree Number

08000 55 555

Online CounsellingYou may chat to an online counsellor on our website: www.childlinesa.org.zaby clicking on the “Chat to a Counsellor” button. This will take you into a new screen where you will chat to a trained and experienced counsellor.Chats are instantaneous, private and confidential (unless we feel you are in danger,or need further help).We are a D/deaffriendly service

Chatrooms are openMonday to Friday 2-6pm

Email:[email protected]

HOW TO PASS MATRIC:

CONCENTRATE IN CLASS

TAKE NOTES

SUMMARIZE DEM NOTES

DRAW UP A STUDY PLAN

STICK TO IT!

Check out the full article on EduConnect: https://educonnect.co.za/how-to-pass-matric/

PLAN STUDY SESSIONS WITH FRIENDS

GET INFORMED

STOP CRAMMING

Manage your time properly.

Sleep 8 hours so that you’re not tired during the exam and have a clear mind to remember what you studied.

This will ensure your brain has fuel to write your exam.

Pace yourself and work methodically through the exam.

Even if you are unsure about how the exam went, celebrate having completed your exam.

Pack spare supplies in case you run out during the exam.

Remember to get out for some fresh air and exercise.

Create a calendar or roster that reflects all the days of your study break. Leave enough space to make notes on each of the days.

Download a FREE study plan by clicking here:https://3mi2wy3arf4n3ge2uzb86do3-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Matric-Study-Planner.pdf

This is key. When you plan your time, you will see how easy it is to be productive and have fun.

Stay focused on the end goal – to pass your exams.

Take notes in class and talk to your teacher if you don’t understand a concept.

We are better together. This will make the process of revising much easier and more fun.

Then use these summarised notes to study o of during exams.

Make sure that you know exactly when your exams are and how long you have to prepare for them.

Fuel your brain and body with good food and lots of water instead.

An apple will help to sustain your energy levels and keep you focused.

It’s worth the sacrifice when you pass your exams.

DON’T HIBERNATE

STICK TO HEALTHY FOODS & SNACKS

LAY OFF THE SUGARY ENERGY DRINKS

MINIMIZE YOUR DISTRACTIONS

GO TO BED

EAT A HEALTHY BREAKFAST

BACK YO’SELF UP

TAKE A BREATHER

CELEBRATE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS

Make your holiday work for you

2Studying

3Exam time!

41

Stay focused

I t is a great honour to join you in celebrating the contribution which our award winners have made to our people`s quality of life. this ceremony

highlights the role of education in realising our goals as a nation.

at the outset I should confess my delight at the impact these awards are beginning to make in the educational fraternity. For the first time in three years, there is a marked increase in the number of entries.these entries and the unprecedented number of guests gracing this ceremony, from south africa and further afield, tell us that more people are joining hands in efforts to improve the quality of education, and to make it accessible to the majority of south africans.

they show that we are all beginning to recognise in the most practical way, that education is central to the success of a whole range of other human endeavours.Our own reconstruction and development effort, the renaissance of the entire continent and our successful interaction in the global village, depend largely on the progress we make in educating our populations.

In south africa the challenges are as stark as they are real. the recently compiled school register of needs provides us with hard and cold facts. the majority of our children, especially in rural provinces, still either do not have access to basic education or depend on institutions that lack the teaching media and equipment needed for effective learning and teaching.such conditions continue to hinder the progress of the campaign for effective Learning and teaching that we launched earlier this year. this campaign and the school Building program, are vital elements in government`s progress in dealing with the legacy of unequal distribution of resources.

Of course, try as it might, Government on its own cannot achieve our nation`s educational goals. we need to harness the

energies and resources of the whole nation.

It is precisely for this reason that we cannot repeat too often our appreciation of the role of business; non-governmental organisations and community organisations in the transformation of education.

Very encouraging too is the increasing participation of parents and students, in the management of our schools and tertiary institutions.

Government will continue to create the statutory framework to allow all stakeholders to participate meaningfully in policy formulation and in the education of our nation.

the power of education extends beyond the

development of skills we need for economic success. it can contribute to nation-

building and reconciliation. our previous system emphasised

the physical and other differences of south africans

with devastating effects. We are steadily but surely

introducing education that enables our children to exploit their similarities and common goals, while appreciating the strength in their diversity. We

need to educate our young people to become adults who cherish the values of respect

for women and children proclaimed in the national

Men`s March today.In short we need a system, as envisaged by curriculum 2005,that is geared to the realities of our country and the ideals of our people.

chairperson,

all efforts to improve our people`s access to education are noble. today we honour a

few of the most outstanding examples. we give deserved recognition to men and women who have made not only their communities, but the whole nation, proud; patriots whose selfless sacrifices have impacted positively on the lives of many; unsung heroes and heroines who sought neither glory nor recognition.

we present these awards as a pledge of permanent partnership. In honouring you tonight, we join thousands of workers who can now read and write thanks to your efforts; children who now have access to early childhood education facilities; and those whose special educational needs have been satisfied.

It is our fervent hope that these awards, and your educational projects, will inspire many more south africans to contribute to this critical aspect of nation-building.

Let us join hands, as government, business, nGO`s and communities.Let us work together to educate our nation!

I thank you.

1 4 I s e t C a r e e r s s a I s e t C a r e e r s s a 1 5

e D I t O r I a L

SpEECh by prESIdEnT nElSon MandEla aT ThE EduCaTIon afrICa, prESIdEnTIal and prEMIEr EduCaTIon awardS. 22 novEMbEr 1997

e D I t O r I a L

whaT’S nExT on nuI, vr, ar, daTa & vISualIzaTIon, bloCkChaIn and roboTICS?

George Krasadakis - product architect | Inventor | Innovation Lead-er. writing on Innovation and product Development; Views, ideas and opinions are his own.

t echnology is moving at an incredible pace. we live in an amazing era where things like autonomous cars, personalized

medicine and quantum computing are becoming real as we speak. artificial Intelligence, crypto-currencies, advanced automation, deep learning and concepts like Universal Basic Income are about to reshape our world — what an exciting era to live!

the years to come will bring impressive technological breakthroughs with massive impact on our lives, markets and societies. In our connected world, with the unprecedented level of information, knowledge and ideas exchange,

who is asking, and thus the Da is able to retrieve older sessions, questions asked and answers served, general patterns and implicitly-stated preferences and interests. this will allow the Digital assistant to, not only better handle the particular question, but also to orchestrate a meaningful dialogue with certain optimization objectives. Voice-driven, advanced personalization experiences will be the next big thing in smart homes, smart cars and connected open spaces.at the same time, haptic offers significant opportunities for innovation. Haptic is about recreating the sense of touch by applying force feedback, vibrations, or motions to the user. start-ups like Lofelt develop such applications for gaming, ar, Vr, and entertainment while Ultrahaptics is working on ‘invisible touchless interfaces’. and this is where aI, natural User Interfaces, ar and Vr and touchless User interfaces based on Gesture recognition are all blended together in smart, innovative scenarios empowering end-users.

the combination of multiple signals from the environment and also data through natural user interfaces, creates significant opportunities for innovation. Imagine a system that knows who the persons in a room are, where they are looking at, applies sentiment analysis on the actual discussion, movements and arrangement dynamics, and make decisions on providing advanced, content-driven personalized experiences. and there are more senses for technology to digitize, synthesize and use in our real or augmented world experiences. artificial intelligence grows, computer scientists have unveiled a set of algorithms able to predict the odour of different molecules based on their chemical structure. applications could range from marketing, Vr, rich content, up to a re-designed airport security strategy.

2vIRtual REalIty

the Vr technology is exploding. so are the

opportunities for innovative experiences, use-cases and products. content

creation for Vr is a great opportunity with significant startup activity worldwide.

Vr start-ups are working across multiple domains and business scenarios, including e-commerce, gaming, social

applications, learning and education, healthcare, online Vr environments and more. the next few years will bring impressive progress on all Vr hardware, applications and

Vr content.

3Augmented ReAlityaugmented reality is what we get

when physical and digital worlds blend into a single experience. typical examples are Microsoft , HoloLens and Google Glass. again, this is an area that will grow rapidly as the opportunity for innovation is unlimited. content experiences, content discovery, data exploration and visualizations, intelligent and contextual object annotation, dynamic physical world mapping and discovery, industrial applications for field workers are just some examples of the applications which will empower the ways we understand our world.

4AnAlytics And VisuAlizAtion

Data availability has exploded, modern corporations have access to vast amounts of complex data, both internal and from the public domain. the breadth and depth of data available require new ways to summarize, visualize and present data. novel ways to experience data and insights could involve intelligent interactive synopsis and ‘data navigation’ systems, Vr and ar experiences, voice-driven insights discovery and ‘personalized data exploration’ scenarios. I do believe that there are great new ways to visually browse and understand data, discover and

explore hidden structures, trends and patterns.

5BlockchAinBlockchain is one of the most disruptive

technologies out there. It’s distributed, decentralized and immutable properties make it the ideal way to store and track data across numerous domains and use cases. I see significant new applications and novel scenarios beyond crypto-currencies and fin-tech. start-ups are already working on novel concepts that make sense to leverage blockchain. In the years to come, some of these will disrupt social, government and even political aspects of our world.

6RoBoticsrobots are already here, in one form

or another. regardless the particular class — humanoids, nano-robots, military, industrial etc. the progress is impressive. On one hand, it is the advances in terms of hardware, sensors and operating software, on the other hand it is the progress of artificial Intelligence which makes possible to integrate cognitive services and dramatically increase robot’s capabilities for real-time decision making. In the near future, we will start to meet robots with proactive behaviours, advanced context understanding, able to adapt to human sentiment, enforce ‘personalities’ and communication styles.

technology innovation can take many forms — for instance, novel software implementing new algorithms and data processing models or new hardware components (sensors, processors, components) or improved user interfaces offering seamless experiences. It can also happen at a higher level, in the form of new processes, business models, monetization engines etc.

and this is the real opportunity for the developers out there to combine all latest technologies and advances and build unique user experiences, empowering their end-users to leverage reusable ap and the capabilities of cloud computing. the rich content available in the public domain, the knowledge, the ideas and even the global connected communities make an impact by solving major problems in novel ways.

innovation is happening continuously and in several forms. It is driven by corporations, secret labs, universities, start-ups, research scientists or simply by thousands of creative individuals across the globe.

It is not feasible to summarize the trends of technology and opportunities for innovation in a single article. Instead, I am listing the areas I find most exciting to watch — the most promising developments in the wider information technology spectrum.

1 nAtuRAl useR inteRfAces

It’s all about seamless experiences, voice-


driven interactions — not only voice commands but more advanced, natural dialogues and forms of communication combining multiple signals in meaningful, streamlined experiences. Imagine being in your smart home, asking your digital assistance to ‘provide more information about this’, where ‘this’ is resolved automatically by your Da using gaze analytics via connected cameras. this way your Da understands what you were looking at when you asked the question. then, using object detection algorithms concludes on the class of objects ‘this’ refers to empower a natural and intelligent response and a meaningful conversation development.

conversational experiences will become richer, more natural and effective. effective voice authentication is on its way. In the previous example, the system knows also

e D I t O r I a L

1 BAckgRound the concept of the “Four Houses” evolved from a combination of situations and energies within the technology and innovation space. the review of the tIa (IsD) strategy that started in 2017 considered results and strategy and determined that there should be a change in direction and adjustment in focus – hence the “curved road”. the four houses represent the four phases of development as well as the required level of “ critical thinking skills” needed for the successes of the strategy. this new “ecosystem” connected the four houses with a “Glass pipeline” that migrate the user from one level to the next. with the advent of the new “community colleges”, we were presented with a closed environment, from where the strategy could be implemented as a case study.

2 the fouR houses

houSE 1stimulate the social Base

“critical thinking skills L1-L4”

the social agenda of tIa requires the organisation to create a broad-based

opportunity for all members of society. In-house one the objective is to create instruments that stimulate and identify potential from young south africans. this stimulus is created by programs such as “critical thinking” development, on a mass scale. the output of House 1, is to identify potential innovators and entrepreneurs. It is important to distinguish between “business talent” and “innovation talent”. these two sources of potential are both needed in a successful tech business. Once the potential candidates have been developed, the process of House 2 is started. House 1 was activated in 2017 when the first round of critical thinking was defused in Four regions – Gauteng, western cape, Mpumalanga and Kwa Zulu natal. some of the project impact included:• established a

digital (skillzBook) and physical platform (colleges) from where the agenda of Innovation, technology and skills Development can now be defused.

• started an ongoing project of implementing a

digital infrastructure to connect, empower and capacitate all elements of the proposed community colleges so that there is easy access to deliver technology development.

• capacitating educators to deliver training with the aid of technology by providing an integrated, blended learning web application.

• capacitated facilitators and teachers, via a train the trainer program, on critical thinking skills, to roll out to all students.

• take education and learning to the

“fouR houses on A cuRVed

RoAd”

MISSIoNto facilitate the

translation of south Africa’s knowledge

resource into sustainable socio-economic opportunities.

among the instruments that tIa uses to support innovation is the Innovation skills Development program. the program is designed to strengthen the fundamental business skills required by technology entrepreneurs

the IsD offering is organised into the “Four Houses” model to accommodate various stages of development and needs.

“Four Houses on a curved road”

t hese goals are achieved by supporting the development and commercialisation of research outputs from higher education

institutions, science councils, public entities, private research institutions and enterprises and bringing them to market. the ultimate goal of tIa is to use south africa’s science and technology base to develop new industries, create sustainable jobs and help diversify the economy.

vISIoNto be a leading

technology innovation agency that stimulates

and supports technological innovation to improve the quality of life for all south Africans.


ThE TEChnology InnovaTIon agEnCy

(TIa) an EnTITy of ThE dEparTMEnT of

SCIEnCE and TEChnology ThaT waS

ESTablIShEd for ThE purpoSES of EnablIng

and SupporTIng TEChnologICal

InnovaTIon aCroSS all SECTorS of ThE

EConoMy In ordEr To dElIvEr SoCIo-

EConoMIC bEnEfITS for SouTh afrICa and

EnhanCE ITS global CoMpETITIvEnESS.

critical thinking is further developed to include:• Define and understand applied critical

thinking.• Define and understand applied creative

thinking• Define and understand applied

analytical thinking• Identify and interpret different

worldviews in a business context• Define contexts and position business,

staff and products accordingly • Identify and use different thinking

modes depending on the situation • apply effective systems thinking

models• analyse and solve advanced problems

using critical thinking• Making business decisions using critical

thinking

On this level, the business must be ready to scale towards at least a national level. this includes:• an approved growth strategy• continuous improvement and clear

demonstration if learning a culture• active growth in number f people

employed• clear market and product development

strategies

houSE 4 –“enterprise Development

Programme”

the output of House 3, delivers the input for House 4. However, none of the houses are “exclusive” processes. In all cases, a lower house must plan for the process to follow in all higher houses. For example, in House 1, we should consider the long-term impact of a business, the saleability, the eventual exit plan. In House 4, the objective is to develop a strategy to optimise value. Issues to address include corporate structure, governance, shareholding and issues like earning per share, price earning ratio’s and so forth. How to sell a business versus how to start one, is a different skill…. House 4 is about making sure we unlock maximum value. a business in House four must qualify as a “saleable business”. this requires sound governance on all levels and a business that can continue once the founders are

no longer part of the scene. critical thinking on this level requires:* applied strategic skills* Foresight, Innovation* application of Foresight tools* ecosystem development * Integrative thinking models* sustainability Models

the strategic approach is to implement the first projects according to the specific process and at the same time train the trainers on the specific projects. the overall objective is to make a significant contribution to the advancement and enrichment of technologies and the effect they will have on technology start-up business enterprises. these effects may be defined as:a. Speed: the ability to respond

quickly to customer or market demands and to incorporate new ideas and technologies quickly into products.

b. Consistency: the ability to produce a product that unfailingly satisfies customers’ expectations.

c. Acuity: the ability to see the competitive environment clearly and thus to anticipate and respond to customers; evolving needs and wants.

d. Agility: the ability to adapt simultaneously to many different business environments.

e. Innovativeness: the ability to generate new ideas and combine existing elements to create new sources of value.


students, via a community college structure that operates face-to-face as well as online, thus truly creating open learning.

houSE 2 teams, technology & Plans

the objective of House 2 is to use the potential identified in House 1 and develop teams, with a few to creating business structures. these teams are developed with an eco-system consisting of coaching, Mentoring, Formal programs and a strong focus on critical thinking skills. the output of the House 2 is a fully functioning, “incubatable” business with a team, ready to be coached, mentored and developed. On this level, critical thinking skills requirements include:• Define and understand critical thinking• Define and understand creative

thinking• Define and understand analytical

thinking• Identify and understand different

worldviews• Develop contextual awareness of your

life• Identify and use different thinking

modes • Define and understand systems

thinking• Define and solve problems using critical

thinking• Making decisions using critical thinking

houSE 3 –“techno-preneur

Programme”

In House 3, the identified businesses are incubated. In this phase the marketing, scaling and profitability of the organisation need to grow. a team of experts is to assist the enterprise development and create a business that is profitable. the issue of sustainability, market development, strategy, medium to long-range planning and risk analysis is highlighted at this stage. the output of House 3 is a business that is ready for private equity investment. On this level,

Qa&

The world of aTc

requireS a perSon

ThaT can Think on

Their own, haS The

abiliTy To remain

calm, aT all TimeS, be

adapTive To whaT iS

happening and be able

“ To Think ouT of The

box”.


What factors influenced you to choose this career path?after finishing school, I did not have a clear idea of where I wanted to go but knew it was somewhere in aviation. I completed 2 years national service, in the sa air Force, and had the opportunity to have a good look at the various aspects of aviation and decided that I wanted to go into the world of air traffic control. It was a fast developing and evolving aspect of aviation and provided me with the opportunity to get involved in aviation.

What kind of education, training or background does your job require?the world of atc requires a person that can think on their own, has the ability to remain calm, at all times, be adaptive to what is happening and be able “ to think out of the box”.

with that in mind, one needs a good basic education. a grade 12 pass is required to be able to enter the field of atc. no specific subjects are required, but it would be advantageous to have english as a subject. the reason for this is that it is one of the preferred worldwide means of communications between atcs and pilots.

to a lesser degree, mathematics and geography are highly recommended. One needs to have a very good understanding of the airspace you are controlling and managing, so it would be advantageous to understand how the land is laid out –where the major airports are, high ground is, and any aspect of the land which could influence your controlling.

Mathematics is recommended, as many of the required separations between aircraft are either speed or time based, so this helps in calculating the required separations and ensuring that they are maintained, to ensure a safe and orderly

AiR tRAffic contRolleR

Rob RuSSEll

passing of traffic information. Management of aircraft and vehicles on the ground is another important aspect of aerodrome control. i.e. getting the aircraft safely to and from the runway, prior to departure or after landing. Various aids can be available to assist here i.e. ground radar, which can be very useful in foggy conditions, or a touchdown indicator which shows you how far the landing aircraft are from touchdown.

3. Approach control. this service involves the sequencing of

aircraft into, and on departure, from airfields. Use of radar is made to assist the controllers here. It is normally done in the vicinity of airfields, for example up to about 30nm from the airfield and below 15000ft aGL. to assist the controllers which is made of sIDs and stars? these are published procedures in the form of standard Instrument Departures and standard arrival routes. these enable to pilots to plan their departures and arrivals and also cut down on the workload of controllers, as talking is reduced and the procedure is able to be pre-programmed into aircraft flight management systems. In busier airspace, it enables more aircraft to be safely handled and controlled. to assist in the planning, a traffic management system is often available. this is a computerized system, which takes into account the speed and performance of aircraft, as well as the prevailing weather and recommends to the controller the ordered aircraft should be landing. It assists in the optimum use of airspace, to ensure more aircraft can be safely handled.

the controller would primarily sequence the traffic onto final approach for the runway in use to ensure an orderly, safe and logical flow of traffic. they would also guide aircraft that have departed to the various points that enable the aircraft to safely get to their destination.

4. Area control this involves controlling the aircraft as

they move along the various air routes to and from their destinations and providing a linking service to the various approach control units

5. Flight information service. In areas of less dense traffic

movements, it is often better to have uncontrolled airspace, this allows the pilots more freedom of movement and


general aviation pilots to enjoy their sport. pilots will communicate with you and you will in turn, inform them of any conflicting and/or opposing aircraft. the pilots make use of this service to maintain their own separation from other aircraft. they also chat with other pilots in their vicinity to ensure that they fly safely and will keep you, as the information service, in the picture of what is happening.

What part of this job do you personally find most satisfying?The job is a very rewarding job – There are often periods that can be very demanding and stressful on a person and require the assistance of your colleagues on the shift at that time. So to handle all the aircraft safely and efficiently provides immense satisfaction. The satisfaction is from being able to do the job to the best of your ability, handle any situation that arises, in a calm manner. It is a true team effort and to work a shift with all your colleagues and manage the aircraft safely is very rewarding.

What has been the greatest challenge you have faced in your career to date?there have been many challenges over the years. One of the greatest challenges is to be able to remain up to date and current of new developments and how they are integrated into the field of atc. a lot of reading and self-studying is necessary after you have qualified to ensure you are aware of the various changes and developments.

as today to day challenges, these mainly involve aircraft that are in distress and have some sort of onboard emergency. the challenge is to be able to assist those pilots and also provide your normal service to other pilots at the same time. these situations can severely challenge a controller and often require a lot of thought and planning to assist the pilot.

What are the major qualifications for success in this occupation?I think the ability to remain calm at all times and also the ability to think out of the box are major qualifications. I had a great interest in developments in aircraft and spent a lot of time learning and understanding the performance of aircraft.

this enabled me to provide the best service I could to pilots at all times. One can never stop learning and this passion drives a person to aspire to greater success in the field of atc management

What particular skills or talents are essential to be effective in your job?the most important skill is the ability to understand the job and to be able to stay calm at all times. It is necessary to understand what is being achieved in the overall management of the traffic and being skilled enough to be able to handle any situation that may arise. as to talents, you need to be able to think logically, remain focused at all times and, when the situation arises, think out of the box. You have to be accountable for all your actions, so it requires a mature approach to the job and a high degree of understanding of aviation.

What advIcE Would you

offER lEaRNERS Who aRE

INtEREStEd IN puRSuING thIS caREER path?

you need to have a passion for all things

aviation. Plan your schooling career, from

an early date, to ensure you are doing the correct

subject choice. Accounting might be useful for those interested in economics,

but won’t help you in Atc. likewise, geography is a

necessary subject to assist you in the various aspects of Atc, i.e. assisting pilots

with navigation, but it doesn’t serve anyone who

flow of the air traffic under your responsibility.

the other two very important factors to take into consideration are an ability to think clearly and logically – i.e. common sense and also a passion for aviation and all things aviation. there are many aspects, of aviation, which are closely aligned with atc, i.e. ground handling, aircraft performance and airline operations, for example. a good understanding of how these all fall into the “big picture” of aviation make for an easier job of managing the air traffic. aviation is a fast evolving field and there are constant improvements and technological changes that are making flying safer and atc an easier job to do. so a good understanding of basic electronics and modern technology would also go a long way to ensuring a successful atc career.

What do you do? What are the duties/functions/responsibilities of your job?there are three main aspects of air traffic services. these are to: 1. provide a control service to controlled

flights in controlled airspace2. provide a flight information service to

flights that are operating in uncontrolled airspace and

3. provide an alerting service to all flights in need of assistance. In other words to offer any help and assistance to flights that have something wrong with them. this could be from some sort of onboard emergency or a pilot that is not sure of their position or a pilot that is requiring information about the serviceability of an airport or navigation aid, for example

air traffic control consists of 5 major services.1. A pre-flight briefing service. this service assists pilots in planning

their flight. It involves the briefing of pilots of unserviceabilities of airports or navaids, or anything that could affect the safe operation of their flight. It also involves taking the flight plan, so that the various units and functions are made aware of the flight

2. Aerodrome control. this is a service which is provided to

pilots in the vicinity of an aerodrome. It normally is done visually, i.e. looking out of the tower and providing visual separation from other aircraft and the

is interested in going into the world of economics! speak to controllers or

make use of the internet. suggested sites are www.caa.co.za or www.atns.co.za

What is the future of the field in terms of new and expanding opportunities?aviation is a fast developing industry. the days of speaking to aircraft over oceans via HF radio are fast coming to an end, for example. satellite technology is being used to make use of data links to manage aircraft in remote parts of the world. this is a relatively new field and for someone with an interest in the digital world, there are many opportunities to move into research and development of new systems. these can be in the form of satellite communication, navigation and surveillance techniques. systems are constantly being improved and upgraded to enable a more efficient and safer service.

What educational preparation would you recommend for someone who wants to advance in this field?One can never learn enough about aviation! I think a good background in english, Geography and mathematics is very important. a tertiary education is not really necessary, as all training is provided and is much specialised, however a good education at the secondary level is very important. the more education you can get at this level about aviation it will assist you greatly later on. reading about anything aviation will also greatly assist.

Who would you say has been the most help in your career? How did they help you?I have had the opportunity to work with some truly great controllers and pilots, over the 36 years I controlled. there are just too many to mention. controllers that come to mind are arthur Bradshaw and the late legendary robbie sinclair, who taught me the importance of discipline and the constant need to stay current and up to date on atc procedures. their passion for the job was unbeatable. as to pilots, I found it very necessary to

understand how they perform and used to spend hours chatting with them, to enable me to provide a better service. there are just too many pilots for me to mention here.

What sort of accomplishments tends to be valued and rewarded in this career?the reward of this job is to be able to complete a shift, often under trying circumstances, be it because of equipment problems or weather-related and be able to hand over to the next shift and know that you were able to complete you shift to the best of your ability and offer the most professional service you can to all the pilots. pilots value the best service they can get and want to know the controller is up to date on procedures, understand what they are trying to achieve and it is rewarding to see a safe, efficient and orderly flow of traffic at all times.

Can you suggest some ways a learner could obtain this necessary experience?Gaining experience in such a specialized field is very difficult. But by taking time to watch senior controllers at work, speak to them about situations and interact with your colleagues is invaluable. no two situations in atc are ever the same, but by having a passion for the industry and constantly wanting to improve yourself will enable you to provide the best service at all times. You must want to be the best you can be in all situations.

What exactly does the word ‘success’ mean to you?success to me means that I accomplished a goal that I set for myself. success doesn’t come easy and involves a lot of time, effort, and preparation. success also means learning from your failures.

to be successful in the job, as in others, you need to constantly want to improve and be better every day.

You never stop learning and you need to have a passion to want to be the best you can be and provide the best service you can. never aim for second best. It has to be the best. \

that to me is a success.

Qa&From commercial level, a pilot is now a professional pilot and can earn a living from this qualification. the highest level of license is the air transport pilot License (atpL), which is required to be a commander of an airliner. Besides the flying skills training required, theoretical examination needs to be completed with a pass-mark of 75%. the type of subjects would be, aircraft technical General, Flight planning, navigation, Instruments, Human performance, air Law, aerodynamics, to mention a few.

What do you do? What aRE thE

dutIES/fuNctIoNS/RESpoNSIbIlItIES of

youR job?Pilots need to operate the

aircraft, which they are licensed to fly safely from take off to landing at the

destination. We are required to work in a team and

exercise the principles of crew resource management (crM) during our operations. it is the responsibility of the

pilots to check if the weather conditions are suitable at both the destination and

an alternate is suitable for landing, assess the condition

of the destination and the alternate airports through

the briefing report called the notaMs (notice to airmen) and the technical conditions

of the aircraft. What part of this job do you personally find most satisfying?there’s nothing more exhilarating as when I advance the thrust levers for the takeoff and I hear the sound of the engines

spooling up. this is when butterflies in my stomach starts as we accelerate down the runway. at the right rotation speed, the call is made and I maneuver the side stick rearwards. at that very moment, the wheels lift off the ground and we are flying. after that, it’s just magic5. Question - what has been the greatest challenge you have faced in your career to date?

when I joined the aviation industry, my biggest challenge was to overcome the perception some people have of Muslim women and their ability. How I managed these perceptions and my reaction has been the biggest challenge to date.

What are the major qualifications for success in this occupation?the desire to be a pilot flows in your veins so the passion for flying, aeroplanes and the aviation industry may not be a qualification but it certainly is a key driver in making a success of a career as a pilot. personal health is also very important. pilots are required to be medically fit and have to be examined by an aviation medical examiner every year.

What particular skills or talents are essential to be effective in your job?Good hand-eye coordination, problem-solving and communication skills and command for the english language.

What advice would you offer learners who are interested in pursuing this career path?If you would like to pursue a career as a pilot, start today in showing interest, expose yourself to the industry by visiting an airfield close to you on weekends and join aviation clubs. there is so much that you can learn from others already in the industry before and while you pursue your career as a pilot. the training is costly but don’t let that deter you. we have all been through that challenge and most pilots swept hangars, washed aeroplanes and worked other jobs to ensure that they can pay for the pilot training. some may think it’s an impossible dream. You have the power to make that dream a reality!

What is the future of the field in terms of new and expanding opportunities?as we all know that technology is growing at an exponential rate in all industries. the aviation industry is no exception. aircraft


What factors influenced you to choose this career path?My career choices are influenced by my passion, my dreams and my desire to ensure that the next generation is empowered.

What kind of education, training or background does your job require?typically, pilots are trained at a flight school and obtain a license from the civil aviation authority in the country. there are three types of licenses. the first license or qualification is the private pilot License (ppL), which gives the pilot the privilege to fly recreationally. the next level of license is the commercial pilot License (cpL) and the final license is the airline transport pilot License (atpL).

AiRline Pilot (foundeR of sAkhikAmVA foundAtion)

fAtimA JAkoet

@fatimaj

systems, materials being used and the way pilots operate are changing. we’ve also seen in the past five years how the drone industry has grown. Drone pilots are in demand in virtually every industry from the agricultural to the film industry. we can also expect a demand for different skills set with pilotless aircraft in the near future.

What educational preparation would you recommend for someone who wants to advance in this field?the first step is to choose the right subjects at school. Mathematics and physical science would be a requirement for pilot training. It’s important that the content of aviation subjects are understood – this is important for the integration of theoretical knowledge and flying skills.

Who would you say has been the most help in your career? How did they help you?a pilot undergoes a steep learning curve. the ability to understand complex technical concepts and acquiring the skill of flying can be daunting initially. Finding a good mentor to seek advice and support is definitely a key to success.

What sort of accomplishments tends to be valued and rewarded in this career?there are so many! the first solo flight, the first time you fly a retractable undercarriage, your first time flying through clouds or at night, first jet engine aircraft, first time flying passengers, the list is long. Ultimately all pilots have a desire to become a captain (commander) of an aircraft, so I think that would be one of the biggest milestones and rewards of this career.

Can you suggest some ways a learner could obtain this necessary experience?while at school, I would suggest in looking for aviation clubs or start your own in your community. Have a look at the programmes that sakhikamva Foundation offers and visit their streaM Laboratory.

What exactly does the word ‘success’ mean to you?success means that I have set a goal, achieved the goal and anticipate that the goal post is about to shift, i.e. complacency is not an option.

Qa&What has been the greatest challenge you have faced in your career to date?I would say that going through basic military training and officers training.

What are the major qualifications for success in this career?combat qualifications and a tertiary institution qualification.

What particular skills or talents are essential in pursuing such a career?Leadership skills and to be able to follow.

What advice would you offer learners who are interested in pursuing this career path?You must have the resilience to finish what you started.

What is the future of the field in terms of new and expanding opportunities?I foresee a more active navy because of the blue economy initiative.

What educational preparation would you recommend for someone who wants to advance in this field?studying maths and science will become very handy in this career.

STudying maThS

and Science will

become very

handy in ThiS

career.


What factors influenced you to choose this career path?It’s the backbone of the south african navy corps.

What kind of education, training or background does your job require?Basic Military training, Officers training and combat training.

What do you do? What are your duties/functions/responsibilities?It is to navigate a ship and use it as a fighting platform.

What part of this career do you personally find most satisfying?to be an effective leader to my subordinates.

comBAt officeRESN t.I. MolokoMME

@ti_molokomme

Who would you say has been the most help in your career? How did they help you?My family; there are some tough times when you will need a shoulder to cry on.

Can you suggest some ways a learner could obtain this necessary experience?Volunteer for leadership positions.

What exactly does the word ‘success’ mean to you?Overcoming all the challenges I set for myself.

FACULTY OF MILITARY SCIENCE

POST GRADUATE PROGRAMMES

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES

Bachelor of Military Science (BMil) BMil in human and organisation DevelopmentBMil in organisation and resource ManagementBMil in Security and africa StudiesBMil in technologyBMil in technology and Defence ManagementBMil in Defence intelligence StudiesPost Graduate Diploma in Defence Studies

Apply through the Department of [email protected](012) 339 5726 - Brig Gen S. lekalakala(012) 339 5781 - col M.a.D. Mogotsi

Civilians and DOD members can apply for these courses at www.sun.ac.za/pgstudies

HONOURS DEGREES Bachelor of Military Science with honourS (BMilhonS)BMilhons in industrial PsychologyBMilhons in Military GeographyBMilhons in Military historyBMilhons in Military ManagementBMilhons in Military StrategyBMilhons in organisation and resource ManagementBMilhons in Public and Development ManagementBMilhons in Security and africa StudiesBMilhons in technology

MASTER’S DEGREESMaSter of Military Science (MMil)MMil in Military GeographyMMil in Military historyMMil in Military StrategyMMil in organisation and resource ManagementMMil in Security and africa StudiesMMil in technology

DOCTORAL DEGREES

Qa&What particular skills or talents are essential in pursuing such a career?You need to be able to communicate with people.

What advice would you offer learners who are interested in pursuing this career path?to pursue this career you need to do military training, I would advise them to first do proper research about the military before pursuing this career path.

What is the future of the field in terms of new and expanding opportunities?completing all my military functional courses as well as completing my honours degree.

What educational preparation


What factors influenced you to choose this career path?My love for the blue culture of the air Force and the obedience that is required within the Military.

What kind of education, training or background does your job require?the minimum requirement is a grade 12 Matric certificate.

What do you do? What are your duties/functions/responsibilities?My duties include the administrative work of the unit.

What part of this career do you personally find most satisfying?For me it will be working with people.

What has been the greatest challenge you have faced in your career to date?Leaving my family to complete my training was one of my most challenging decisions.

What are the major qualifications for success in this career?I would say you will need a degree in Human resources (Hr).

hR officeR

co lucReciA smit

would you recommend for someone who wants to advance in this field?It is nice to have a background in Human resources (Hr), however the military provides all the necessary training.

Who would you say has been the most help in your career? How did they help you?the most help I received in my career was the full support from my family.

Can you suggest some ways a learner could obtain this necessary experience?a diploma in Human resources (Hr) is easily obtainable through a University.

What exactly does the word ‘success’ mean to you?success to me means to reach all your personal goals you have set for yourself.

Qa&customers via email or telephone.

• Attending to customer service queries strategic towards enhancing customer experience and customer retention.

• Key accounts co-ordination between the local agents and overseas agencies.

• Cross-trade rates to customers and requesting through various trades lane pricing groups.

• Updating of special rate agreements negotiated and accepted.

• Daily telesales/canvassing for potential traffic and daily feedback on new business secured.

• Report back at Sales meeting on telesales calls, new traffic secured and market conditions.

• Securing and maintaining key accounts for portfolio build up.

• Reviewing capacity and firming up of bookings with local agency in order to maximise vessel capacity.

• Key accounts coordination between local agents and overseas offices.

What part of this job do you personally find most satisfying?there are always challenges and opportunities and there is nothing better than the feeling of closing a sales agreement that adds significant value to their company’s bottom line, knowing that your efforts had outbid your competition and helped your customer solve a business issue can be more rewarding than the magnitude of the profits earned.

What has been the greatest challenge you have faced in your career to date?shipping is a competitive industry and we are up against more competition than ever. the industry is also constantly changing. at times your role is based on complicated rate structures and the volatility of the market often makes it challenging to communicate structures – which obviously make it even harder to provide accurate and reliable quotations to customers.

What are the major qualifications for success in this occupation?If you are interested in working in the shipping environment, particularly in the sales & customer service, you must be prepared to work with people of different ethnic, culture and work ethics and have the foresight to handle situations in appropriate measures.

What particular skills or talents are

essential to be effective in your job?some experts believe that a person’s attitude, personality, and work methods are virtually the entire basis for professional success. to be successful in sales, you must be affirmative & shouldn’t take “no” personally. a sales and customer services representative should be someone who can naturally implement structure and prioritize tasks, must have aa eye for detail and accuracy. shipping, is a niche market so you also want to be a person who forms deeper bonds with others with true empathy and care for your clientele.

What advice would you offer learners who are interested in pursuing this career path?Find out what you are passionate about and drive this into your career. sales is a career which requires you to stay flexible and keep learning over time. It can be very tough for new salespeople to keep trying different things, it’s crucial to keep on learning and exploring, trying new techniques, and generally stretching your abilities.

What is the future of the field in terms of new and expanding opportunities?Shipping is evolving, like most other industries, transportation and logistics are confronting immense change. The industry is headed toward a more efficient way of functioning where tasks are digitalized. There are opportunities in areas of technological disruption that brings about positive change to the industry. This is seen as an open opportunity that brings about job creation and industry efficiency.

More in line with my current role in the sales and customer service environment, the first opportunity lies with managing customer expectations, customer service representatives should maximise intelligent use of technology through data analytics, to automation of monotonous tasks, all this information allows a more personalised approach to doing business and interacting with customers.

What preparation would you recommend for someone who wants to advance in this field?take an opportunity to volunteer in a sales


What factors influenced you to choose this career path?Durban is considered the largest and busiest shipping terminal in sub-saharan africa & living in an environment of this maritime hub has always sparked an enthusiasm for a career in the shipping industry. I initially had the ambition of becoming a shipping agent/ officer directly working in the port & terminals environment, I was given the opportunity to work on a project at Maputo port and realised that my skills would be better suited towards a career in the sales & customer service environment. naturally, my career path directed me towards a position as an internal sales and customer services at one of the largest shipping companies in the world.

What kind of education, training or background does your job require?I completed a national Diploma in Maritime studies at the Durban University of technology. this has been replaced with the Diploma in shipping and this with Logistics. this helped me to advance quicker faster than maritime colleges. the support received from DUt and the Department of Maritime studies has always been fantastic. working in the sales environment requires somebody who is passionate about customer service delivery and determination.

What do you do? What are the duties/functions/responsibilities of your job?as an internal sales representative, you are the first contact a potential client makes with your company, the Internal sales coordinator will be responsible for selling company products and services inbound, outbound calls and face-to-face counter sales. It entails the act of nurturing and turning leads into regular customers. My duties include the following:

• Daily quotations on rate requests from

inteRnAl sAles & customeR seRVice RePeResentAtiVe

jaSoN ZIMMERMaNN

and customer service environment and then streamline into a market that you could specialize in. It is better to master one thing than to be mediocre at a few things, once you have established yourself in a field, upskill and learn as much about that industry as you can. Gaining a tertiary education at a university like DUt launched me into a career in the maritime industry. I would highly recommend learning more about sales, Inter/Intrapersonal communication, customer service, persuasion and influence.

Who would you say has been the most help in your career? How did they help you?Lecturers who have inspired me motivated me and launched me in a career, in this industry. I am forever indebted for the support received.

What sort of accomplishments tends to be valued and rewarded in this career?work hard to master the skills you learn as a sales & customer service representative embrace the now and get acquainted with who have come before you, how the best stay the best, and how you will contribute to the profession. “adding value” can occur in many shapes and forms. new sales development reps add value by listening to prospects in the marketplace, reaching out to prospects when the time is right, and engaging prospects with relevant insights and ideas about them.

Can you suggest some ways a learner could obtain this necessary experience?Be open to opportunities that arise, this may arrive in the form of a volunteering or commission-based position that will help you to gain valuable experience. shipping is a niche industry and a good work ethic makes a positive impression in any situation, you never know who you bump into that could completely change your life.

What exactly does the word ‘success’ mean to you?naturally, we all want to be successful, some chase money, fame, power or receiving that prestigious job title, if we do not establish this answer personally we often end up pursue someone else’s version of success. success for me means having a positive impact on my colleagues making a positive difference in the lives of others and work environment, enjoying what I do, being ethical and fully engaged in what I’m doing.

Qa&


What factors influenced you to choose this career path?I was introduced to the idea of pursuing a career in maritime by a family friend who had heard of Marine engineering and thought I would be suitable for it. I was bent on doing a Bachelor of arts majoring in choreography but decided to give this maritime a try and I must say it’s become one of my greatest passions. I also ended up not doing engineering but pursuing my studies towards a Maritime studies qualification instead.

What kind of education, training or background does your job require?I’m a Ship Surveyor, which currently requires seagoing experience either on the navigational side or in the engine room side on a management level. Ideally, my job requires people who have completed their studies in the relevant field (Maritime Studies/ Nautical Studies/Marine Engineering/Mechanical Engineering with marine experience and knowledge) with a valid Certificate of Competency as either a Master Mariner or a Chief Engineer.

What do you do? What are the duties/functions/responsibilities of your job?I’m a ship surveyor which means my main function is to ensure the safety of lives at sea. In ensuring this there are many aspects to my job, I make sure that the vessels of all sizes operating in our waters are safe and seaworthy. I make sure the people are properly qualified. I conduct the examinations to ensure competency of the sea-going personnel and the institutions offering marine-related

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training are up to required standards. I also ensure that the seas remain unpolluted. all of this is done according to both national and international standards.

What part of this job do you personally find most satisfying?I have a great relationship with words so anything that requires writing, speaking or reading I’ve come to appreciate. Being able to teach other people about the industry and expose them to all parts of it so as to help them seize available opportunities has been one part that I find personally satisfying.

What has been the greatest challenge you have faced in your career to date?I have lived to see the advantage of being exposed to a career at sea and have difficulty when I witness others who were passionate about growing within the industry lose their interest as a result of lack of work opportunities. trying to expose youngsters to the good parts of the industry without creating an expectation has been my worst challenge thus far.

What aRE thE MajoR

QualIfIcatIoNS foR SuccESS

IN thIS occupatIoN?

currently, the requirements are a

national diploma in maritime studies/

nautical studies together with a minimum of 36

months of seagoing experience on any trading

vessels as a certified officer in charge of a

navigational watch oR 12 month’s seagoing experience as a chief

officer and lastly, a certificate of competency

as a master mariner. it would be a similar

requirement for those that have sailed in the

engineering department.

What particular skills or talents are essential to be effective in your job?we perform regulatory functions so being able to interpret regulations counts to one’s favour. Being honest, responsible, communicative and also to be open-minded and just generally open to constructive criticism are essential parts of the job. the technical aspect would require you to be healthy, have good vision and not be “colour blind”.

What advice would you offer learners who are interested in pursuing this career path?I’d advise them to take cognisance of what maritime is in its entirety and do as much research about it so as to be able to see what is available and appealing to them and study towards that. the industry is wide, a career in maritime may not necessarily mean following my line of work but that, too, is available to them through the Durban University of technology and the cape peninsula University of technology. and lastly, to ask people who are in the industry, I’ve found that a lot of people are open to mentoring youngsters, just take your chance through the available social media platforms but always exercise caution.

What is the future of the field in terms of new and expanding opportunities?there will always be a need for surveyors to ensure the safety of lives at sea and of vessels because we perform regulatory functions like your Metro police are on the roads, we are to the sea. Gaining as much relevant experience is to one’s advantage.

What preparation would you recommend for someone who wants to advance in this field?For those at sea, I would suggest they stay around to obtain at least the minimum required seagoing experience for a management level certificate of competency and for those who have not

yet started, I think they should prepare to spend around 10 years altogether gathering their seagoing experience to advance into a surveyor’s position.

Who would you say has been the most help in your career? How did they help you?I honestly do not have a single person I could pinpoint as I have found that engaging people and asking for help when I need it is of great importance. My lecturers, former colleagues, current colleagues, family and friends and generally people I engage with on a regular or even a once-off basis have proven to have been of great help to the advancement of knowledge in my career. But I do, somehow appreciate those that challenge me to be the most helpful as they help me see different perspectives of my job.

What sort of accomplishments tends to be valued and rewarded in this career?Integrity and of course, experience. there are obviously many other things but I think those matter the most.

Can you suggest some ways a learner could obtain this necessary experience?experience is obtained by being on the field and being exposed to the technical aspects of the industry at large. Integrity, however, is like, you either have it or you don’t.

What exactly does the word ‘success’ mean to you?success, for me, is slightly synonymous with purpose. I believe that if one has found their purpose in life and acts on it in the best way they know how they’ll have succeeded.

Qa&technology in 2017. I joined UnIsa in 2012 and currently a senior Lecturer in the Department of civil and chemical engineering. My research interest is in the application of nanostructured materials for water treatment and adsorption technology.

What aRE youR othER RESEaRch

hIGhlIGhtS (achIEvEMENtS)?

i was awarded the s2A3 bronze medal

in 2012 for the most outstanding research student in a scientific

subject graduating at the masters level at tshwane university of technology, as well as the certificate for academic excellence

by the faculty of engineering and the Built

environment in 2012. Best oral Presentation by a doctoral student at 4th international conference

on nanoscience and nanotechnology

2012 south African nanotechnology initiative

(sAni).

What inspires you? Lifelong learning and acquiring new knowledge inspires me. there are many women that I draw inspiration from in the science and technology as well as in academia. My desire to working hard to leave a positive imprint for the younger generation that is coming up in the future.

What challenges do you think are facing young women in Science,

Engineering and Technology or your field? Finding balance between family and career is quiet challenging. I would also say, the industry does not favor women with young children. networking in a male-dominated industry can also be a challenge.

What advice would you offer learners who are interested in pursuing your career path?they need to enjoy Mathematics and physical sciences and not be afraid of working hard. ask a lot of questions and be inquisitive.

Who would you say has been the most help in your career? How did they help you?My family has been my biggest support system. especially having young children that support plays a crucial role. also I would say my supervisor, professor Maurice stephen Onyango. He believed in my potential and he was able to shape my academic and research career.

What projects are you currently busy with? research projects in clay based filtration system for water treatment and photocatalytic degradation for water treatment. this includes application of clays for adsorption of metal contaminated waters and design of column filters for water treatment, as well as degradation of dyes in water.

Compiled by: Thembeka Ntuli-Mpapama

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Congratulations on your Ph.D., Tell us about this (what it focused on and the journey of completing it? I commenced her Doctoral degree: engineering chemical at the tshwane University of technology in 2012. the thesis was entitled, “performance evaluation of Magnetic polymer-Zeolite nanocomposite for adsorptive removal of contaminants from water” she describes this work reports on the preparation of zeolite-clay and zeolite-polymer based nanocomposites and their application in the remediation of water contaminated with metals. In particular, nanocomposites were examined to evaluate their performance for the removal of cr(VI), V(V) and Mn(II) in both batch and column experiments. the most significant contribution of the research was the development of a simple one-pot synthesis approach for producing zeolite-polymer and clay-polymer adsorbents. specific performance data using mining water was obtained which is believed to provide new opportunities to manage chromium contaminated mine waters. the results of this research have been presented at international conferences and published in peer-refereed journals.

Give us a brief educational background about yourself? I was born in KwaZulu-natal province in a town called newcastle (Osizweni). I completed my schooling at phofung senior secondary in tsheseng village in Qwaqwa and proceeded to obtain a national Diploma in chemical engineering from the Vaal University of technology in 2004. In 2008 I obtained a B-tech Degree in chemical engineering from the tshwane University of technology and Mtech (cum laude) was awarded in 2012. a doctoral degree (engineering chemical) was awarded at tshwane University of

snR lectuReR (dePARtment of ciVil And chemicAl engineeRing - unisA )

dR nomceBo mthomBeni

Qa&of producing Mathematics graduates is far-reaching, not only in increasing the intellectual capital of south africa and the world but in providing the skills and orientation for students in a wide array of science and engineering disciplines.

What has been the greatest challenge you have faced in your career to date?adjusting to the ODL mode of delivery. I have discovered that I have so much to learn, and that is both overwhelming and exciting.

What are the major qualifications for success in this occupation?Dedication, hard work, flexibility, willingness to learn from others.

What particular skills or talents are you bringing to CSET and Unisa?a wealth of experience in mentoring and supervision of students, a good research profile and ability to teach a wide spectrum of mathematics modules. each one of my degrees has been obtained from a different continent; hence, I am familiar with various education systems. this enables me to make an input into curriculum and assessment policies.

What advice would you offer learners who are interested in pursuing this career path?Develop a love for the subject first and foremost; be willing to work hard; don’t give up when you do not get the results that you expect.

What is the future of the field in terms of new and expanding opportunities?I would say a great opportunity attracting more students into mathematics, in employing innovative ways to improve their performance and motivating them into postgraduate studies. We can do what traditional universities are not well placed to do – use technologies in exciting and interesting ways to sell the mathematics story to more and more potential mathematicians.

What educational preparation would you recommend for someone who wants to advance in this field?the willingness to complete undergraduate, honours, Msc and ph.D.

You have to commit to lifelong learning and to the continuous pursuit of knowledge in the field.

Who would you say has been the most help in your career? How did they help you?Over the years, I have received encouragement, advice and assistance from a number of individuals: from school teachers, colleagues and academics some of whom are not even mathematicians.

How can I evaluate whether or not I have the necessary skills for a position such as yours?a love for the subject is an indication and the ability to be innovative and to solve problems is another.

caN you SuGGESt SoME WayS a lEaRNER could

obtaIN thIS NEcESSaRy

ExpERIENcE?Practice, practice and more practice. learners should

expose themselves to a variety of problems on each

topic, work on problem-solving skills and address

issues by seeking assistance as soon as they arise.

What exactly does the word ‘success’ mean to you?to me, success is the attainment of a trajectory that I have set for myself in any area of life. It is making strides on a journey towards a goal that I have set for myself.

Please tell us about any other thing you want to tell us that has not been asked above? My attitude towards Mathematics has never been that of a daunting, difficult, insurmountable subject. It is fun, almost like a game. that is the attitude that I endeavour to have my students emulate.

Compiled by Thembeka Ntuli-Mpapama


What factoRS INfluENcEd you to joIN

uNISa, collEGE of ScIENcE,

ENGINEERING aNd tEchNoloGy?

i was eager to join a university of the future

that uses innovative teaching methodologies to reach students that would otherwise be unreachable. i feel that unisA is the one university that is making

the most difference in today’s world, and i wanted

to be a part of it.

What kind of education, training or background does your job require?academically, a ph.D. in Mathematics is necessary, coupled with a research track record and university teaching experience.

What do you do? What are the duties/functions/responsibilities of your job?teaching undergraduate and postgraduate modules in the ODL context, research and supervision of postgraduate research students.

What part of this job do you personally find most satisfying?Mentoring students. the potential impact

AssociAte PRofessoR

MEluSI khuMalo

(unisA)

Qa&INtEREStEd IN puRSuING thIS caREER path?they should have the

patience to teach and the willingness to simplify the technical concepts

for others to understand. most importantly,

understand and highlight to students, the real-life applicable scenarios of

what you teach.What research/community engagement projects are you involved in AND what solution(s) will it provide for ordinary South Africans? Ict for Development (Ict4D): I am involved in the cyber-security awareness, and the university level chance to advance community engagement projects.

In the Ict4D project, the team has partnered with the siyabuswa education Improvement and Development trust (seIDet) in siyabuswa, Mpumalanga province. In the project, a selection of unemployed youth to get equipped with programming skills in order to empower them to create business opportunities for themselves. the youth are also provided with a platform for showcasing their skills in a hackathon.

In the cyber-security awareness team, we teach the community about the security issues related to using the internet and how to keep personal information safe while using the internet.

In the chance to the advance project, I present workshops to various communities by using the internet for work and life as well as using social media for business purposes. so far, I have presented in Diesploot, Gugulethu, phoenix and Orange Farm, to name a few.

these projects contribute towards empowering the community and working towards reducing unemployment while

maximizing the community’s usage of the internet to their benefit.

What exactly does the word ‘success’ mean to you?success means continuously improving myself, being dynamic and having the ability to change with change. Having a teachable spirit and an open mind. to learn from everyday experiences and interactions with others. I seek first to understand and then to be understood.

Please share with us your career highlights participating in the 2012 Young academics programme where I gained a lot of interpersonal skills from the programme. also, being part of the 2013 delegation to the University of Mumbai for initial discussions on nanotechnology and other collaborations. working with the Mathsedge community engagement team to improve the learner perceptions of Mathematics and joining the chance to the advance project. I am passionate about community work.

In my studies, I was happy to achieve the award for runner-up Best poster presentation in the natural and physical sciences student research and Innovation showcase for my master’s proposal work in 2013. But the highlight of all times was receiving an invitation to the Golden Key International Honour society. I have been a member since 2005.

In my professional development, some of the highlights include the international certification as a certified Information security Manager (cIsM) by the Information systems audit and control association (Isaca) in 2017. also, receiving the best paper award at the Global Online conference on Information and computer technology (GOcIct) conference in the Information assurance and security division (2014). this was particularly encouraging and reassuring as I was still adjusting to the research world, coming from a consulting background.

Working in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology is rewarding because ….I get to highlight to students, the practical applications of computing concepts and why these are necessary.

Compiled by Thembeka Ntuli-Mpapama


Can you give us a brief background about yourself? I am an academic in the computer science sub-division within the school of computing, in the college of science, engineering and technology at Unisa. I am dedicated to the betterment of society through education. and that is how I made my way from industry to academia some years ago.

What factors influenced you to work at Unisa, College of Science, Engineering and Technology? the main factor is my passion for improving the lives of others. I couldn’t be a fairy, so this is as close as it gets: I suppose teaching brings people one step closer to making their academic dreams come true.

I can channel my passion for teaching and improving the lives of others through teaching, community engagement and research. One has to cultivate a positive attitude under pressure, in order to empathize with your students when they face challenges.

What are the major qualifications for success in this occupation?You will need a degree in the related field. It could be in computer science, Information systems or Information technology.

What advIcE Would

you offER lEaRNERS aNd RESEaRchERS

Who aRE

(cset, unisA )

senioR lectuReRschool of comPuting

ms. mokAteko PoRtiA Buthelezi

Qa&


Give us a brief educational background about yourself. I am originally from the beautiful province of KwaZulu-natal (KZn), from a township formerly known as esikhawini, now referred to as esikhaleni. It is here that I spent my childhood years and completed my primary education. I then moved to the town of eshowe, also in KZn, for my high school education, and remained there until I completed my matric in 2005. During my high school years, I took math and physical science as two of my main subjects. I believe this ignited my love and passion for the sciences and motivated my choice to continue studying science, and in particular chemistry during my years of tertiary education. In 2006, I moved to Johannesburg, to study towards a national Diploma in analytical chemistry at the University of Johannesburg. It is here that I met Dr. Mamba, (currently prof Mamba and one of my ph.D. supervisors). at the time, he was my Organic chemistry and polymer chemistry lecturer, who saw great potential in me during my undergraduate studies, as I was a top performer who collected many awards during annual prize-giving ceremonies. prof Mamba was the one who motivated me to pursue postgraduate studies. the rest is history! I am now a Doctor of philosophy (ph.D.) student at Unisa in the nanotechnology and water sustainability research Unit and my research interests include membrane technology, nanomaterial’s engineering and water-treatment processing.

What are your research highlights (Achievements)? since I began my research journey, I have been fortunate to win several prestigious awards including Best speaker award in the sani nanoafrica conference 2014, Famelab south africa 2016 overall winner, top ten Famelab International finalist 2016,

doctoRAl cAndidAte (unisA)

noziPho gumBi

2016 south african women in science award, which was accompanied by a tata africa scholarship for women in science, engineering and technology. I was also selected as one of the Mail & Guardian’s 200 young south africans for 2016, in the field of science. In addition to this, I have received the DaaD scholarship award to pursue part of my ph.D. studies at a German University of choice, which allowed me to spend six months at Karlsruhe Institute of technology in Germany.

You recently attended, presented and won at AMSIC-2. What are your thoughts? What has this meant for you? I was extremely honoured and happy to have won the Best presenter award (1st prize) at the recent 2nd african Membrane society International congress (aMsIc-2) conference held at Unisa. this was a very special award to me since I won it for a presentation where I was assessed by an international audience that comprised of various experts in the field of membrane science and technology. this was the affirmation that we are indeed on the right track and on par in terms of the research work on membrane technology that we are doing and that it resonates with what others are doing in various parts of the world.

What inspires you? The fact that I haven’t yet achieved my life goals, one of them being obtaining my doctoral degree, gets me up every morning and I want to give it my best shot, in order to get one step closer to achieving my dreams. Also, seeing others (my peers and those ahead of me) going on to do amazing things in their academic careers and getting recognised locally and internationally for those things, inspires me greatly.

What factors influenced you to choose this career path?the very first thing was the fact that I used to do very well in physical sciences, and always obtained good marks. I was also fortunate that I had teachers who encouraged me to pursue science-related undergraduate studies. then, as I went on to undertake my undergraduate studies, I was fortunate enough to meet passionate scientists and researchers such as professor

Nozipho Gumbi being congratulated by Professor Mandla Makhanya, the Unisa, s Vice Chancellor after winning Famelab South Africa and returning from the UK, after representing South Africa at the Fame lab international finals. Prof Bhekie Mamba informed him that Nozipho had made it all the way through to the top 10 at the international finals. He then requested to see me in person and congratulate me.

Define tomorrow.universityof south africa

Don’t be left out! Apply to study Engineering at the University of South Africa and enjoy the opportunity to use our State-of-the-art laboratories.

Through open distance learning (ODL), the School of Engineering offers National Diploma and BTech courses in Engineering to students who are interested in becoming professional technicians or technologists in the following disciplines:

National Diploma Engineering: Mechanical [NDEMC] Engineering: Industrial [NDENI] Engineering: Chemical [NDECE] Engineering: Electrical: Electronics and Electronic Communication

[NDEEN- EEC] Engineering: Electrical: Power Engineering [NDEEN - PEN] Engineering: Electrical: Mechatronics [NDEEN - MEC] Engineering: Electrical: Clinical Engineering [NDEEN - CEN] Engineering: Electrical: Computer Systems [NDEEN - COS] Engineering: Electrical: Process Instrumentation [NDEEN - PIN] Engineering: Mining [NDMIN] Engineering: Civil [NDECI]

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Join us as a student, and develop yourself into a professional.It is important to note that the National Diploma and BTech has practical Modules that have residential requirements (on campus for a number of days) as well as work-integrated learning that requires students to be placed in industry for up to a year.

For admission requirementsPlease refer to the MyChoice brochure or Visit www.unisa.ac.za/cset

E-mail: [email protected]

College of Science, Engineering and Technology

School of Engineering


Mamba, who saw great potential in me as a future academic and researcher. such was his belief in me that he managed to track me down when I was comfortable working as a junior scientist at one of the pharmaceutical companies after my undergraduate studies. prof Mamba motivated me to pursue my postgraduate studies and introduced me to his former students-turned-professors (professors nxumalo and Mhlanga) to supervise me for my B-tech and Master’s degree. I have not looked back since.

What has been the greatest challenge you have faced in your career to date?so far, I have not faced any great challenges as I am still in the early stages of my career. One thing though, that has always been a bit of a bump in the road and not so easy is having to leave my family behind for lengthy periods of time as part of international student exchange programmes. while the international visits are no doubt good for my career and growth, there is always that bit of guilt. My family is supportive though as they understand that it is for a greater future good.

What advice would you offer young learners who are interested in pursuing your career path?As clichéd as it may sound, one piece of advice that I would give is that one needs to work extra hard and practice math and science subjects daily. Both of these subjects are entry points for higher education qualifications that will eventually lead one to a career in research or research-related activities. If there is something you do not understand, do not be afraid to seek help.

What does the future hold for your particular field of study as a whole? Latest research focus is aimed at taking the research work from lab scale to pilot and industrial scale. However, a lot of optimisation and toxicity testing is currently ongoing to ensure that the nanomaterial’s that we use to modify physicochemical and performance properties of our membranes do not leach out and cause secondary contamination in treated water sources. particularly because there are much toxicity and environmental

concerns regarding the release of nanomaterials, it is important for us to ensure that the materials we produce do not cause any harm or danger to the environment prior to industrial or large-scale application.

Who would you say has been the most help in your career? How did they help you?Firstly, my immediate family members have played a crucial role in supporting me and being very understanding of the career that I have chosen; that it takes a lot of hard work and dedication and most importantly a lot of time away from them to pursue my studies. there are many others who have asked, “You have been studying since forever; will you ever work?” secondly, I would say my ph.D. supervisor, professor Bhekie Mamba, who seen potential in me, during my first years of tertiary education. It was a time when I had minimal understanding about a career in research and academia. He has been tracking my progress to date, despite the demanding commitment that his academic position requires. He goes beyond being a supervisor to being my academic father – one who is always looking out for my best interests and whom I believe sees a much brighter future for me than I do for myself. then there are professors edward nxumalo and

sabelo Mhlanga who supervised me from my B-tech degree all the way through to ph.D. they have shaped and moulded the researcher that I am today; as someone who not only pays attention to finer details but also strives for competence and excellence in all that I do. Finally, to professor Jianxin Li, who supervised me while on a research visit to tianjin polytechnic University in china last year (2017). He has been instrumental in instilling in me work skills and the ability to see beyond my potential. He works around the clock, still wears a lab coat, goes to the lab at the age of 52 and expects the same from his students. there is just so much one can learn from him!

What exactly does the word ‘success’ mean to you?to me, success means achieving set goals, at the right time while staying in my own lane and not worrying or stressing about the achievements of others around me. It means being able to do things that put a smile on mom’s face and helping her out financially and her in return saying “unkulunkulu akubusise, kwande la othathe khona”- which means, “may God bless you and multiply your blessings”. May God keep her for the longest time until I’m able to thank her properly.

Interview by: Thembeka Ntuli-Mpapama


e D u C at I O n

ThE IMpaCT of ThE lIfE orIEnTaTIon TEaChEr In guIdIng lEarnErS on CarEEr ChoICES. apprEnTICEShIp aS a fIrST ChoICE CarEEr opTIon

orientation

I n my last article I spelt out very clearly that universities do not have the capacity to accommodate all learners that have achieved a Grade

12 bachelor’s pass. It therefore, becomes important for learners and parents to be aware of other options that are available and in this regard, I want to emphasise once again the apprenticeship as a first choice career option.

the western cape Government (wcG) has launched the apprenticeship Game- changer as one of seven game changers which could serve as catalysts to improving people’s lives in the western cape, in particular the lives of young

people. the apprenticeship Game changer offers exciting new career opportunities for learners. the main objective of this game changer is to develop sufficient, appropriately qualified technically and vocationally skilled people to meet the needs of the five prioritised economic growth areas in the western cape. these are tourism, agri–processing, oil and gas, renewable energy and information technology.

the lead department for the game changer is the Department of economic Development and tourism (DeDat), in partnership with the wceD and tVet colleges. One of the focuses under the

apprenticeship Game changer (aGc) is to increase awareness of tVet career opportunities so that learners choose technical and vocational occupations as their preferred career choice. this where the Life Orientation teachers are being upskilled about these opportunities in this sector in order for them to provide informed information to their learners and parents. a further intervention is the development of the apprenticeship career awareness toolkit to support Life Orientation teachers at all schools in the western cape. the main outcome of this toolkit is to provide career-related information about apprenticeships as a supplementary tool for teachers to utilise during the Life Orientation lessons. the toolkit includes powerpoint slides, a learner guide, posters and audiovisual clips which will be loaded onto a UsB flash drive for the teachers to use in the classroom to enhance their current lessons. the toolkit should be seen as a good starting point to help teachers understand the technical and vocational

system and to equip learners better to consider new career opportunities in this exciting field.

the toolkit will continue to be developed and updated throughout the Game changer period in response to feedback from teachers and to keep pace with new developments within the skills development system of south africa. the toolkit is divided into the following sections:

Why chooSE to bE aN

appRENtIcEthE WoRld of

WoRkcaREERS aNd

caREER choIcES

What IS aN appRENtIcEShIp?an apprentice is a person who

is studying and completing on – the – job training at the same time to obtain a

qualification.it includes:

• studying to become artisans.

• completing learnerships to get a qualification that is registered on the nationalQualifications framework

(nQf).• completing internships to

achieve a qualification.• this qualification could open a path toward a degree in the

technical field.

It is important for learners to be reminded of the following key tips when making career and subject choices:• speak to your Life Orientation teacher or

contact the tertiary institution to find out what subjects and marks you require to qualify to study in your chosen field.

• speak to someone in your chosen profession or job shadow to find out what they studied and what route they followed to get where they are.

• Do your own research via the internet to gather more information.

• Be careful not to choose subjects simply because they will be easier to pass.

choose subjects that will provide you access to a large number of study and/or job opportunities when you graduate.

at the same time there is a concern about learners and mathematics as a gateway subject. studying Mathematics will help

you develop the following skills:• problem solving• critical thinking• analytical thinking• construct logical arguments• reasoning skillsall these skills are important to enhance career and study prospects and to improve your opportunities in life. while there are only a few occupations that do not require Mathematics, most of the high – in demand occupations in the western cape requires Mathematics (not Mathematical Literacy), english and sciences. Having essential Mathematics skills and brushing up on your Mathematics will therefore, improve your chances of success in a technical and vocational career.

the Life Orientation teacher is key to learners making informed subject and career choices.

life Ismail Teladia:

senior curriculum planner Get Life Orientation/Life

skills in the wceD

e D I t O r I a L

ThIS IS parT of a Cool JobS SErIES on ThE

valuE of dIvErSITy In SCIEnCE, TEChnology,

EngInEErIng and MaThEMaTICS. IT haS bEEn MadE poSSIblE

wITh gEnErouS SupporT froM

arConIC foundaTIon.

j obs in science, technology, engineering and math — or steM — pay well compared to many fields. However, plenty of kids lack the

training they need to qualify for such jobs. some don’t get the foundation to succeed in the high school and college classes they will need. they may even lack an understanding of how to study effectively or how to qualify for low-cost or no-cost help.

Here, researchers offer advice on how they succeeded, against all odds, to find rewarding careers in science and tech. Many had to overcome poverty, family troubles or ignorance about how to prepare. It may just take some extra grit — that stick-to-it attitude.

science news for students asked them to offer tips from what they learned. Here’s what they recommend.

1 Ask foR helP “Having to swallow your pride and

asking other people for help is kind of a lifelong lesson,” says Kelly chavez. she’s a biomedical scientist at Duke University in Durham, n.c. “If you don’t think to ask, you’ll never know what a treasure trove of information other people have” and may be happy to provide to you.

2deVeloP stRong study skills

“we all learn in different ways,” notes Laura Martinez. she’s a microbiologist at the University of california, Los angeles. “try to understand what works best for you,” she says. and seek out tutoring if you’re still struggling.

engineer at western colorado University in Gunnison. “Give it a shot,” he says. “see what happens.”

10WoRk hARdDiogenes placencia is a research

chemist for the naval research Laboratory in washington, D.c. If he could go back and tell himself something, it would be this: “Keep your head down, work as hard as you can, and everything is going to be all right.”

And A Bonus: accept yourself for who you are. It’s no fun to not have money. Yet you can celebrate good things about your background. Geoffrey Manley dropped out of high school in Kentucky and worked as an auto mechanic to help support his single mom and younger brother. after talks with a customer who taught at the University of Kentucky, Manley went back to school and eventually became a brain surgeon. He now heads up the neurosurgery departments at UcsF and Zuckerberg san Francisco General Hospital and trauma centre. today, he values his roots back in Kentucky. “we had our own dialect. we had our own music,” he says. “It’s a very, very special place to be from, and it’s made me what I am now.”

chemist Omar Villanueva assists a student in the lab at Georgia Gwinnett college in Lawrenceville, where he teaches.courtesy of O. Villanueva

3exPloRe youR oPtions Look into different steM fields, and

learn what choices are out there. If college sounds too expensive, do your homework. Find out about financial-aid options. afterward, “talk to people and get their experiences,” says ashley Mccormack. It worked for this molecular biologist. today she’s a scientist with a government contractor at the national Institutes of Health in rockville, Md.

4find youR cheeRing section

“seek help if you feel like nobody supports you at home,” says Omar Villanueva. He’s a chemistry professor at Georgia Gwinnett college in Lawrenceville. Your cheering section can be friends, a teacher or others, he notes. everyone needs someone who

can be there for them in good times and bad.

5seek out mentoRsDon’t be shy about asking adults to

share insights and guidance as you work toward a steM career. “Lots of people like giving advice,” says esteban Burchard. He’s a lung doctor and asthma researcher at


to PrePare for a career in science anD technoLogY

ten tiPs

the University of california, san Francisco (UcsF). It’s great if you have role models that look like you. However, he adds, great guidance may also come from people who aren’t like you at all.

6tAke the initiAtiVeLook for chances to work in labs or

join research teams. You can gain experience beyond the classroom. You can earn some extra money, too. some students start this when they’re in high school. Others work (often for pay) in research labs while they’re a college student. “Don’t wait for an opportunity,” says tracie Delgado. “create it!” that’s what this microbiologist did. and she now works at northwest University in Kirkland, wash.

7AccePt ResPonsiBilityYes, poverty presents lots of problems,

but you always have a choice, says emmitt Jolly. He’s a molecular biologist at case western reserve University in cleveland, Ohio. when you make a choice, he says, accept the results and be willing to deal with them.

8 doN’t bE afRaId of faIluRE

many things you try won’t work, and some people won’t accept you. that’s

not the end of the world. Just dust yourself off and

move on, chavez says. indeed, most people learn

more from failure than from getting something

right on the first try. so learn from those

mistakes.

9Be Bold“Don’t shy away from something just

because it might be too much work, or you’re uncertain you’ll succeed,” says abel chávez. He’s a civil and environmental

Qa&passionate about my work and can sometimes get impatient when sample collection is slow. However, I also understand that it’s a “best-effort” service and thing will slow down at times.

What are the major qualifications for success in this occupation?to succeed one needs to have the right attitude and understanding of genetics. Motivation, passion and vision are some of the key factors for success.

What paRtIculaR SkIllS oR talENtS aRE ESSENtIal to bE EffEctIvE IN

youR job?it is essential that one understands and has a deep-rooted interest in Biology. All biological systems interact with each other via various

pathways continuously.

What advice would you offer learners who are interested in pursuing this career path?never give up. Determination, strength, respect and drive will bring you what you seek.

What is the future of the field in terms of new and expanding opportunities?the future is bright! we are in the

emerging stages of this field of research in south africa, and it’s set to expand at a phenomenal rate in the near future.

What educational preparation would you recommend for someone who wants to advance in this field?apart from obtaining a ph.D, in the field, a thorough review and re-review of the available body of working knowledge on a regular basis are paramount.

Who would you say has been the most help in your career? How did they help you?I would say my Mentor and colleague prof. Mongi Benjeddou. we decided to start research into this field and founded our lab in 2010.

How can I evaluate whether I am competent for a position such as yours?If you can evaluate the body of knowledge on a specific topic and can then recognize a gap where something is lacking, or something hasn’t yet been observed, and can then formulate an idea of how to achieve what’s missing, then you are competent for this position.

Can you suggest some ways a learner could obtain this necessary experience?the only way is through tertiary education and academia.

What exactly does the word ‘success’ mean to you?to me, success means to have a goal, plan the necessary steps to achieve the goal, implement the plan, and finally achieve the goal. If I can look back and say “I could not have done than any better than it’s been done”, then I have been successful.

i chooSe ThiS career

becauSe of my deep love of

biology and Science. i had

alwayS wanTed To be a ScienTiST

from a young age. i alwayS like

To know how ThingS work. wiTh

The SupporT of my parenTS,

TeacherS and menTorS, i waS

able To achieve ThiS dream.


What factors influenced you to choose this career path?I choose this career because of my deep love of biology and science. I had always wanted to be a scientist from a young age. I always like to know how things work. with the support of my parents, teachers and mentors, I was able to achieve this dream.

What kind of education, training or background does your job require?My job requires a sound scientific background, with the highest level of education.

What do you do? What are the duties/functions/responsibilities of your job?I am a research associate, filling the position of Post-Doctoral Fellow. I conduct scientific research in my area of expertise, Precision Medicine and Human Genetics, where we are discovering the influences that variations in genes have on the efficacy of disease treatment. In addition, I also manage our laboratory and mentor and train Ph.D. and MSc students.

What part of this job do you personally find most satisfying?personally, I find it most satisfying when we have new breakthrough ideas or observations on how genes work and interact with treatments and environmental factors.

What has been the greatest challenge you have faced in your career to date?the greatest challenge I have faced is sample collection from hospitals. I’m doctoR

bRENdoN pEaRcE

(south AfRicAn medicAl

ReseARch council)

Qa&What part of this job do you personally find most satisfying?Mentoring students who would go on to become the next generation of scientists as well as publishing high impact research.

What has been the greatest challenge you have faced in your career to date?Like many scientists, acquiring research funding from international organizations like the national Institutes of Health (nIH), and becoming a competent scientific writer, including publishing in high impact journals are the greatest challenges.

What are the major qualifications for success in this occupation?although a Master’s degree is acceptable in science, it’s a ph.D. that can qualify you to become a specialist scientist and enable you to reach new heights in terms of career growth.

What particular skills or talents are essential to be effective in your job?Critical reading and writing skills are crucial for scientific publications. However, being able to verbally communicate your work through oral presentations are important to be able to share and market your research, while other talents such as persuading skills are essential for successful grant applications.

What advice would you offer learners who are interested in pursuing this career path?Hard work and perseverance is the driving force of success in all careers, but having a passion for science makes it worthwhile!

What is the future of the field in terms of new and expanding opportunities?Because biochemistry is a diverse field, obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry has become a necessity and it qualifies you to be employable by a number of entities which are rapidly expanding, such as the agricultural sector, as well as the biotech, cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies. For those with higher degrees such as Masters and ph.D.’s, new opportunities are emerging at universities and at various research institutes.

What educational preparation would you recommend for someone who wants to advance in this field?a ph.D. qualification is a necessity to advance in this field.

Who would you say has been the most help in your career? How did they help you?I’m lucky because a number of very important people at various institutions have played a major role in where I am today. at high school, I thank Mrs. thomas for introducing me to biochemistry, at the University of Zululand, I thank prof. andy Opoku for introducing me to research, at the south african Medical research council (saMrc) and I thank the motivation and excellent guidance of prof. Johan Louw, prof. christo Muller, Dr. rabia Johnson, Dr. sithandiwe Mazibuko and Dr. Kwazi Gabuza and I thank professors elizabeth Joubert, Faadiel essop and Barbara Huisamen from the agricultural research council and stellenbosch University, respectively, for taking my scientific career to another level. Last but not least, I appreciate the saMrc research capacity Development for the financial support throughout my postgraduate career.

How can I evaluate whether I am competent for a position such as yours?successful guidance of young and upcoming scientists to completion of postgraduate degrees, publication of high impact research articles, successful application of national and international research grants, and is rated to be an established scientist, not nationally but internationally as well.

Can you suggest some ways a learner could obtain this necessary experience?research institutes such as the saMrc actively uses internship and job shadowing programs to expose learners to various opportunities.

What exactly does the word ‘success’ mean to you?Internationally being recognized as an expert in my field, and also have contributed substantially to the development of upcoming scientists, especially from disadvantaged background.


What factors influenced you to choose this career path?although almost all my science subjects were interesting, it was biology (life sciences) that remained top of my list. My biology teacher then, Mrs. thomas, introduced me to a variety of careers in natural sciences, but it was biochemistry that captivated me the most.

What kind of education, training or background does your job require?Basic subjects such as physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology are required for university entry. At university, modules related to these subjects are taught in depth, to equip you with various analytical, written and problem-solving skills. Once you choose a specialized field, practical application forms part of your coursework. These practical sessions combined with theory equips you with basic skills required to explore a career in science.

What do you do? What are the duties/functions/responsibilities of your job?as a senior scientist specializing in medical physiology, my work entails actively generating new information in the laboratory, or through synchronizing available information to better understand various disease conditions and also find new ways to prevent their progression. some of my duties include developing new or updating techniques in molecular biology, training of young and upcoming scientists at different levels in various skills, as well as writing and dissemination of new scientific information through publications.

senioR scientist

phIWayINkoSI dludla

(south AfRicAn medicAl ReseARch council)

Qa&What particular skills or talents are essential to be effective in your job?One must be able to work in a team – sometimes you will give instructions, but other times you have to take instructions. One must be able to make decisions decisively and quickly under high pressure.

What advice would you offer learners who are interested in pursuing this career path?One must be committed, even when it gets tough. all jobs have tough moments and one must be willing to push through those difficult moments as well.

What is the future of the field in terms of new and expanding opportunities?

the field of surgery is constantly developing and improving, especially in terms of new technology advances.

What EducatIoNal pREpaRatIoN Would you REcoMMENd foR SoMEoNE

Who WaNtS to advaNcE IN thIS

fIEld?A strong science and biology interest and

background would stand you in good stead. good interpersonal and team

skills. one must do well in mathematics and physical

science at school.

Who would you say has been the most help in your career? How did they help you?personally, it has been my parents in their unrelenting encouragement. at work, it has been mentors that have supported me throughout my career.

What sort of accomplishments tends to be valued and rewarded in this career?Good patient care, constant personal and academic development, and the publication of research in academic journals.

Can you suggest some ways a learner could obtain this necessary experience?Learning to work well in a team is crucial. Dedication, hard work and a passionate interest in the field is requied.

What exactly does the word ‘success’ mean to you?Loving what to do and doing what you love.

one muST

be able

To make

deciSionS

deciSively

and quickly

under high

preSSure.


What factors influenced you to choose this career path?I enjoy working with my hands and helping people, within surgery, I can do both and see results quickly.

What kind of education, training or background does your job require?I did predominantly science and biology at school. I then studied medicine (MB, chB degree) and thereafter obtained my MMed in surgery and a Fellowship in surgery through the college of Medicine of south africa. It also requires a dedicated commitment to lifelong learning.

What do you do? What are the duties/functions/responsibilities of your job?I am a general surgeon but most of my life entails breast cancer surgery. I also provide practical/clinical training to under- and postgraduate students.

What part of this job do you personally find most satisfying?the fact that I can try to make a difference in a patient’s life on a daily basis, whilst training future doctors and specialists is most satisfying.

What has been the greatest challenge you have faced in your career to date?Balancing work and personal life, it is something that one has to work on continuously.

What are the major qualifications for success in this occupation?MBchB, MMed (surgery), Fcs surgery.

sPeciAlist suRgeon

dR. kARin BAAtJes

e D I t O r I a L

lEarnErS In SouTh afrICa ConduCT STEM ExpErIEnCES wITh ThE InTErnaTIonal SpaCE STaTIon (ISS) for ThE fIrST TIME EvEr!

f or the first time in south africa, and on the african continent, two cape town High schools (claremont High and the cape

academy of Mathematics, science and technology) participated in a global, space-connected science project, engaging with more than 90 schools worldwide and linking directly to the International space station through an innovative experimental platform called the exoLab.

the exoLab, created by Magnitude.io, connects scientists working at the Iss in real-time with classrooms around the world in a collaborative investigation of

the microgravity on living things. at the centre of the plant biology investigation that spans from earth to space is arabidopsis thaliana, commonly known as thale cress. this is a small flowering plant native to africa and eurasia that is often the organism of choice for a variety of plant science studies. Its genome has been fully mapped.

to participate, each school received fully-equipped earth-based growth chambers and the resources they needed to replicate the experiment taking place on Iss. Over six to eight weeks, they used this specialised classroom growth chamber to grow arabidopsis thaliana, and track its

Learners weren’t the only ones that benefited from participating in the exoLab. teachers were empowered to integrate subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths through hands-on, experiential learning. and they learned new things about their students and the curriculum that excited them. “I really enjoyed connecting with the other teachers who are running the exoLab programme around the world. I was so inspired by the call with them…I have also learned new things on my own and from the learners when I introduced them to the exoLab platform.” – erica Langerty, Grade 8 teacher, claremont.

“I am thrilled with this project that took us way beyond the classroom, literally into space,” said Murray Gibbon, principal of claremont High school. “It is the kind of project that takes learning to a higher level with exciting and inspiring engagement with real science in the real world.”Mr. Greg van schalkwyk, principal at the cape academy of Mathematics, science and technology noted that: “this project with exoLab made the curriculum more relevant for our kids. they are living in a world of apps, Virtual Intelligence and robotics. this was an opportunity for our educators to collaborate with exoLab and stimulate our kids through real-life exposure that can prepare them for future jobs.”

scientists and researchers from Magnitude.io in Berkeley, california were inspired by the work of the learners in cape town. “You are inspiring”, tony so, co-Founder of Magnitude.io said to cape town learners. “we were across the equator, across the atlantic Ocean and across 2 continent, 10 392 miles between Berkeley and cape town. we got together because of our desire to learn about exobiology on the Iss (254 miles away) and our passion to learn from each other.”

top global scientists, Dr. scott Madry, executive Director of the Global space Institute, visiting claremont High during their exoLab experiment, commented: “this is the kind of thing that we need to do so students around the world can realise that space and science are real and it’s something that you can do. I know some guys on the space station right now, they are involved in this and I think this is a wonderful learning experience. I can’t wait to see the results!

development in comparison to the same species of plant grown aboard the Iss exoLab through a camera-linked, live-stream, online learning platform. a detailed curriculum providing hands-on classroom activities guided teachers and learners through this stimulating learning process.

Brought to south africa by I-Innovate (a social enterprise dedicated to bringing 21st century learning to classrooms and communities in south africa) and made possible through sponsorship from tata consultancy services, the exoLab is an extraordinary educational experience that can inspire a passion for learning in a young person that will last a lifetime. this unique classroom experience integrates learning across subjects using state-of-the-art technology and equipment to teach children science, technology, engineering and maths (steM) skills alongside essential 21st century skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, innovation, computational science and more.

“I-Innovate believes in inspiring potential in young learners and preparing them for future challenges and adventures in the real world,” says I-Innovate ceO, trisha crookes. “the cutting-edge exoLab programme gives south african teachers and students first-hand, real-time access to global scientists, engineers and astronauts. It connects students’ learning in the classroom directly to current endeavours in space; igniting the possibilities for their future and making learning personally meaningful and exciting to them through these unique, hands-on experiences.”Over the course of the eight-week exoLab programme 1,150 students were exposed

to the experiment. students at the two schools conducted 500 hours of 21st century steM lessons with the exoLab alongside scientists, astronauts and researchers on the Iss. as an added bonus employee volunteers from tata consultancy services spent 140 hours mentoring learners and conducting exoLab experiments with them, bringing the impact of the project on the school community full circle.

“Overall, I found this project to be both exciting and challenging. the experiment caused me to consider things about space

and plants which I hadn’t previously expected to have an effect on farming in space”, said abdullah, one of the participating learners.

Fatima Floris, a Grade 11 learners at claremont High said: “It was thrilling to be able to closely watch the growth of the planet and see its progress. what was also incredible was to be able to compare the data and photographs from the plant and environment on the Iss to here at claremont High.”

Qudsiyyah Benjamin, from the cape academy of Maths, science and technology said this was his first experiences as a makeshift scientist. “I started off with enthusiasm and excitement, curious about the results of the experiment and the ultimate question of whether life (in the form of a plant) is possible in microgravity, could be deemed possible. the thought of being one of the very first people to witness and be a part of this experiment in itself was an honour and regardless of the results, still is. Like all scientists, we are all hoping to make new discoveries and uncover new facts about our magnificent universe, but success takes hard work, a lot of failures and an abundance of patience.”

One of the students even provided some advice for the International space station, when their plant died much sooner than expected. “I would also like it if the Iss had dual tubes as well to compare the data better and if the one plant dies, the other may still be alive to compare various factors too. the Iss should try a different plant such as the snake plant, sprouts or areca palm as they produce the most oxygen. the carbon dioxide levels in the Iss should be regulated when the plant is growing because it can be a factor or error as to why the plant died”, said nabeelah van der Vent, a future scientist in the making.

Over and above the numbers, the actual learning outcomes for the students included:• Practicing science principles and

conducting a rigorous investigation of the effects of microgravity on living things.

• Making observations based on data from their classroom’s ExoLab, the ExoLab aboard the ISS and other classrooms around the globe.

• Analysing and comparing various sets of data using computational science skills and taking the learning further to enquiring about possible interventions in the classroom and aboard the ISS that may have caused the change in data sets.

• Learning life science content, performing science and engineering practices, planning skills and carrying out investigations, analysis, data interpretation and cause and effect.

• Gaining confidence through engagement with STEM professionals, learning how to tackle problem-solving for their future careers.

• Enhancing skills sets necessary for the 21st century workforce.


out-of-this-WoRld

Qa&


noTE – JIM adaMS rETIrEd froM naSa hEadquarTErS In auguST of 2016 afTEr a dISTInguIShEd CarEEr ThaT SpannEd 4 dECadES, SEndIng ExploraTory probES To ThE Sun, pluTo and MoST dESTInaTIonS In bETwEEn. hE now TravElS ThE world dISCuSSIng ThE Solar SySTEM and TEChnology wITh lEarnErS and STudEnTS, hopIng To InSpIrE ThEM To “STay In SChool. STudy MaThS and SCIEnCE, and nEvEr gIvE up on ThEIr drEaMS.” SInCE 2013, JIM haS vISITEd SouTh afrICa 15 TIMES and SpokEn To 10’S of ThouSandS of pEoplE abouT SpaCE ExploraTIon, SCIEnCE and TEChnology.

What factors influenced you to choose this career path?I think the biggest factor in my career was the inspiration I received while in High

nAsA dePuty ctojIM adaMS

(RetiRed)@nAsAJim

To be employed in a Technical

poSiTion aT naSa, no maTTer whaT

job iT iS, requireS a minimum 4-year

bachelor’S degree in a phySical

Science, maThS or engineering.


school. I had a natural attraction to physics because it explained things well. at the same time the apollo program was wrapping up and modern electronics were becoming more and more capable. I lived in an era of amazing human accomplishments and technological advance. It all inspired me to follow physics in college and ultimately to pursue a technical career when I graduated.

What kind of education, training or background does your job require?to be employed in a technical position at nasa, no matter what job it is, requires a minimum 4-year Bachelor’s degree in a physical science, maths or engineering. examples are Geology, Biology, physics, Mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer science/engineering. there are other technical disciplines that also qualify students to work at nasa. From there, people tend to specialize by pursuing a Master’s degree in a specialty, often while working. Internships and special interests are also keys. perhaps a learner might establish and astronomy club at school or participate in a robotics competition.

to be a chief technology Officer or a Deputy chief technology Officer requires experience, lots of it. I was promoted to Deputy ctO after 33 years in the industry. at that level both people skills and technical prowess is important.

What do you do? What are your duties/functions/responsibilities?nasa rotated their chief technologists in from Universities every 2 years, my job was to not rotate but be the continuity between the changes of the ctO’s. I was

the highest-ranking permanent technologist within the agency. as the Deputy chief technologist at nasa, I was responsible to advise the highest level of management on the readiness of the technology needed to support nasa’s most ambitious missions. In addition, I was an advocate for the development and use of new technology that would eventually be. this involved staying abreast of technological advances, cataloging the technology developments and comparing them to the agency needs. there were many people, often 100’s involved in these efforts. Guiding these teams was a key role of the Deputy ctO. this often involved speaking to officials from other agencies, governments and industries.

What part of this career do you personally find most satisfying?exploring the universe is full of possibilities. there is nothing more satisfying than being part of the team that answers tough science questions or overcoming technological obstacles in order to do it. whether it’s landing on Mars or journeying to Jupiter, everything we learn expands our understanding of our place in the universe.

What has been the greatest

challenge you have faced in your career to date?I think that like most engineers and scientists, developing communication and people skills tend to be some of our biggest challenges. Overcoming my own shyness, learning to communicate clearly and speak publicly has, over the course of my career, been one of my biggest challenges. But, learning to speak in public has enriched my life in so many ways that now I count that challenge as a distant memory.

What are the major qualifications for success in this career?as mentioned earlier, starting out with a technical degree is essential. then be willing to try a few different jobs once you get started. this broadens your experience base and makes you more valuable in future assignments.

What particular skills or talents are essential in pursuing such a career?In everything throughout life, keep an open mind. Being willing to learn, to make mistakes, and to try again is at the heart of

the scientific method and life in general. For a career in aerospace, one can choose to become experienced in a broad set of skills or a technical expert in a single area. In either case, an open mind is a key to becoming successful in this career and most others. Being able to work with people is also crucial. space exploration is a job that takes collaboration at all levels from engineers and technicians to world governments. Learning to navigate those collaborations and bring out the best in the teams will serve space explorers well.

What advice would you offer learners who are interested in pursuing this career path?as I have traveled, I have been asked too many times to count, “How can I work for nasa?” the answer can be disappointing to some and a motivator to others. My response is always, it is very difficult to get a job working FOr nasa but working wItH nasa is usually fairly easy. there are opportunities to work as part of collaborative teams from around the world that are trying to solve some of today’s most difficult science questions. the best way is to align yourself with a local organization that is conducting research with nasa or in space exploration, get to know the scientists and engineers you’ll meet from your own country and from around the world, and then begin contributing to science research from where you are.

story from Jim’s career: In the late 1990’s I was working with several nations to design a satellite system that would measure the rainfall at every point on the globe, every three hours. It was important work for all of humanity. these spacecraft needed hundreds of measurement validation sites around the world to assure that what we were measuring from space was actually what was happening on earth. these included some sophisticated weather monitoring stations and rain gauges. at one open meeting in Japan, a very poor asian country sent a scientist to meet with us. she explained that understanding how it was raining in the mountains affected the flooding in the lower lands and that access to our data would be life changing for their citizens. In return for access to our data they would make available their rainfall collection data, from the remote mountain regions. their rain gauges included metal buckets with lines drawn on the side and a paper notebook that the village elders recorded the measurements in. there was no way the quality of their

data could match the data we would be gathering from our high-tech weather stations. But, they had demonstrated a desire to collaborate and contribute. we gladly made them members of our team! I’m sure that determination to work wItH nasa not only changed the careers of the scientists in that country, but also the lives of its citizens.

What is the future of the field in terms of new and expanding opportunities?We live in an amazing age! Space exploration has never been more affordable and accessible to people. The commercial space industry coupled with lower cost rockets from companies like SpaceX and the dawn of miniaturized spacecraft like CubeSats have increased collaboration and opportunities to study Earth and Space. At every turn when we explore a new world we learn enough to ask ten times more questions than the ones we were trying to solve. I see the advances in technology continuing to fuel our exploration of the universe. We are making great strides in answering fundamental science questions… “Where did we come from? Where are we going? Are we alone?” Soon we will become a multi-planet spacefaring people. To get involved now and be a part of the settlement on the Moon or the Journey to Mars can be personally rewarding and supplying solutions to humanity right here on Earth along the way. The future of space exploration is bright!

What educational preparation would you recommend for someone who wants to advance in this field?as learners focus on maths and science! algebra is key, computer coding is mandatory and chemistry, Biology and physics crucial. But just because these things are important doesn’t mean that they can’t be fun! are you interested in

growing things, look at how plants might grow differently on the various bodies around our solar system? Do you enjoy rockets (and explosions)? start building and launching your own model rockets. Find an area that interests you, try a few different things. Maybe start a club around those things, robotics, astronomy, wildlife or weather. these are all things that will provide you with a reason for studying your core subjects.

Who would you say has been the most help in your career? How did they help you?Over my career, I have had many formal and informal mentors. these are usually people that have followed the same career path I was on. Being willing to approach them and learn from their histories and memories has helped me in my career immensely.

Can you suggest some ways a learner could obtain this necessary experience?In addition to some of the examples I’ve already mentioned, seeking out internships and bursaries can kickstart your career. as an example, saraO is building the world largest and most sensitive radio telescope in the Karoo. It’s a 75-year project, they need a pipeline of qualified technicians, engineers and scientists to build maintain and operate this amazing system. I know they offer bursaries and other opportunities for interested learners! But the best advice I can give is to rely on your own interests and determination to seek out the education that serves you best, find a mentor and doesn’t give up!

What exactly does the word ‘success’ mean to you?success is realizing the potential we all have. setbacks are learning experiences and only “failures” if you give up. all of the trials, setbacks, and victories you experience pave the road to your personal success. Your personal success can be much more than a rewarding career, it can change the world!


e D I t O r I a L

liVing mAths sPAce touR Bringing sPace into cLassrooMs across soUth africa

f ollowing the sold-out, three-city 2017 tour, former nasa astronaut Dr. Don thomas recently returned to south africa for another Living

Maths space tour. He partnered with steM-based nGO Living Maths, to bring excitement about Maths and science to south african learners and gave them a rare opportunity to meet a bona fide spaceman. Once again he was able to

impress thousands of learners during his school visits and thousands more at his public presentations along the Garden route.

steve sherman, chief Imagination Officer at Living Maths says, “after witnessing the excitement and curiosity that Dr. thomas’ last visit sparked about space, we wanted to bring him back, to spread that

enthusiasm to more parts of the country. this is a unique opportunity to inspire young south africans about science, technology, engineering and Maths, and hopefully ignite lifelong passions in these subjects. space tour 2018 was successful on all fronts.”

Born in cleveland, Ohio, in the 50s, Don thomas first got interested in becoming

an astronaut when he was six years old. watching the first americans blasting off into space made him want to follow in their footsteps. It took him thirty-three years and in 1990 after four failed attempts he was finally selected for the nasa space programme. “From the age of six years old I knew I wanted to be an astronaut, but nasa declined my application to the space programme four times before I was accepted. I’m grateful to now be one of only 550 humans to have flown in space and feel a responsibility to share my story and experiences. My story is proof that perseverance pays off and I want to pass on the gift of big dreams to young people”, says Dr. thomas.

During his seven years with nasa, Dr. thomas completed four successful shuttle missions, logging over 1040 hours of adventuring in space. His inaugural mission aboard the sts-65 columbia in July 1994 set a new flight duration record for the Us space shuttle program with 236 orbits of the earth and 6.1 million miles travelled in 353 hours and 55 minutes. During all four missions combined her spent 44 days in space, completed nearly 700 orbits of the earths and travelled 17.6 million miles in the process.

“On my twenty-three-year journey of inspiring and exciting learners about science, technology, engineering and Maths, I’ve always found that space is one of those key topics that can ignite that initial spark to get learners interested in these subjects”, says steve sherman. “How many of us actually get the opportunity to meet a real astronaut? For some, it’s a dream come true! the space tour is a rare and special opportunity for the daydreamers, the imagineers, the scientists and the curious in our country to learn more and be inspired.”

steve goes on further to say “the world around us is changing at a rapid pace. we are in the middle of the 4th industrial revolution. we need learners to be mathematically and scientifically literate if they are to play a meaningful role in the workforce. the jobs that we are preparing them for now, might not be around in 5 year’s time! there has never been a better time to start focussing on skills that promote steM. the tech-rich future needs you!”

space travel is arguably the most profound way to experience our world and our place in the universe. Many astronauts report the ‘Overview effect’, a fundamental change to their worldview due to witnessing the earth from the vantage of space. Dr. thomas says, “I take part in the Living Maths space tour and many other educational talks internationally for two reasons. I feel a sense of responsibility to share what I have seen and experienced with others. I have completed 692 orbits of the earth and have seen first-hand the beauty and fragility of our planet, and I think it is important to share important lessons with my fellow citizens of planet earth. and secondly, I am keenly interested in having humans set foot on Mars in the future. I know I am too old myself to undertake a mission to Mars twenty years from now, but I hope I can excite and inspire your young learners to follow in my footsteps and perhaps, become future Mars explorers.”

Some of the most interesting questions Dr. Thomas was asked during the recent Living Maths Space Tour, visiting schools along the Garden Route:

RegARding the “oVeRVieW effect” And seeing the eARth fRom A distAnce - hoW did this

chAnge youR VieWs?after orbiting our planet 692 times and seeing so much of the earth out the window, I definitely returned home a changed person regarding how I see my position on planet earth. I used to tell people that I was from cleveland, Ohio because that was where I was born. today I simply tell people I am from earth. For me, it doesn’t matter what country you are from, what city you live in, or even what religion you practice. I see all of us on this planet as more similar than different and we all have a keen responsibility to take better care of our planet. I think each of the roughly 550 people who have travelled to space would tell you close to the same story. It is a powerful and life-changing event to see the earth from above.

cAn you descRiBe A funny memoRy fRom When you WeRe in sPAce?On my third mission, one of the astronauts on my crew who was making her first trip to space was brushing her teeth on the first day. She floated up to me holding her toothbrush with her mouth full of toothpaste and mumbled the question “What do I do with this??” , meaning where can I spit out this toothpaste? Without a sink in space I explained there were only two options: (1) to swallow the toothpaste and then rinse and swallow again or (2) spit your toothpaste into the one clean towel we are issued to use each day. She didn’t like either option! I found humour in the fact that she had trained for the mission for 4 years and was prepared for any emergency that might arise, but something as simple and common as how to brush your teeth had fallen through the cracks!

And WhAt WAs the most difficult PARt of Being in sPAce?the most difficult part of being in space for me at the time was the separation from my family. as I orbited the earth 300 km above, I felt totally disconnected from our planet even though I was quite close. with very minimal contact with my family during the mission, I always looked forward to seeing my wife and son as soon as I landed.

e D I t O r I a L

toP AchieVeRshavE a look aT ThE lIST

of Top pErforMIng lEarnErS In ThE naTIonal SEnIor

CErTIfICaTE ExaMS for 2017, whICh rECordEd

a paSS raTE of 75.1% wITh progrESSEd

lEarnErS, and 76.5% wIThouT progrESSEd

pupIlS

2017

https://twitter.com/hashtag/MatricResults2017?src=hashhttps://twitter.com/DBE_SA

https://twitter.com/hashtag/youthday?lang=en

top MathS achIEvERS:1. takalani Bambela

(Limpopo)2. Khodani Wonderful

nemalamamgwa (Limpopo)3. Mogopodi Molusi

(nothern cape)

top ScIENcE:1. timera naidoo

(KwaZulu-natal)2. Matthys Louis carstens

(Western cape)3. erin Michael solomons

(Western cape)

top lSEN:1. Joshua Kelley chetty

(gauteng)2. tumelo Mashigo (gauteng)3. Katlego Manone (free

state)

top Math aNd ScIENcE:1. takalani Bambela

(Limpopo)2. Khodani Wonderful

nemalamamgwa (Limpopo)3. Phikolomzi Mjikelwa

(eastern cape)

TOP achiever in Quintile 5

1st place is Janke Van Dyk from Bellville

High school in western cape

TOP achiever in Quintile 4 1st place is anza tshipetane

from Mbilwi secondary school in

Limpopo

TOP achiever in Quintile3

1st place is Mandisa Xaba from sakhelwe High school in KZn

TOP achiever in Quintile 2

is siyanda pikwa from raymond

Mhlaba secondary school in Gauteng

TOP Physical Science Learner

timera naidoo from port shepstone

secondary school in KZn

TOP LSEN Learner Joshua Kelley

chetty from nuwe Hoopskool in

Gauteng

TOP achiever in Quintile 1st Place

reamohetse Mofitiso from Lehana senior

secondary in eastern cape

TOP Mathematics and Physical

Science Learner takalani Bambela

from tshivhase secondary school

from Limpopo

@WC_EduMin @edu_limp @DBE_KZN @EducationGP

@DBE_KZN@EducationGP@ECDOEZA@edu_limp

othER lINkS:

16 juNE 2018#youthday


e D I t O r I a L

The engineerS Say The new

maTerial could be uSed in

medicine To SupporT delicaTe

TiSSueS or in The induSTry To

proTecT valuable SenSorS.

Story Source: Materials provided by Iowa state University.

Examples of the new smart material left to right: A flexible

strip; a flexible strip that stiffened when twisted; a flexible strip

transformed into a hard composite that can hold up a

weight. Credit: Christopher Gannon/

Iowa State University


engineeRs deVeloP smARt mAteRiAlthat changes stiffness When tWisteD or Bent

indium and tin. But thuo said other metals will work, too.

“the idea is that no matter what metal you can get to undercool, you’ll get the same behavior,” he said.

the engineers say the new material could be used in medicine to support delicate tissues or in the industry to protect valuable sensors. there could also be used in soft and bio-inspired robotics or reconfigurable and wearable electronics. the Iowa state University research Foundation is working to patent the material and it is available for licensing.“a device with this material can flex up to a certain amount of load,” Bartlett said. “But if you continue stressing it, the elastomer will stiffen and stop or slow down these forces.”

and that, the engineers say, is how they’re putting some muscle in their new smart material.

millionths of a meter across) are created by exposing droplets of melted metal to oxygen, creating an oxidation layer that coats the droplets and stops the liquid metal from turning solid. they also found ways to mix the liquid-metal particles with a rubbery elastomer material without breaking the particles.

when this hybrid material is subject to mechanical stresses -- pushing, twisting, bending, squeezing -- the liquid-metal particles break open. the liquid metal flows out of the oxide shell, fuses together and solidifies.

“You can squeeze these particles just like a balloon,” thuo said. “when they pop, that’s what makes the metal flow and solidify.”the result, Bartlett said, is a “metal mesh that forms inside the material.”

thuo and Bartlett said the popping point can be tuned to make the liquid metal flow after varying amounts of mechanical stress. tuning could involve changing the metal used, changing the particle sizes or changing the soft material.

In this case, the liquid-metal particles contain Field’s metal, an alloy of bismuth,

fellowship also helped support the project.Development of the material combined thuo’s expertise in micro-sized, liquid-metal particles with Bartlett’s expertise in soft materials such as rubbers, plastics and gels.

it’s A PoWeRful comBinAtion.the researchers found a simple, low-cost way to produce particles of undercooled metal -- that’s metal that remains liquid even below its melting temperature. the tiny particles (they’re just 1 to 20

recently published online by the scientific journal Materials Horizons. the lead authors are Martin thuo and Michael Bartlett, Iowa state assistant professors of materials science and engineering. First authors are Boyce chang and ravi tutika, Iowa state doctoral students in materials science and engineering. chang is also a student associate of the U.s. Department of energy’s ames Laboratory.

Iowa state startup funds for thuo and Bartlett supported the development of the new material. thuo’s Black & Veatch faculty

material automatically stiffen by up to 300 percent, the engineers said. In lab tests, mechanical stresses transformed a flexible strip of the material into a hard composite that can support 50 times its own weight.

this new composite material doesn’t need outside energy sources such as heat, light or electricity to change its properties. and it could be used in a variety of ways, including applications in medicine and industry.

the material is described in a paper

a nEw SMarT and rESponSIvE MaTErIal Can STIffEn up lIkE a workEd-ouT MuSClE, Say ThE Iowa STaTE unIvErSITy EngInEErS who dEvElopEd IT.

S tress a muscle and it gets stronger. Mechanically stress the rubbery material -- say with a twist or a bend -- and the

&WhAt kind of educAtion, tRAining oR BAckgRound does youR JoB RequiRe?a degree in chemical engineering will suffice.

What do you do?

What aRE thE dutIES/

fuNctIoNS/RESpoNSIbIlItIES

of youR job?

i do research and development of

catalysts that are used to run hydrogen fuel cells, an alternative

energy source.

WhAt PARt of this JoB do you PeRsonAlly find most sAtisfying?Being able to successfully make and test a catalyst that has the desired properties.

WhAt hAs Been the gReAtest chAllenge you hAVe fAced in youR cAReeR to dAte?My greatest challenge would be completing my ph.D.

WhAt ARe the mAJoR quAlificAtions foR success in this occuPAtion?a master’s or ph.D. gives good preparation for undertaking a research project.

WhAt PARticulAR skills oR tAlents ARe essentiAl to Be effectiVe in youR JoB?Understanding basic chemistry, creativity and always have good time management.

WhAt AdVice Would you offeR leARneRs Who ARe inteRested in PuRsuing this cAReeR PAth?Balance working hard, focus and dedication to your career with an external hobby.

WhAt is the futuRe of the field in teRms of neW And exPAnding oPPoRtunities?In engineering, there will always be a new technology that requires development and/or old technologies that require improvement to better peoples’ lives.

WhAt educAtionAl PRePARAtion Would you Recommend foR someone Who WAnts to AdVAnce in this field?Mathematics and science are a good foundation for engineering.

Who Would you sAy hAs Been the most helP in youR cAReeR? hoW did they helP you?My family offered unconditional support during my studies and my colleagues offer both technical support and career advice.

WhAt soRt of AccomPlishments tends to Be VAlued And ReWARded in this cAReeR?the ability to apply knowledge to practical applications as well as coming up with innovative concepts and technologies.

cAn you suggest some WAys A leARneR could oBtAin this necessARy exPeRience?Everything begins at home, if one can apply the knowledge and skill they learn from school or life experience to their own lives at home then they can do the same with their career.

WhAt exActly does the WoRd ‘success’ meAn to you?Being able to achieve more than what I initially set out to do.


engineeR (mintek)

thElMa NGWENya

WhAt fActoRs influenced you to choose this cAReeR PAth?I’d say my love for chemistry and the passion for problem-solving.

Q&athis WAy

wiTh ThiS field,

opporTuniTy

expanSionS happen in

many SecTorS, giving

learnerS more freedom

of choice in Their

career.


heAd: PRocess contRol

SydNEy MaNtSho

(mintek)

&seeing proudly developed south african technologies being applied and solving complex challenges experienced by both the local and international mineral processing operations

WhAt hAs Been the gReAtest chAllenge you hAVe fAced in youR cAReeR to dAte?to strike a balance between managerial and technical roles

WhAt ARe the mAJoR quAlificAtions foR success in this occuPAtion?a Masters or ph.D. degree in control engineering will be sufficient if your career aspiration is to become a technical expert. For management success, a postgraduate qualification in management (either a certificate/diploma/degree)

WhAt PARticulAR skills oR tAlents ARe essentiAl to Be effectiVe in youR JoB?ability to work and lead peopleproblems identifier and solverability to troubleshootcreativity

WhAt AdVice Would you offeR leARneRs Who ARe inteRested in PuRsuing this cAReeR PAth?this field requires someone with the ability to identify problems prior to solving them. In order to identify problems, it is important to always question the status quo instead of simply accepting it. to be a success in this career, learners need to question the status quo by always asking “why”.

WhAt is the futuRe of the field in teRms of neW And exPAnding oPPoRtunities?Automation and control are at the heart of the 4th Industrial Revolution. This field continues to expand, and as new techniques or tools are being introduced, different sectors put efforts in efficiency improvements by applying these techniques. With this field, opportunity expansions happen in many sectors, giving learners more freedom of choice in their career.

WhAt educAtionAl PRePARAtion Would you Recommend foR someone Who WAnts to AdVAnce in this field?Mathematics and science are crucial to advance in this field. If the curriculum allows, any subject that involves coding/programming is highly recommended, particularly given that the world is becoming more digital.

Who Would you sAy hAs Been the most helP in youR cAReeR? hoW did they helP you?I would say myself. I had to believe in myself first, which made me achieve what I had achieved in my career.

WhAt soRt of AccomPlishments tends to Be VAlued And ReWARded in this cAReeR?Being the best in research or innovation or product development

cAn you suggest some WAys A leARneR could oBtAin this necessARy exPeRience?Fortunately, we are living in an era of the Internet, therefore learners could start improving their understanding in this field by using the Internet. alternatively, you can consider visiting any operation, and job shadow those engineers who work in automation and control.

WhAt exActly does the WoRd ‘success’ meAn to you?ability to ignore peer pressure while continuing to win against all odds.

WhAt fActoRs influenced you to choose this cAReeR PAth?I would say my keen interest in inventions as well as solving real-life engineering problems.

WhAt kind of educAtion, tRAining oR BAckgRound does youR JoB RequiRe?an engineering degree, with a specialty in advanced process control

What do you do? What aRE thE

dutIES/fuNctIoNS/

RESpoNSIbIlItIES of

youR job?i lead a team of engineers

in developing novel and niche products in the

field of automation and control and applying

these products in mineral processing industry

to improve operation efficiency, which result in

improved productionWhAt PARt of this JoB do you PeRsonAlly find most sAtisfying?

MinquizTM is regarded as South Africa’s premier annual national Science competition for Grade 12 learners. The competition, aims to encourage interest in careers in Science, Engineering and Technology, and to promote an awareness of the importance of minerals and metallurgy to South Africa.

MinquizTM is entertaining for the learners participating, the accompanying educators and the audience.

At the same time the competition conveys the importance of Mathematics and Science as foundational subjects to a career in the minerals and metallurgy industries.

The competition consists of a Provincial Competition held in all nine provinces and the National final held in Johannes-burg. During the provincial leg participating learners write individual preliminary multiple-choice question test. Top achievers from this round compete as a team in a live, on-stage multiple-choice oral quiz. Questions are in the areas Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and general knowl-edge in Science, Engineering and Technology, and are in line with the National Curriculum Statement.

We are calling all Mathsand Science teachers!

200 Malibongwe Drive, Randburg, South Africa Private Bag X3015, Randburg 2125, South AfricaTEL: +27 (0)11 709 4111 E-MAIL: [email protected] www.mintek.co.za

Provincial Competition Dates: 16 May 2019 & National Competition Dates: 03 – 04 July 2019 For sponsorships and participation contact: Mr Dominic Monama E-mail: [email protected] or Tel: 011 709 4139 Web: [email protected]

Does your province have what it takes?


forTunaTely,

we are living

in an era of

The inTerneT,

Therefore

learnerS

could STarT

improving Their

underSTanding

in ThiS field

by uSing The

inTerneT.

Qa&the thirst for lifelong learning. It’s how you adapt your learning and education.

7. Question - What particular skills or talents are essential to be effective in your job?Key is communication and digital skills. we run programmes in 17 countries and to be able to communicate with teams and clients beyond the borders

What advice would you offer learners who are interested in pursuing this career path?I started out as an engineer and it was a fantastic degree to pursue. while it was challenging it provided me with the tools and skills needed to succeed as an entrepreneur.

What is the future of the field in terms of new and expanding opportunities?I work in education technology and looking at how we can leverage technology. I think the future will be about similarly leveraging technology to have students around the world access educational opportunities and provide quality education for all.

What educational preparation would you recommend for someone who wants to advance in this field?I always recommend an engineering degree as it teaches students process ways

of thinking and how to make sense of the world. engineering allows one to use the learning’s across various sectors.

Who would you say has been the most help in your career? How did they help you?I don’t think it’s a single person, but at dif-ferent stages it has been different, from my parents who always encouraged us to pur-sue our dreams to my mentors who taught me how to be an engineer to my business partner who together we have learnt and grown in many ways to grow a company from south africa to around the world.

What sort of accomplishments tends to be valued and rewarded in this career?It’s personal and based on the individual. For me it’s been able to reach many girls around the world and provide them with opportunities they may not have had before.

Can you suggest some ways a learner could obtain this necessary experience?I think volunteering is really important as it builds civic responsibility.

What exactly does the word ‘success’ mean to you?success is to be able to achieve my goals and also to see the girls on the program and our team flourish.


What factors influenced you to choose this career path?I got into engineering by accident. I had a love of geography and stumbled across engineering. I didn’t know what engineering was about and how important engineers are to change the world.

What kind of education, training or background does your job require?I’m an entrepreneur. My engineering background has helped me with process thinking. I have also a lot of experience in business and dealing with people which are all important skills.

What do you do? What are the duties/functions/responsibilities of your job?My company runs education and training programmes for the engineering and tech industry. We focus on women and girls. My Job involves managing clients and partners, designing innovative learning experiences and developing content for our programs.

What part of this job do you personally find most satisfying?Being innovative and developing learning content.

What has been the greatest challenge you have faced in your career to date?I think the biggest challenge is to keep up the energy and passion when you are facing challenges such as sexism in the industry.

What are the major qualifications for success in this occupation?It’s not about the qualification but more

ciVil engineeR & co-foundeR of Womeng

nAAdiyA moosAJee

@naadiyamoosajee

Qa&What do you do? What are the duties/functions/responsibilities of your job?I am a design engineer involved in the nuclear industry, although I have been extensively involved previously in the pharmaceutical and petrochemical industries. My current responsibilities in the nuclear industry include design for modification and implementation of different projects at Koeberg nuclear power station. What part of this job do you personally find most satisfying?I enjoy the whole process, from conducting the research on the subject matter to compiling the scheme part of the design and eventually the detailed design, which is ultimately used to establish the site work packages required for the successful implementation of the design.

What has been the greatest challenge you have faced in your career to date?I think learning how to manage my time effectively. when working on multiple projects at the same time, each project as a set of deadlines and unique challenges.

What are the major qualifications for success in this occupation?a solid background in engineering, coupled with further studies and development in the field of nuclear engineering.

What particular skills or talents are essential to be effective in your job?Good communication skills. when working in the nuclear industry one needs to communicate on a regular basis with individuals from all over the world. attention to detail is also very important, as there is no room for error. It is also essential to be able to work well as part of a group.

What advice would you offer learners who are interested in pursuing this career path?Hard work, perseverance, dedication and attention to detail are very important attributes that one needs to develop.

What is the future of the field in terms of new and expanding opportunities?although work is generated in maintaining

a nuclear power plant i.e. Koeberg nuclear power plant, the future in this industry largely hinges on the go-ahead of the nuclear new build program in south africa. If you don’t mind working overseas, countries like china are finishing building work on five nuclear plants, and plan to build eight more. France is highly reliant on nuclear energy since 75% of its energy is supplied by nuclear plants. the UK is also planning on constructing its highest nuclear generating facility up to date. apart from power generation through nuclear, there is a large amount of nuclear research being conducted all over the world.

What educational preparation would you recommend for someone who wants to advance in this field?A strong background in mathematics and physics up to matric level, followed by a sound tertiary education in engineering or physics, together with specializing in the field of nuclear engineering or nuclear physics.

Who would you say has been the most help in your career? How did they help you?My father and my postgraduate study supervisor have been very influential in my career. they have both encouraged me immensely, and taught me essential people skills that I have used throughout my career.

What sort of accomplishments tends to be valued and rewarded in this career?I personally believe adopting a safety-first culture in every aspect of your job. the safety of the public is the ultimate goal in the nuclear power generating industry.

Can you suggest some ways a learner could obtain this necessary experience?studying at university up to master’s degree is a great advantage and a step in the right direction to become a professional engineer in the nuclear industry.

What exactly does the word ‘success’ mean to you?achieving the goals you set for yourself through hard work and perseverance.


What factors influenced you to choose this career path?at secondary school, I had a keen interest in physics and mathematics. this interest led me to the field of engineering, and more specifically mechanical engineering. while pursuing my undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering I made a point of it to learn as much as possible about the different disciplines and fields of engineering in industry. I developed a keen interest in the field of nuclear engineering and nuclear physics. Once the opportunity arose for furthering my studies in this field of interest, I had to go for it.

What kind of education, training or background does your job require?You need to be passionate about physics and mathematics. to become a professional engineer in the nuclear field, one requires a solid background in a field of engineering. My education involved a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, followed by a master’s degree in nuclear engineering. Once involved in the nuclear industry, you will receive a lot of on the job training. there are also many short courses etc. to assist in further developing your knowledge in the nuclear field.

design engineeR

RENIER MaRkGRaaff

(lesedi nucleAR seRVices)

Qa&challenges you have faced in your studies to date?the job opportunities while studying to become a qualified electrician has been a challenge.

What are the major qualifications for success in this occupation?You will need to do a trade test, n4 as well as a wireman’s license to be able to practice as an electrician.


What factors influenced you to choose this career path?I was interested in the electrical field and I have a passion for the industry.

What kind of education, training or background is required?You will need to study electrical engineering.

What do you do? What are the duties/functions/responsibilities of your career?I work on electrical installations such as geyser installations.

What part of this course do you personally find most satisfying?I enjoy the practical training to be most satisfying and I am able to gain more experience in the field.

What has been one of the major

electRiciAn (student)

loNWabo StofIlE

(college of cAPe toWn)

What particular skills or talents are essential to be effective in this career?I would say you must be able to read technical drawings and have good communication skills is an advantage.

What advice would you offer learners who are interested in pursuing this career path?Learners who want to pursue this career should be passionate about the industry and take this job seriously.

Do you think that studying at this Institution has prepared you for the workplace? How?Yes! I am thankful to be able to study at the college of cape town and I have gained the knowledge and experience for the workplace.

What is the future of the field in terms of new and expanding opportunities?I believe there will be more innovative ways with advanced technology to equip electricians for the future.

Can you suggest some ways a learner could obtain this necessary experience?always be willing to ask questions and be inquisitive about more knowledge concerning the industry.

whaT you learn in claSSeS aT

The TveT college will be whaT your

fuTure employerS wanT you To know

becauSe The curriculum haS been

drawn up by induSTry experTS. you

will alSo have plenTy of SimulaTed

pracTice in The workShopS and work

experience in The induSTry iTSelf

during your Training.

I ncreasingly in the world today, and especially in south africa with its skills shortage, what will make for success in the workplace is not WHAT or WHO you know but what you can

DO with what you know.

Many young people struggle to find employment because they do not have the skills which the industry needs. a lack of skills also causes tremendous losses in terms of cost, quality and time. If you can equip yourself with the skills which the industries in your area need, you can always be sure of having a job.

this is why the Department of Higher education and training, together with the 50 tVet colleges in this country, have identified 13 priority trades to train students in the skills which are in demand by the industry.

does not always equip you for a job in the way that apprenticeship training can do. DHet bursaries administered by nsFas also make it possible for financially needy, capable students to have a quality, affordable education, provided they pass all their subjects and attend all their classes. Being a doctor or engineer might sound smart but only a limited number of students every year are going to qualify to become doctors or engineers. there are lots of opportunities now to become welders, boilermakers, electricians, fitters and turners and plumbers. why don’t you investigate what centre of specialisation is available at a tVet college in your area? You can be sure that that will be for a trade which is in demand in your area. By doing that you could be taking your first step right now towards making yourself employable and ensuring that you will always have a job.

e D I t O r I a L

on the accompanying map, you can see

which skills have been prioritised in your area. that means that there is a tVet college there which will be offering

training in this field, in close partnership and collaboration with the

industries.what you learn in classes at the tVet college will be what your future employers want you to know because the curriculum has been drawn up by industry experts. You will also have plenty of simulated practice in the workshops and work experience in the industry itself during your training. all apprentices enrolled in the cos programme will get practical training and work experience. no more learning of outdated theory that is not going to help you to do the job competently!

Many young people think that they have to get a university degree in order to make themselves employable. But a degree


intRoducing the centRes of sPeciAlisAtion

(cos) PrograMMe at tVet coLLeges


a D V e r t O r I a L

fAlse BAy tVet college a gateWaY to eMPLoYMent, higher eDUcation anD seLf-iMProVeMent.

ABout the collegefalse bay TvET College is rated one of the best Technical and vocational Education and Training (TvET) colleges in the country. false bay TvET College operates five well-resourced campuses located in the South peninsula, Mitchell’s plain and khayelitsha, which collectively have an enrolment of around 11 000 students.

False Bay tVet college has been extending its reach, embracing new communities and welcoming industries for over 15 years, while building on its long-term commitment to promoting the tVet sector. the college has strong ties with industry and the communities it serves and maintains strategic partnerships with government, the setas, industry bodies and both local and international educational institutions.

the college’s growth is underpinned by strong leadership and a sound administration system that was recognised when the college received the pFMa clean audit award for 2016/2017.

False Bay tVet college understands and promotes the important role of employers in providing workplace experience, intern-ship and employment opportunities to college students and graduates. private and public organisations now recognise that the only way to assist young people to gain work experience and increase their employ-ability is through engaging with them and opening up workplace opportunities.

ReleVAnt PRogRAmme cuRRiculumthe college offers vocational, occupational and skills training programmes that provide students with scarce and critical skills and practical experience in fields that present good prospects of employment. all college programmes are examined and certified nationally and designed in collaboration with commerce and industry. the college has a special focus on artisan skills in the electrical, Motor Mechanics, welding & Fabrication, Fitting & turning, automotive Body repair, spray painting, carpentry, Masonry, plumbing and Joinery trades.

courses are also offered in Business, Information & communication technology, Hospitality, engineering, tourism, Yacht & Boat Building, safety in society, 2D animation and education studies. the college provides alternative modes of teaching and training, including part-time classes and distance learning options.

WoRk-integRAted leARning (Wil) work-Integrated Learning extends learning to the workplace in a structured programme, integrating theoretical knowledge learnt in the classroom and its practical application in the workplace. the college employs five dedicated wIL Officers who provide graduates with work placement support. this service helps connect students to job opportunities and prepares them for the world of work via the work-readiness programme.

The WIL Department at False Bay TVET College deals with three functions:• placement support• Lecturer workplace exposure (Lwe)• workplace-Based experience (wBe).

Benefits foR PARticiPAting comPAnies › improving their company B-BBee

scorecards;› increasing business opportunities;› access to mandatory and discretionary

seta benefits;› relief staff, enabling the release of full-

time staff for training and upskilling. Improving staff retention and the job satisfaction rate;

› indirect marketing opportunities;› informal endorsement as a preferred

supplier.

Having successfully placed 92% of all graduates in 2017, the industrious wIL Department invites more companies to register as host employers.

centRes of sPeciAlisAtion the national government initiated the national Development plan and the national Infrastructure plan to stimulate growth in the economy. these plans include investing in and stimulating ocean-related industries through Operation phakisa. In the western cape, the provincial economic plan known as project Khulisa focusses economic growth through three pillars – tourism, agri-processing and Oil & Gas. the Oil & Gas sector is probably poised for the greatest development, with major plans announced for redeveloping ports and taking a bigger slice of the oil rig repair industry. all these developments will require huge numbers of riggers and mechanical fitters for deployment to oil rigs, ports, construction, engineering and transport crews.

the government is investing in the tVet colleges to ensure that these skills demands will be met and has initiated the centres of specialisation programme through the Department of Higher education and training (DHet) to address the demand for qualifications in the priority trades needed for the implementation of government’s growth strategy.

False Bay tVet college was selected as the centre of specialisation and thus the premier training institution for riggers as well as mechanical fitters in the western cape. the college is inviting industry to join this exciting venture. with training incentivised through industry and seta

HOW TO CONTACT FALSE BAY TVET COLLEGE • centre of specialisation / 021 787 0800 /[email protected] • centre of entrepreneurship & rapid Incubator / 021 201 1215 / [email protected]• work-Integrated Learning Department / 021 700 6400 / [email protected] www.falsebaycollege.co.za

RESOURCES FOR BUSINESShttps://www.westerncape.gov.za/apprenticeship-for-employers/useful-informationhttps://www.westerncape.gov.za/news/apprenticeships-important-tool-tackling-youth-unemployment

subsidisation, it makes good business sense to invest now in apprenticeships for these trades.

neW sWARtkliP cAmPusThe Swartklip Campus is the College’s next catalytic project, set to trigger a positive transformation in the surrounding communities of Mitchell’s Plain and Khayelitsha in Cape Town. Located at the former Denel munitions testing grounds, the site offers acres of land and solid building structures which will be refurbished into state-of-the-art workshops and classroom spaces.

The Swartklip Campus will open its doors in 2019 for its first student intake. Offering programmes in the priority artisan trades, the campus will accommodate an estimated 3 000 students a year once fully operational, making a major contribution to the National Development Plan’s goal of producing 30 000 skilled artisans per year.

Companies interested in collaborating with the College on the Swartklip venture are encouraged to complete an Expression of Interest form, obtainable on the official College website at www.falsebaycollege.co.za.

centRe foR entRePReneuRshiP / RAPid incuBAtoR the centre for entrepreneurship/rapid Incubator (cFe/rI) was founded through a partnership between the Department of Higher education and training, the Department of small Business Development and the college.

the cFe/rI applies an innovative and holistic 360°Growthwheel® development approach to youth entrepreneurship

development, striving to shift the mindset of young people away from only seeking employment to creating employment through entrepreneurship. Learning is supported by structured individual mentoring and the facilitation of linkages to new resources.

Technical Support: Rapid Incubator

the cFe provides technical support to the enrolled entrepreneurs through access to the rapid Incubator (rI), which consists of engineering and woodwork workshops and an innovative Makers space. the workshops are equipped with machinery, tools and the production support needed to develop and manufacture new offerings. each of the workshops can accommodate 10 people working simultaneously. while the rI provides a supportive environment and physical space for product development, entrepreneurs are responsible for their own product development consumables. the Makers space is equipped with laser cutters, a large cnc wood router, vinyl cutter and 3D printing.

the rI offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to manufacture prototypes and actual products to sell, assisting entrepreneurs to improve the chances of starting up and accelerating their enterprise into a viable business. the college welcomes any established company’s involvement and investment in this credible incubation programme that will contribute significantly to establishing a vibrant sMMe economy.


e D I t O r I a L

f or artificial intelligence and smart machines to really take off, computers are going to have to think more like people, according

to experts in the field. now, Us scientists have created a computer model, or algorithm, that captures the uniquely human ability to grasp new concepts in a study that involved learning unfamiliar handwritten alphabet characters.

the algorithm enabled computers to recognise and draw simple symbols that were indistinguishable from those created by humans. the study, reported in the journal science, is a “significant advance” in the field of artificial intelligence, the scientists said.

‘’replicating [human learning] abilities is an exciting area of research

connecting machine learning, statistics, computer vision, and

cognitive science’’. professor ruslan salakhutdinov

this work, as well as research like it, will

help scientists better

understand human learning and develop new, more human-like learning algorithms, said the study’s lead author Dr. Brenden Lake, a cognitive and data scientist new York University.

“we aimed to reverse-engineer how people learn about these simple visual

concepts, in terms of identifying the types of computations that the

mind may be performing and testing these assumptions

by trying to recreate the behaviour,” Dr.

Lake said.the

algorithm was

ReseARcheRs WAnt to teAch comPuteRs to

Learn LiKe hUMans

designed to make a computer able to learn quickly from a single example in the way people do. “You show even a young child a horse or a school bus or a skateboard and they get it from just one or a few examples,” said study co-author professor Joshua tenenbaum, from the Massachusetts Institute of technology.standard algorithms in machine-learning require tens, hundreds or even thousands of training examples to yield similar results, professor tenenbaum said.Drawing alphabets from around the worldIn the study, computers boasting the new algorithm and human subjects were presented with selected characters among a data set of about 1,600 handwritten characters from 50 alphabets from around the world. they even included a fictional alien alphabet from the animated tV show Futurama.

among other tasks, the human subjects and computers were directed to reproduce various characters after being given a lone example. Human judges were then asked to identify which characters were reproduced by a computer. the judges found the work produced by the computers to be virtually indistinguishable from that of human subjects.

professor ruslan salakhutdinov of the University of toronto said he hoped this new work would help guide progress in artificial intelligence by leading to next-generation intelligent machines “that hopefully will come close to displaying human-like intelligence”. “It has been very difficult to build machines that require as little data as humans when learning a new concept,” professor salakhutdinov said.“replicating these abilities is an exciting area of research connecting machine learning, statistics, computer vision, and cognitive science.” the same approach used in the study might be applicable to

machine learning for many other tasks like speech recognition and object

recognition, Dr. Lake said.

ABC/Reuters

nEw rESEarCh CoMparES huMan and MaChInE lEarnIng for a wIdE rangE of SIMplE vISual

ConCEpTS SuCh aS drawIng CharaCTErS froM alphabETS (danqIng wang)

replicaTing

[human

learning]

abiliTieS iS an

exciTing area

of reSearch

connecTing

machine

learning,

STaTiSTicS,

compuTer

viSion, and

cogniTive

Science

prOFessOr rusLan

saLakhutDInOV



e D I t O r I a L

f ’satI is the result of a partnership between the paris Ile-de-France chamber of commerce and Industry, its engineering school

(esIee paris), the tshwane University of technology (tUt), the cape peninsula University of technology (cpUt) and the Université de paris-est créteil (Upec).

F’satI at cpUt hosts the Focus area in space science and technology, as well as a research chair in “Innovative small satellite technology and applications for africa” and thus the cpUt space programme, established in 2009.

strongly supported by the Department of science and technology (Dst), the national research Foundation (nrF), the south african national space agency and the French Ministry of Foreign affairs (Mae), the Institute has become a leading centre in human capacity development and scientific innovation. projects are conducted at postgraduate level (Master’s and Doctorate). at master’s degree level, students may obtain a Master’s degree in engineering from cpUt and an Msc in electric and electronic systems engineering from esIee, paris. at the doctorate level, students may obtain a

Deng from cpUt and a ph.D. from French institutions through cotutelle agreements. post-doctoral fellowships are also available. since its inception, the programme has seen a throughput of more than 60 graduates from south africa and number of other african nations at Master’s and Doctoral level. these alumni contribute to the establishment of, and growth in the space industries of, the continent. pan-africanism is further boosted by the hosting of the bi-annual International african cubesat workshops, which have already seen their third iteration.

cpUt has become home to the region’s premier nanosatellite programme, and through the africa space Innovation centre is the custodian of the ZacUBe-i mission series. In 2013 the centre produced africa’s first nano satellite, ZacUBe-1 (tshepisosat), and will launch africa’s most advanced nanosatellite to date, ZacUBe-2, in 2018. the space programme is strategically aligned with the national space strategy, and is funded as a key human resource development initiative by the Department of science and technology and the national research Foundation. the cpUt research and

technology Innovation Focus area in space science and technology are characterised by an integrated, multidisciplinary approach working across departments and faculties.

afRIca SpacE INNovatIoN cENtRE aNd

aMaya SpacEasic is a vibrant innovation hub where our graduates

and engineers develop the national ZacUBe-i

nanosatellite missions and cutting-edge enabling

technologies. our high-tech facilities include a

clean room, production and development areas, state-of-

the-art rf test equipment, and ground stations with Vhf, Uhf, s- and X-band

capabilities. innovation is industry-focused and serves national imperatives, such as

operation Phakisa.

through asIc, the space programme at cpUt is well positioned for commercialisation of its Ip, thus serving the complete industrialisation value chain in this new market, whilst building and transforming the south african satellite industry. this is being achieved through the establishment of amaya space in 2018, an autonomous space company that will see the introduction of fully functional cubesat constellations developed and produced on home soil for the exploitation of space for advanced socioeconomic growth in africa from an indigenous platform.

Contact F’SATI at CPUTMr Ian van ZylOperations ManagerteL +27 21 959 6925eMaIL [email protected]

Ms Cindy Engeladministrative OfficerteL +27 21 959 6859eMaIL [email protected]

URL http://www.cput.ac.za/fsati

fRench south AfRicAn institute of technologyanD its sPace PrograMMe at cPUt

Qa&

(cPut)

spacecraft. Both these budgets will determine the type of electronic components we use in terms of power consumption, efficiency and physical dimensions, to mention a few. I am involved in the documentation of technical specifications, user requirements, test procedures and test reports of subsystems, as well as applications for spectrum use or radio frequency licences from authorities and administrators if the satellite mission is from our campus. Lastly, I organise and sit in progress meetings and technical reviews and also attend space conferences, symposiums and stakeholder meetings.

What part of this career do you personally find most satisfying?personally I have certain stages during the development phase of each project, a complete subsystem prototype satisfying 80% to 90% of the user requirements or specification. the launch of a cubesat that uses our subsystems. It is also very satisfying to see the satellite of a mission you worked on being launched, commissioned and becoming operational.

What has been the greatest challenge you have faced in your career to date?My greatest challenge is a lack of resources like environmental and or rF/Microwave test equipment and more human capital.

What are the major qualifications for success in this career?A master’s degree in electrical, mechanical or mechatronic engineering is the major qualification required in the industry.

What particular skills or talents are essential in pursuing such a career?skills required by the industry include having an analytical mind, ambition and a strong will to succeed. skills that you acquire as your career progresses, like the ability to use simulation software that aids in translating your theoretical understanding of the problem to a visual concept which then leads to a prototype, are important. computer programming or an understanding of digital circuitry is also vital.

What advice would you offer

learners who are interested in pursuing this career path?curiosity and the ability to solve problems are fundamental requirements. You need to possess a certain amount of passion for Mathematics, science and computers.

What is the future of the field in terms of new and expanding opportunities in the 21st century?the exploration of fading natural resources on earth which is currently supported by satellites utilising earth observation equipment (optics or radar), navigation (Gnss) and data. the next opportunity will be to explore our expanding universe looking for these resources. there is still a lot of information that we have to study and investigate from our universe. Most of that supporting data will come from satellites that are orbiting stars, and other objects from space.

What educational preparation would you recommend for someone who wants to advance in this field?a good understanding and background in steM (science technology engineering and Mathematics) from high school to undergraduate level will be a good preparation for anyone who wants to explore the field.

Who would you say has been the most help in your career? How did they help you?a number of people from family, friends, colleagues, high school teachers and lecturers. even random people you meet can really uplift you when you are feeling down or inspire you when you cannot figure out why things are not working properly.

Can you suggest some ways a learner could obtain this necessary experience?I think students from lower high school grades should attend career expos and visit universities – even during holidays – to find out more and get information about the field they are interested in.

What exactly does the word ‘success’ mean to you?success for me is being happy in life generally. Obtaining positive results from a prototype or experiment, meeting my deadlines and seeing a mission I was involved in succeeding.


What factors influenced you to choose this career path?My uncle who was a handyman at telkom, fate and all the electronic equipment I broke and unsuccessfully tried to repair as a teenager.

What kind of education, training or background does your career require?a Btech or Beng degree in electrical, electronic, computer or mechanical engineering or mechatronics would be a minimum requirement. a master’s degree in any of these fields would be an added advantage.

What do you do? What are your duties/functions/responsibilities?as a senior engineer my responsibility is to oversee, design and prototype radio Frequency (rF) /Microwave engineering subsystems for cube-satellites. we are 2 engineers and 3 trainee engineers in our team and we are all responsible for design, development and manufacturing of communication subsystems. communication subsystems in satellite engineering are the rF subsystems that are responsible for data or telemetry transfer between the satellite to the ground station (downlink communications) and the telecommands from the ground station to the satellite (uplink communication). Depending on the type of mission or objective for specific satellites we extract information from user requirements and perform a link budget calculation. the answers we receive from the link budget determine our design to specification for our communication subsystems. the power electronics team on the other end will be developing a power budget also depending on the user requirements and size of the desired

senioR engineeRNyaMEko RoyI

Qa&


What factors influenced you to choose this career path?I honestly believe that your career chooses you. I chose chemical engineering and never thought I would end up in an academic institution. You simply have to start somewhere. I always enjoyed problem-solving. Doing research in an academic environment also offers me the opportunity to share my passion and skill with the next generation, which I won’t be able to do elsewhere. I find this very rewarding.

What kind of education, training or background does your career require?a doctoral degree in any discipline. I studied chemical engineering.

What do you do? What are your duties/functions/responsibilities?I train mainly postgraduate students doing a master’s or doctoral degree. I also teach research Methodology to 4th year students. I have to define engineering problems, write proposals to obtain funding from various sources to investigate the problem, find students to work on the project and provide further understanding and/or viable solutions for the problem. I specialised in the flow behaviour of very thick fluids (the science is known as rheology) in pipes and pipe fittings to provide critical information for engineering design. although I previously focused on modelling viscous flows of mine tailings I am doing more work now on the effect of rheology on wastewater sludge not only in pipelines but also in the optimisation of the belt filter process. the other area of research is to synthesise novel metal-oxide nanoparticles, find suitable applications and develop scale-up models for new technologies. the current project focuses on using nanopowders for

AssociAte PRofessoR (ReseARch)

VeRuschA festeR

veruscha@ruschi73(cPut)

Already a leader in regional nanosatellite development, Cape Peninsula University of Technology now reaches for even greater heights with the establishment of Amaya Space, South Africa’s first truly transformed space company – owned by Africans for Africans.

CPUT made history in 2013 with the launch of ZACUBE-1, Africa’s first nanosatellite. Now ZACUBE-2 is being developed. It will be the most advanced SA CubeSat to date when launched in 2018.

Radio systems and other technologies developed at CPUT are used in many satellites around the world. Applications of these products and technologies position Amaya Space ideally for the fruitful exploitation of space for advanced socioeconomic growth in Africa from an indigenous platform.

Amaya Space will deliver fully functional CubeSat constellations

primarily to the SA government and other African states, while helping to stimulate growth in the continent’s emerging space industry.

Amaya Space is uniquely positioned to transform the South African space industry by creating employment opportunities that seek to redress historical imbalances in employment equity. It is expected to catalyse a transformational supplier development programme and aims to provide services that support the SA government’s developmental agenda, for example in the maritime domain through Operation Phakisa.

Amaya Space is a product of the Technology Transfer Office at CPUT. The university’s satellite programme is hosted by the French South African Institute of Technology and is supported by the SA government through the Department of Science and Technology, the SA National Space Agency, the National Research Foundation and development finance institutions. Key industry partners include Stone Three, CSIR, Astrofica and Etse Electronics in South Africa, and Clyde Space in Scotland.

REACHING FOR THE SKYROOTED IN AFRICA

creat ing futures

+27 (0)21 959 6925 [email protected] www.amayaspace.com

nanoTechnology

iS The Science

and Technology

of The fuTure.

Small iS The new

big Thing They Say.

engineering SkillS

will alwayS be

needed To make

Science work.


removing colour from textile wastewater.

What part of this career do you personally find most satisfying?when I select a new project and complete it successfully and learn so much more than I could anticipate. publishing work in highly reputable scholarly journals. seeing the students grow in understanding the research process and master their research topic, make a contribution to the field of study. seeing my research work find real-life applications.

What has been the greatest challenge you have faced in your career to date?entering the field of nanotechnology which was completely different from my field of specialisation in non-newtonian fluid flows. I spent only a 6 month period at Leeds University in which I learned about nanotechnology for the first time. although the idea was to apply the nanoparticles in viscous slurries, I was asked to synthesise the nanoparticles. In doing this I identified an area that required further investigation and set out to make a contribution. to do this, I had to obtain funding. It is very difficult to obtain funding in an area where you do not have sufficient outputs. It is almost impossible to do research without funding, but we did.

What are the major qualifications for success in this career?

You need a doctoral degree in engineering, science or Material science.

What particular skills or talents are essential in pursuing such a career?Understanding and enjoying science, curiosity, aptitude to solve problems and a willingness to share your knowledge with others.

What advice would you offer learners who are interested in pursuing this career path?Let your focus always be on learning new things. ask yourself every day: ‘Did I learn anything new?’ conducting research at an academic institution, science councils or industry is about learning new things and applying what you’ve learned to provide new knowledge/solutions.

What is the future of the field in terms of new and expanding opportunities in the 21st century?nanotechnology is the science and technology of the future. small is the new big thing, they say. engineering skills will always be needed to make science work.

What educational preparation would you recommend for someone who wants to advance in this field?they must do mathematics and physical sciences.

Who would you say has been the

most help in your career? How did they help you?prof. paul slatter. He was my physics lecturer in the first year. I never really liked physics – I enjoyed chemistry more when I was in school. somehow he made physics classes interesting. In my fourth year, he lectured a subject called Fluid Flow and introduced non-newtonian fluids. He kept on saying he was deriving a new reynolds number and I thought to myself – who derives new reynolds numbers? the reynolds number is in the textbook. when I was looking for a topic to do my master’s degree after spending some time in the industry and heard that he started a research group, I immediately joined. He was very patient in leading me to understand concepts I had difficulty with. the way he helped me most was to simply ask me to do things that I thought I would never understand or do and the result was me ending up understanding and doing that very thing. He was a great mentor, seeing potential in me that I could never see. He wasn’t simply training another student, he was training a future teacher and researcher.

Can you suggest some ways a learner could obtain this necessary experience?I think with you-tube today all things are possible. If learners would apply their mobile phones to search for things that matter it will make a huge difference. stop following Hollywood artists if you want to become an engineer or scientists. Make sure you are following and listening to people talking about different careers. Once you find something that is of interest to you, look for more detail. I grew up in the small town De aar in the northern cape. Once I heard about engineering as a possible career, I quickly found out that of all the engineering careers offered, I would probably enjoy chemical engineering more than the others. we had very little to go on. nowadays, it is all visual and at your fingertips. no more going to the library and read. the open days at the universities also allows you to find out more about various careers and you might meet some professors at the event.

What exactly does the word ‘success’ mean to you?to me, success is not the joy you have at the end of the journey when you reach your goal, but the joy you have in the journey towards your goal.


e D I t O r I a L

sAdtu giVes hoPe to leARneRs

ChooSIng a CarEEr IS onE of ThE MoST

CruCIal dECISIonS a lEarnEr haS To MakE

In ThEIr SChoolIng lIfE. IT Can bE an

Equally daunTIng TaSk If ThE lEarnEr haS no

IdEa whaT hE wanTS To do afTEr CoMplETIng

ThEIr SECondary SChoolIng. howEvEr, CarEEr guIdanCE Can

go a long way TowardS aSSISTIng

lEarnErS To MakE ThIS TaSk EaSIEr.

in rUraL areas

t he south african Democratic teachers’ Union (saDtU), through its adopt-a-school programme, realized that most learners in the

rural schools struggle to further their education in tertiary institutions mainly due to lack of career guidance. Moreover, most tertiary institutions are in urban areas and are therefore inaccessible in terms of proximity and affordability.

as part of fulfilling one of saDtU’s Vision 2030 pillars - creating a Learning nation and the union’s commitment to the neDLac education accord and the promotion of Quality Learning and teaching campaign, the Union embarked on a career/exhibition and guidance programme.

the programme began in the Limpopo province in 2013 targeting rural and no-fee

schools and learners from a poor background. the programme then spread to north west, Mpumalanga, Free state, north cape and KwaZulu natal. Between February and May, close to 1000 learners from nine schools attended the programme in the Limpopo and Free state provinces. It will move to eastern cape and Mpumalanga provinces before the end of the year.

the Union in the career guidance programme collaborates with students from various tertiary institutions from tshwane University technology, University of Limpopo, University of Johannesburg, witwatersrand University and the University of KwaZulu-natal.

these students give first-hand information to the learners on how they managed to study in these institutions by sharing their

personal testimonies. Learners are encouraged to apply timeously for admission at tertiary institutions to avoid long queues that take place at the beginning of every academic year. they help the learners understand courses of their interest, as well as how to define their goals and execute plans.

Moreover, the learners are motivated to look beyond their circumstances; they are told they can make it to tertiary as long as they obtain good marks. the learners receive information on funding options like applying for funding to the national student Financial aid scheme (nsFas) and other bursaries.

although many learners do not have any knowledge on how to apply to tertiary institutions, nor which courses to study after passing matric, after the sessions with the facilitators many feel empowered and motivated.

Brutus sekgala (22) from Makelepeng secondary school in Mpahanama, sekhukhune district said he was planning to study for a degree in computer science at University of pretoria. sekgala who is inspired by Mike shuttleworth an Ict entrepreneur said he had always dreamed of working in the technology sector. “the career guidance was very much informative. I had a chance to ask the students about my career choice. we are living in the ever-changing world and technology has taken over, this is the reason I study hard in order for me to be in the field of technology,” he said.

sekgala added that his teachers were encouraging him to work hard in all subjects so that he could realise his dream. “Our teachers are giving us lessons every saturday at a local primary school where learners from four secondary schools attend. they motivate and encourage that nothing is impossible if we work hard,” he said.

Faith Mashogoane (18) a Grade 12 learner at Dithothwaneng secondary school in Mphanama, sekhukhune district said the career guidance programme helped her understand better her career of choice. “I would like to study logistics management at tshwane University of technology. I have always wanted to be in the transport industry as a woman. In future, I would like to run my own company because the industry is still male-dominated, but for

website - www.sadtu.org.za

sOUtH aFrIcan DeMOcratIc teacHers UnIOn- saDtU

@sadtunational

national Office telephone: (011) 971 2000Fax: (011) 971 2066/2067email: [email protected]

For more information on saDtU, visit: www.sadtu.org.za

now I’m focusing on my studies so that I pass well to get into the university,” she said.

tshephang chabeli, (19) a Grade 12 learner at phephetso secondary school in Kroonstad, who wants to study actuarial science at University of cape town said, “ I will be the first one to go to a tertiary institution at home. the programme has motivated and benefited me a lot. I am now clear about the course I want to study. some of my friends have dropped out of the school due to ill-discipline. I believe through hard work and discipline I will achieve my dreams,” he added.

Mihle Qanqiso, (16) from thakameso secondary school, wants to study Information communication technology at the University of cape town. “I’m curious and interested in how the technology works. when I look at television, I can feel that one day I can do what those people behind the scenes are doing. the modern world relies highly on technology, this is the reason I want to work in the Ict sector,” she said.

Qanqiso said she aims to pass with distinctions at the end of the year in order to stand a chance of being admitted at the university of her choice.

University of Limpopo communication science student Kwena ramogayane kept the learners on their feet singing motivational songs meant to help them focus on their life goals. ramogayane’s message to learners was that they should understand the purpose of studying. “education is more than just a ticket to the good life. education is the means by which we can make our communities, country, continent and the world a much better place. education is a ticket to change the world,” he said.

ramogayane said saDtU was on the right

path to come up with the programme and take it to schools in deep rural areas of the country. “this programme has empowered a lot of learners who are enrolled in different universities and tVet colleges across the country,” he said.

saDtU’s Free state education convenor Ditaba Motsoeneng praised the programme and facilitators for their sterling job. “I would like to acknowledge the programme because it convened us with the purpose of sharing good education practices and various challenges,” he said. Motsoeneng encouraged the learners to work very hard and be committed to their studies.

saDtU’s career guidance project coordinator and researcher Manoshe phasha is happy with the project; “this year we started well in Limpopo and Free state province, but our target is always six provinces per year. In the next semester, we will go to four provinces and we will start with Mpumalanga and eastern cape. the programme is doing well because learners, teachers, community members and circuit managers are appreciating it. Our intention is to change the socio-economic challenges faced by an african child through education that is why we targeted the rural parts of the country. I believe the union is on the right track,” phasha said.

the south african Democratic teachers’ Union (saDtU), the biggest teacher and education workers’ union in south africa with 260 000 members. the Union was launched on 6 October 1990. In 2011, saDtU adopted it Vision for 2030 that is pillared on achieving the following: servicing Union Members, creating a Learning nation, promoting a Development Oriented nation state, creating International partnership and Building a Delivery Based Organisational capacity.

Waterdoesn’tcome from a tap.Water goes on a long and complicated journey to get to you.

Visit journeyofwater.co.Za to learn more about where your water comes from.Photo © Hougaard Malan

WWF_Journey of Water_A3 Poster.indd 1 2015/04/16 11:58 AM

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