Vol 5 No 4 May

and explains that the wonderful aroma of the soup filled the entire building and since a very cold wind was howling out-side, the soup proved to be an instant hit.

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A hug in a mug...There’s just something supremely comforting about a cup of hot soup on a cold day. With this in mind – and the current cold front sweeping through the country, staff members from the Vaal Triangle Campus Li-brary celebrated Mandela Day by dishing out more than 125 cups of soup to students.

This initiative formed part of the li-brary’s Mandela Day celebrations and took place on Friday, 17 July 2015.

According to Thoko Tswaile, one of the organisers of the event, a warm cup of soup resembles nothing less than a “hug in a mug” and apart from hitting the spot on a cold day, it is also healthy and filling. “You should have seen the students’ faces when they entered the building,” laughs Thoko

CAMPUS NEWS

CAMPUS NEWS

During the recent recess students and staff from the North-West University (NWU) attended the Annual Green Campuses Conference hosted by the University of the Western Cape.

Twenty-three students from the Vaal Campus’ Green Campus Initiative Committee, the House Committee and Student Representative Council members were ac-companied by seven staff members to this event. The Vaal Campus contingent was led by Green Campus Ini-tiative coordinator, Madeline Evert, while the Potchef-stroom and Mafikeng campuses were represented by Jean-Marc Stidworthy and Koos Degenaar respectively.

Since the event was aimed mainly at students, a good balance between fun and serious discussion was main-tained. A trip to Table Mountain was followed up with an Eco Runway event in which four Vaal Campus students took part and represented the university with pride.

The 2015 conference included insightful presentations on the role of youth in creating a green economy; green jobs – towards decent work in the sustainable low car-bon; and how to reduce CO2 emissions by carpooling. Some of the advice on how to think green and sustain-able require fairly simple changes in daily behaviour, while others provide innovative employment seekers the opportunity for a new lifestyle and career.

Madeline chaired a session during the conference with the theme green innovation, specifically focusing on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies research, develop-ment and innovation strategy.

Green Campus Initiatives in South AfricaGreen Campus Initiatives were launched at South Af-rican college and university campuses following a call from the minister of Higher Education and Training to set up an initiative aimed at promoting climate change interventions.

These institutional initiatives are meant to provide stu-dents with the know-how and skills needed address sus-tainability, environmental awareness, climate change, and greening; and to allow them to benefit from the eco-nomic opportunities that arise from the solutions they help develop.

Key aims of the programme are to encourage students and staff to think and become green, use bicycles and buses; to ensure that universities procure green prod-ucts and services; to structure curricula to include more focus on sustainability; to reduce resource usage by re-cycling, and to run resource usage audits.

NWU Green Campus InitiativeMaking a positive impact on the environment

Green Campus Initiative on the Vaal CampusThe Green Campus Initiative (GCI) on the Vaal Cam-pus is very much a partnership between students and staff, with both groups coming together to create greater awareness and insight on how to be a responsible green citizen. GCI on the Vaal Campus followed the example of the Potchefstroom Campus by instituting a compe-tition in which residences compete each winter to see who can save the most electricity during a time gener-ally marked by cold weather and increased electricity usage.

Community service is also included in the Green Cam-pus Initiative’s activities. Cleaning campaigns are im-portant to help create a clean and healthy environment in the Vanderbijlpark CBD and at polling stations after election days.

Making use of the campus’ nature reserve status and location on the banks of the Vaal River, lecturers include knowledge on sustainable practices by doing water test-ing and using the campus environment to help students to make the transition from theoretical knowledge to ap-plying it in practice.

To follow the activities of Green Campus Initiative of the North-West University, follow them on Facebook on NWU: Green Campus Initiatives.

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CAMPUS NEWS

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CAMPUS NEWS

Bean Counting Day 2015!The skills shortage in South Africa’s financial sector has reached critical level, with industries like the account-ing sector being among those hard-est hit. With this in mind the School of Accounting Sciences on the Vaal Triangle Campus of the North-West University (NWU) recently hosted a very successful Bean Counting Day.

This year saw the third rendition of this career networking opportu-nity. According to the organisers of the event, prospective accountants should take advantage of opportuni-ties such as Bean Counting Day to spend time with industry profession-als and ask questions like “What do you know now that you wish some-one had told you when you first started out?, “What are some of the biggest challenges you had to over-come in building your career?”, or “How did you obtain important expe-rience within your organisation?”.

Industry giants such as ACCA (Asso-ciation of Chartered Certified Accoun-tants), the Auditor General SA, BDO (a regional association of accounting

firms with over 60 partners and con-sultants), Guarantee Trust Corporate Support Services, KPMG (a global network of professional financial ser-vices firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services), Mazars, Nkonki East Gauteng Inc, PKF Westrand, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, SAICA (South African Institute of Chartered Accountants), Teach South Africa, RSM Betty & Dickson (Johannes-burg) and Octagon Chartered Ac-countants attended the event.

According to Prof Heleen Janse van Vuuren, Director of the School of Accounting Sciences, government, business, academic institutions and communities all have a role to play in addressing the ongoing skills chal-lenge in the accounting profession. According to the National Develop-ment Plan (NDP, 2010-20130), ac-counting is viewed as not only a scarce skill within the public service delivery arena but also a vehicle to overcome poverty and inequality and ultimately reduce unemployment.

By means of initiatives such as Bean Counting Day accounting stu-dents are introduced to prospective employers and the reality of the ac-counting industry. According to the organisers the event aims to also in-spire and motivate students to focus on their studies and by doing so en-hance their employability within this highly competitive market.

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CAMPUS NEWS

Golden Key members attend international summitA delegation comprising of ten mem-bers of the Golden Key Chapter of the Vaal Triangle Campus of the North-West University (NWU Vaal) recently had the honour to attend the Golden Key International Summit in Australia.

The summit – which was hosted at the Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort in Gold Coast Australia, saw some of the brightest and most passionate members of the society from across the globe come together for three fun-filled days. The theme of the 2015 summit was: Pursue your path in paradise! The 2015 summit was the first summit to be hosted outside of the United States and therefore represented an important milestone for the society.

The members who proudly repre-sented the Vaal Triangle Campus in Australia were:Zoleka NdolelaGirley KwakwaKeitumetse MoeletsiKatleho MakokoFatima MohammedZeenat MohammedHappy SothoanePrecious Likhethe

Sindiswe Magagula

More about the summitThe programme included various so-cial activities, workshops, community outreach projects and networking sessions. The two keynote speak-ers who took to the stage were: Mi-chael Crossland (an extraordinary young man who has defied the odds of a life threatening cancer to build a life of exceptional achievements. An accomplished businessman and an elite sportsman who has defied the odds of a life threatening cancer diagnosis) and Simon Griffiths (engi-neer and economist turned social en-trepreneur). A panel of international career specialists – from the higher education and corporate sector, also shared their wisdom through guided discussion focusing on personal branding, interview and resume preparation, career change and what it takes to succeed in the workforce.

More about Golden Key InternationalThe Golden Key International Hon-our Society connects high-achieving individuals locally, regionally and globally with lifetime opportunity, re-ward and success. The society fo-cuses on academic excellence, lead-

ership development and community service. It is furthermore a non-profit organization affiliated with over 400 universities throughout Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia, New Zea-land, South Africa, the Bahamas and the United States. The society’s mis-sion is to enable members to realize their potential by connecting individu-al achievement with service and life-long opportunity. Golden Key is the world’s largest honour society and is a mission-focused, values-based and demographics-driven organiza-tion. With 36 years of rich tradition, Golden Key remains committed to scholarship, career development, leadership and community service. To date more than 70 000 South Af-rican students have joined the ranks of the society.

In May this year, the NWU Vaal Chapter welcomed more than 390 new students in its midst.

* The Campus delegates would like to thank all their sponsors for making this opportunity a reality for them.

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CAMPUS NEWS

Election fever is running high at the Vaal Triangle Cam-pus of the North-West University (NWU Vaal), with stu-dents preparing to take to the voting stations soon to elect a new student leadership for 2016.

Apart from the election of a new Student Representative Council (SRC), the students will also be electing new house committees for each of the Campus’s residenc-es. The election process – for the SRC representatives, will commence on 19 and 20 August, whilst the differ-ent house committees will be elected on 25 and 26 of August. After the announcement of the new leaders, the respective leadership bodies will officially be inau-gurated into office on 28 August 2015. As part of the inauguration all the new leaders have to pledge adher-ence to the Leadership Oath of Office.

This year the inauguration ceremony is open to all mem-bers of the Campus community. According to Mr Jacob Simango – Director Student Leadership and Engage-ment (SEAL), this provides an ideal platform to staff and students to not only meet the new contingent of student leaders but also to empower themselves to take on the role of co-stewards of leadership. “By witnessing the leaders taking the oath, members of the Campus com-

munity acts as witnesses who will – if needed, be able to hold the leadership accountable during their term of office. Jacob explains that the oath represents a binding contract between each respective leader and the Cam-pus community.

During the inauguration ceremony Ms Prem Coopoo, Dean of Students, will explain the purpose and neces-sity of a formal inauguration while a member of the In-dependent Electoral Commission (IEC) will also share his observations pertaining to the election process. The key-note address will be delivered by the Executive Mayor of the Sedibeng District Municipality, Cllr Sam Mofokeng. Other dignitaries that will take to the stage include: Mr Joshua Maponga (guest speaker), Prof Dan Kgwadi (Vice-Chancellor of the NWU) and Mr Jacob Si-mango.

The ceremony will furthermore see the new student leadership receive their official Campus blazers – a symbolic gesture to mark their new status as elected student leaders and campus ambassadors.

The ceremony will take place at the Samancor Audito-rium (Building 6), from 16:00.

Campus Community to play witness to inauguration of new student leaders

Remember the name Dirk George Uys, because you are sure to hear it again in the near future. If not for his professional accomplishments within the field of in-formation technology, then for his talent for playing the church organ. The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vaal Triangle Campus recently applauded Dirk, a BSc Honours student, for being the 2014 Top BSc IT student.

Dirk grew up in Vereeniging and attended the Three Riv-ers Primary School. In 2011 he matriculated from the Vereeniging High School and passed the National Se-nior Certificate Examiniation with three distinctions to his name.

In 2012 he registered at the Vaal Triangle Campus of the North-West Unversity (NWU Vaal) for a BSc degree in Information Technology. During all three years of study he received the Faculty of Economic Sciences and IT’s award for Best Performer in the study year. He passed 26 of the 29 modules of the degree with distinction and maintained an average of 86.46% throughout his stud-ies.

As a result of his outstanding academic performance he is a member of the Golden Key International Honour So-ciety. He is currently registered for an Honours BSc in

Computer Science and Information Systems.

In his part-time he is training towards a Diploma in Church Organ Music. He has completed two of the six examinations. He is also a member of the Delta com-munity choir.

NWU Vaal applauds best BSc IT student for 2014

CAMPUS NEWS

CAMPUS NEWS

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Community work was the business of the day- YEBO

The Young Entrepreneur Business Organisation – or YEBO as it is known, recently showed that busi-ness shouldn’t just be about the bot-tom line and increasing profit mar-gins.

The YEBO Angels – a group of YEBO members dedicated to com-munity outreach work and communi-ty empowerment, recently celebrated Mandela Day by spending time at the Bophelong Children’s Home in Vanderbijlpark. The Bophelong Chil-dren’s Home renders a variety of ser-vices to vulnerable children. The chil-dren’s home was founded by Emily Hohlala – who, together with the help of a small contingent of permanent staff members and volunteers from the community, not only manages the home but also provides the nec-essary love, nurturing and guidance to the children. The home is currently a safe haven to 50 children ranging from a mere 3 months to 19 years of age.

67 Minutes of selflessnessKeeping true to the spirit of Mande-la Day, the Yebo Angels initiated a charity drive in aid of the children’s

home. The team managed to collect more than 30 boxes of clothes – all donated by members of the Campus Community (both staff and students). In addition to the donations, they also treated the children to a fun-filled day including storytelling, coloring and reading from educational books. Ac-cording to Natanya the day embod-ied the very essence of love and selflessness. “The Yebo Angels out-shone themselves and I believe that they truly understand and value the importance of community involve-ment – especially as young entre-preneurs who are destined to make a difference in their respective com-munities.” She also says that by en-gaging in activities such as this one, students learn the worth of servant leadership and that business is not just about making money.

More about the Yebo AngelsThe Yebo Angels Community Devel-opment Programme was initiatied by Ms Natanya Meyer – the YEBO co-ordinator. At present, Ms Mbali Blaai serves as the facilitator for the group.

The organisation enjoys affiliation from the Campus’s Student Repre-

sentative Council whilst functioning within the sphere of the bhive EDC (En-terprise Develop-ment Centre). The latter represents a dynamic business and entrepreneur-ship incubator for the Vaal Triangle re-gion as well as the Gauteng province. The facility repre-sents a dynamic collaboration be-tween the Faculty of Economic Sci-ences and Informa-tion Technology and the Netherlands Ini-tiative for Capac-ity Development in Higher Education (Nuffic). The bhive

EDC strives to be an entrepreneur-ial change agent to help students to develop and build a sustainable busi-ness. One way of reaching this aim is through initiatives such as YEBO

YEBO aims to improve entrepreneur-ship awareness among students and by doing so influence young people – especially graduates, into having a positive outlook on business own-ership. According to Natanya the importance of entrepreneurship is underpinned in the National Devel-opment Plan for South Africa. “En-trepreneurship offers an effective method to counteract the crisis of un-employment,” says Meyer and adds that by promoting entrepreneurship as a preferred career choice, the Vaal Triangle Campus is pro-actively shaping the country’s next genera-tion of entrepreneurial giants.

* The YEBO Angels wish to thank ev-eryone who assisted in this project.

STUDENT 911

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Student Support: our top priorityThe North-West University is a high-er education institution that not only prides itself on its academic excel-lence; it is also a university that cares about the wellbeing of its students.

A wide range of student support ser-vices are available to enhance the lives of NWU students. On the Vaal Triangle Campus of the North-West University (NWU Vaal) the follow-ing tailor-made support services are available:

Career and course counselling ser-vicesFinding your way in the professional world can be daunting for students who are not sure what career path to follow. To this end, career, course and subject counselling based on psy-chometric evaluation and feedback is available. The Directorate Student Counselling and Development (SCD) conducts psychometric assessments with prospective students. At the Di-rectorate Academic Development and Support (ADS), another useful service is rendered by assisting stu-dents with study skills – enabling stu-dents to realize their full potential by studying more successfully.

The Career Centre – situated within SCD, advises students on future ca-reer opportunities and helps them prepare for the world of work. These services include career fairs, CV and interview preparation workshops and employer presentations.

Psychological servicesThere are 24-hour crisis lines avail-able to help students in distress overcome emotional or psychologi-cal problems. Students have access to counselling and therapy and can attend personal development and life skills workshops, as well as preven-tion and awareness programmes. This service is of paramount impor-tance when students struggle with anxiety or depression, or experience difficulties with concentration and

memory, in turn affecting academic performance.

Troubled students are also assisted to overcome substance abuse, trau-matic experiences or loses and ad-justment challenges. The NWU Vaal Crisis Line number is: 082 815 9781

Social Work servicesStudents’ psychosocial wellbeing is important as it affects their ability to adjust to campus life and interact with others. After undergoing psycho-social assessment, students receive support for social, emotional, behav-ioural and adjustment problems.

Students can attend individual and group counselling sessions, be in-volved in crisis intervention and re-ceive trauma debriefing.

Units for students with disabilitiesThe disability units across the three campuses serve students who have verified physical, medical, learning or psychological conditions, and need individualized services to overcome severe disadvantages. Examples are visual, physical and mobility, hearing, learning and speech impairments, chronic illnesses and painful condi-tions.

Apart from working with students who have permanent disabilities, the unit also assist students who are temporarily disabled and have, for instance, broken limbs. On the Vaal Triangle Cam-pus, the Dis-ability Unit is vested within SCD.

HIV/Aids and health care servicesIn a world where HIV and AIDS pose huge cha l l enges ,

the NWU Vaal is doing its part to curb the pandemic. Students have access to educational material and voluntary testing and counselling – enabling them to know their HIV status. There is also HIV and Aids awareness ad-vocates consisting of volunteers who offer support and guidance to stu-dents. The latter offers students the opportunity to volunteer their time to raise awareness on the campuses and to equip themselves with related skills and knowledge.

The Campus Clinic also conducts regular prevention and awareness campaigns during which primary healthcare services are rendered. The usual common ailments such as outbreaks of flu, diarrhoea and allergies are treated, pregnant stu-dents are cared for, vaccination programmes against communicable diseases are undertaken, and advice and services on contraceptives and family planning are available.

Peer helpersMost students will tell you that, when dealing with personal concerns, they are more comfortable learning from their peers. The NWU Vaal’s peer mentoring programme is available for all students but focuses specially on first-year students.

The peer helpers (senior students) are carefully selected and trained in basic helping skills to assist and refer students to the necessary ser-vices. They assist in leading students to self-understanding so that they can make behavioural and learning changes, and realize their personal goals. The peer helpers also give students support in difficult times and help them to develop their coping skills.

INSPIRATION

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Fashion and fun - a young NWU alumna’s gift on Mandela Day

Boitumelo Phetoe is a change maker with a contagious passion for life. This 21 year-old alumna and postgradu-ate student of the Vaal Campus affects real change and is a worthy role model not only to her peers, but every-one she comes in contact with.

Boitumelo, who obtained her degree in Social Work in 2014 and is currently busy with a postgraduate study in Psychology, has a soft spot for the marginalised, needy and vulnerable members of society – especially children, and as such she has pioneered several com-munity engagement initiatives aimed at bettering the im-mediate living standards of disadvantaged children.

A Mandela Day that will linger in the minds of allThis year she hosted a very successful and well sup-ported Fashion for Linger-ers campaign to celebrate Mandela Day on 18 July 2015. She explains: “When you are buying clothes you spend a lot of time linger-ing in the shop, and it becomes an activity that speaks of enjoyment, relaxation and privilege. Through my ini-tiative I wanted to simulate this experience by creating an on-the-spot charity shop where the beneficiaries can linger and seek out whatever they feel like. By doing this they feel empowered and it lessens the stigma asso-ciated with receiving hand-me-downs from strangers.” The beneficiary of this year’s campaign was Kids Haven in Benoni.

“As a Social Worker I also know that it is important for young children to be exposed to decision making sce-

narios and that such activity will help them develop their negotiation skills as well as their communication skills. I also believe that this will strengthen their self-image,” says Boitumelo, who not only got her friends involved in the initiative but also several corporate sponsors. On the day a total of 50 children took part in the campaign and apart from their shopping experience, they were also treated to goodie packs, fun and games. The team as-sisting Boitumelo on the day included: eight NWU Vaal alumni members, 22 students, family and friends as well as Prof Tumi Khumalo (representing the research focus area, Optentia).

A Social Worker of noteAccording to Boitumelo her passion for community work stems from the various practical assignments she had to complete whilst studying towards her degree in Social Work. In 2014 she came up with a Shoes for School project in the Vaal Triangle region. This project challenged individuals to collect school shoes – new or used, as well as stationary and educational toys. She added a unique twist to the project by giving each donor a 20litre bucket to fill with the mentioned items. “The smallest things are usually the ones that are forgotten, and I wanted to remind people that education is impor-tant and that each pencil sharpener, eraser, colouring book and pair of school shoes go a long way towards enabling a successful schooling.” Boitumelo says that through her exposure to community work she has re-alised that although giving fancy and expensive gifts to needy children is a wonderful and noble gesture, it does not contribute towards addressing their basic day-to-day needs. “There is still – in this day and age, a terrible stigma that clings to a child in need and by providing these young ones with basic necessities such as books, stationary, proper school wear and the likes each one of us can help to raise a member of the next generation of leaders, visionaries, change makers and philanthro-pists,” says Boitumelo.

Asked what she hopes to achieve through her various projects, Boitumelo answers that she wants to serve as the livewire that gets her peers, communities and insti-tutions to make a difference in a ways that do not feel forced or prescribed. “I want to show to the world that giving is fun and that it does not always have to revolve around money. Giving is effortless and the rewards are bountiful! That look of utter amazement and joy reflected in a child’s eyes touches you in a way that cannot be de-scribed in words or be bought by any amount of money. It is that moment when you realise that you are a bless-ing for someone else, that you realise the true meaning of life.”

* Boitumelo wishes to thank all those who contributed towards the success of the day.

HEALTH

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ALUMNI

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Be connected and stay involved: NWU Vaal Alumni fraternity

Be connected and stay Involved – NWU Vaal Alumni fraternity“Students, past and present, are what any university is all about.” This is according to Alwine Naude, alumni coordinator on the Vaal Triangle Campus of the North-West University (NWU Vaal).

“Faculty members and support staff are vital, but stu-dents are unique in that they will forever fulfil a role – be it as current students or as alumni. It would be easy to lose track of most graduates after they embark on their various careers, but as a university we know that doing so would be a huge mistake and therefore we do every-thing possible to maintain long-term relationships with our graduates,” explains Alwine and adds that the upcom-ing NWU Vaal Alumni Gala Dinner is just one of the ini-tiatives aimed at fostering good alumni relations.

The NWU Vaal Alumni Gala Dinner will take place on 21 August and will see the very popu-lar muso – El-vis Blue, take to the stage to entertain guests. The theme of the 2015 event is: “A year of impact!” The event will be hosted at the Quest Conference Estate in Vanderbijl-park.

More about the performing artistElvis Blue is a man of impact – not only as a top musi-cian and songwriter, but also as someone with a heart for those around him. In fact, he lives by the words of well-known U2 front man, Bono: “Music can change the world because it can change people.”

With album sales in excess of 350 000, nine Top Ten radio singles, and more than 700 live performances to his credit Elvis Blue is reckoned as one of the most suc-cessful artists in South Africa.

In 2010, Elvis was the winner of M-Net’s SA Idols and unselfishly shared half of his winnings with runner-up and young musician, Lloyd Cele. His first album enjoyed platinum sales status with sales in excess of 50 000 copies as well as a 2012 SAMA for Best Adult Contem-porary Album. A year later, in 2013, Elvis was nomi-nated for another 3 SAMA awards, namely: Male Artist of the Year, Album of the Year (“Journey”) and Song of the Year (“Lifeline”). This year will be another bumper year for Elvis, with his latest hit single “Shine” making him the top selling South African artist on iTunes in its first week of release. He also boasts with a brand new Afrikaans Album.

NWU Vaal Alumni fraternityWith a Cam-pus history that dates back to the mid 1960’s this event aims to re-unite alumni from yes-teryear with the new generat ion of young alumni, and by doing so strengthen the student experience and emo-tional bond which all alumni cher-ish.

The Cam-pus’ alumni

fraternity represents a 20 000 strong professional net-work of business leaders, entrepreneurs, academia and industry experts located around the globe and the annual Gala Dinner builds forth on the proud tradition of loyalty and excellence that typifies the spirit of the fraternity.

Book now to avoid disappointmentIf you would like to attend the gala event, please book your seat early. Tickets are available at R270 per person or R2 500 per table of ten guests. The event will take place at 18:00. For more information contact Alwine on 082 802 9299 or send her an e-mail at Alwine.naude@nwu.ac.za

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