Publications On Campus Issue 3. August 2015

OnCampusIssue 2 • August 2015 • For daily updates visit www.uwc.ac.za

In a world battling climate change, energy shortages, habitat destruction and pollution, it has become important

that universities serve as role models for greening and sustainability.

UWC’s Green Campus Initiative involves over 2 000 student volunteers in campus clean-ups, creating vegetable and indigenous gardens at residences, participating in formal green talks and debates and hosting green/dark religious services (that is, services conducted without the use of electricity).

“As a tertiary education institution, we have a responsibility to lead by example,” says Saudiqa Yasin, Manager: at UWC’s Department of Infrastructure and Engineering. “How can we advocate being among the forerunners in education,

developing future responsible leaders and captains of industry and innovation, without fully incorporating best practice and actively working towards reducing our carbon footprint?”

The University’s best practices are reflected in a range of other green initiatives at the main campus.

UWC’s nature reserve conserves the endangered Cape Flats Dune Strandveld and the critically endangered Cape Flats Sand Fynbos. Students are actively involved in managing the reserve, eradicating alien vegetation and maintaining fire breaks, while staff educate the public about the biological treasures in the reserve.

For the last few months, 25% of the power the reserve needs has been supplied by a prototype hydrogen fuel

cell (HFC) generator built and installed by Hydrogen South Africa Systems Integration and Technology Validation Centre (HySA Systems), a project based at UWC. HFC technology is pollution-free – the only emission is water!

The UWC Recycling Initiative collects an average of 70 tons of recyclables each month and sells the materials to recycling companies. It has been estimated that over the past four years, the UWC Recycling Initiative has reduced UWC’s annual CO2 emissions by about 840 tons.

“UWC management, service providers, media and students have proven that, by working together, we can move our campus into the future,” says UWC Green Team leader and Residential Services Officer, Njabulo Maphumulo.

Greening the Campus

Page 3 New study of obesity funded

Page 4-7 Events

Page 11 PharmaSea project scours oceans’ depths

Page 12 Water brings Africa and China together

• Received the Outstanding Award for an Advanced University at the 2014 Association of College and University Housing Officers International, Southern Africa Chapter African Green Initiative conference.

• UWC was chosen the Greenest Campus in 2012 and 2014.

• For the green award Universities were assessed on energy efficiency, water conversation, biodiversity and nature reserves. green buildings, green purchasing, green programming, waste reduction and recycling, green leadership and innovation.

student volunteers.2000 70

25%

UWC’s Green Campus Initiative involves over

The UWC Recycling Initiative collects an average of

of its power needs from a prototype hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) generator built and installed by Hydrogen South Africa Systems Integration and Technology Validation Centre (HySA Systems), a project based at UWC.

The reserve has been receiving

75%

tons of recyclables each month and sells

the materials to recycling companies.

UWC Recycling Initiative has reduced UWC’s

annual CO2 emissions by about 840 tons.

840tons

Offering A Holistic Student ExperienceUWC takes pride in... Our Teaching & Learning Focus Our Relevant Research & Innovation

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On 28 May, the University of the Western Cape launched its Fraud and Corruption Prevention Campaign.

All major University stakeholders were invited to attend the launch ceremony at the Life Sciences Auditorium on campus.

The launch included the signing of a pledge committing all major interested parties to uphold the integrity of UWC, the implementation of the new Fraud and Corruption Prevention Policy and the initiation of a dedicated toll-free hotline.

Speaking at the launch, UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tyrone Pretorius said, “This launch is a sign of our commitment to strengthening governance and promoting transparency within the institution.”

UWC Executive Director of Finance and Services, Abduraghman Regal, said, “UWC has a long legacy of being proactive in its

approach to any challenge. We will do so now, once more, to bolster UWC’s best practices and actively promote a culture of integrity.”

In pursuit of these values, UWC has developed a policy framework to prevent fraud, corruption, theft and internal irregularities. The Fraud and Corruption Prevention Policy gives guidance on how to deal with infringements, on the roles and responsibilities of the policy drivers, and on the administration of the policy.

As a call to action, UWC launched an awareness campaign to introduce the toll-free hotline that will enable all stakeholders to safely report any University-related incident of fraud, theft or corruption or any other irregularity. The hotline will be independently administered by auditing firm KPMG, to protect the anonymity of whistle-blowers. The service includes a toll-

free number, a secure e-mail address, a fax number and a postal address.

The pledge has been signed by the Vice-Chancellor, the Executive Director of Finance and Services, the Chairperson of the Audit and Risk Committee, the Chairperson of the University’s Council, and the Chairperson of the Student Representative Council.

All stakeholders, “from students to executive, have an integral role to play in safeguarding the UWC brand,” said Prof Pretorius. “Our ‘I am UWC’ slogan means we are all guardians of UWC’s reputation and its legacy, and I urge all stakeholders to utilise the service to report any irregularities.”

More information pertaining to the policy will be released as the campaign unfolds.

Auditor-General of South Africa, Thembekile Kimi Makwetu, signs the pledge.

UWC launches Fraud and Corruption Prevention Policy

NEWS

Producing & Attracting Excellent Talent Sustaining Financial Stability Growing Our Profile Internally & Externally Sense-Making Through Leadership Development

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Obesity – which can lead to many health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some

types of cancer – is becoming a global health epidemic and a societal problem that can potentially undermine economic growth.

Understanding food choices and obesity in adults and children can contribute to enabling people to live a healthy life and, ultimately, may assist societal transformation and higher economic growth in South Africa.

Thanks to a R1.5 million research grant from the Programme to Support Pro-poor Policy Development Phase II (PSPPD II), a partnership programme of the European Union, the South African government and the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security at UWC, a senior research team from UWC’s Institute for Social Development (ISD), comprising

Dr Mulugeta Dinbabo (team leader), and senior researchers Dr Sharon Penderis and Dr Razack Karriem, will conduct a study to explore and quantify food choices among the impoverished communities of Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain.

According to Dr Dinbabo, the study will assess and quantify food choices and Measured Body Mass Index (BMI) in relation to people’s self-perceived health status and actual BMI measurement scores, using the 2013 National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS) survey in South Africa. In addition, the study will use empirical field data in the two areas identified for the analysis.

Dr Dinbabo notes that a major concern is the dramatic increase in the prevalence of overweight and obese children. “Obesity is on the rise in South Africa and is among the highest on the African

continent, and affects all age groups and social classes,” he says. “The challenge is that the majority of citizens do not seem to perceive obesity as a health risk or problem.”

Dr Dinbabo says the project is expected to make a contribution to international and national dialogue and collaboration through conferences and workshops on food choices and BMI, develop evidence-based models for effective multi-level intervention approaches in health promotion practice across South Africa, and empower ISD postgraduate students in policy-oriented research methodologies.

The project will also contribute to the production of research outputs, including the writing of policy briefs for policy makers, book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles in accredited journals.

Institute for Social Development researchers Dr Razack Karriem (left), Dr Sharon Penderis and Dr Mulugeta Dinbabo have been awarded a R1.5 million research grant by the Programme to Support Pro-poor Policy Development Phase II.

new study of obesity funded

NEWS


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UWC signs agreement with asahi and Meikai Universities in Japan On a recent visit to Japan, UWC’s Dean of Dentistry, Professor Yusuf Osman, signed an MoU with Meikai University’s School of Dentistry and Asahi University’s School of Dentistry, regarding future collaboration and academic exchanges between UWC’s Faculty of Dentistry and the Japanese institutions.

UWC Centre for Multilingualism and Diversities Research launched The official launch of the Centre for Multilingualism and Diversities Research at UWC in April featured academics reflecting on the Centre’s research activities, artistic performances and a panel discussion on ‘Multilingualism at the crossroads’.

Dean’s Merit awards Deans from UWC’s Arts, CHS, Dentistry, Education, EMS, Law and Science faculties hosted their annual Dean’s Merit Awards events where each faculty’s top students received awards for their achievements.

World TB Day UWC nursing students held an awareness walk on World TB Day 2015 to deliver the message that tuberculosis can be overcome despite the stigma associated with the disease.

PhD student attend Nobel Conference UWC astrophysics student Didam Duniya is attending the 2015 Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting in July where he will engage with some of the world’s most promising young researchers – and 70 Nobel Prize-winning scientists.

LaunchLab Pitching Den From 14 to 16 April 2015 business entrepreneurs (both students and non-students) had the opportunity to pitch their business ideas at the LaunchLab Pitching Den event that was held at UWC’s Business Innovation Centre.

EVENTS


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China Week at UWC China Week was hosted in April by UWC’s School of Natural Medicine and the UWC Chinese Students Society. The aims of the event were to encourage communication between UWC and Cape Town’s Chinese community and to promote collaboration, especially in terms of cultural exchange, education and economic enterprise.

BRICS agrarian and food systems under the spotlight at UWC The Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) at UWC hosted an international conference that included discussions on ‘BRICS countries and regional agro-food systems’ and ‘BRICS in relation to old and new hubs of global capital’.

PLaaS 20th anniversary PLAAS recently celebrated its 20th anniversary by hosting the International Symposium on Agrarian Change in the 21st Century: Processes and Politics.

archbishop Thabo Makgoba donation The Archbishop Thabo Cecil Makgoba Development Trust contributed R30 000 to the Dentistry Faculty and R20 000 to the Centre for Performing Arts at the University of the Western Cape in May.

New Mellon Mays students welcomed at UWC The Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Programme has accepted three more students. The new members were welcomed at a celebratory event where they were able to meet and interact with previous fellows who have continued to pursue academic careers.

energy Storage Innovation Lab launch An Energy Storage Innovation Lab recently launched at UWC aims to cross the ‘innovation chasm’ in advanced energy storage solutions, providing reliable and cost-effective energy storage systems.

EVENTS


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UWC Open Day 2015 UWC’s annual Open Day took place on 9 May 2015 where information about undergraduate courses, extracurricular activities, applications, bursaries, loans, selection processes and residence options were provided to prospective students and parents.

DCaS signs agreement with UWC The Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) signed a collaboration agreement with UWC’s Centre for Performing Arts to provide skills development to members of projects funded by DCAS.

Substance abuse Programme Professionals and community workers from the Western Cape recently graduated from the annual Substance Abuse Training Programme that was developed by the UWC Community Engagement Unit and first introduced in 2011.

Third International Symposium on electrochemistry The Third International Symposium on Electrochemistry, with the theme Materials, Analytical and Physical Electrochemistry Today (MAPET’15), was hosted at UWC from 26 to 28 May 2015. The multi-disciplinary symposium brought together scientists who focused on aspects of their research that involve electrochemistry for analysis, characterisation, synthesis or application that serve to foster extensive scientific interaction across disciplines.

Launch of fraud prevention and corruption campaign policy On 28 May UWC launched its Fraud and Corruption Prevention Campaign to promote its policy framework to prevent fraud, corruption, theft and internal irregularities. At the launch event, all major UWC stakeholders signed a pledge to uphold the integrity of UWC.

Rugby Sevens team scores in international competition UWC’s Rugby Sevens team was placed third in the international Centrale Sevens tournament in France in May. The team competed against some of the top university sevens teams in Europe.

EVENTS


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UWC hosts another successful race UWC hosted its annual Fast and Flat 10km Road Race on 30 May 2015. The race attracted large numbers of athletes.

Lifetime achievement award for Prof Bharuthram Professor Rameshwar Bharuthram, who currently serves as Executive: Special Projects, is the recipient of the 2015 Department of Science and Technology (DST)/SARIMA Award for Exceptional Leadership in Research Management.

Thought Leadership Series on the Digital economy UWC kicked off the first instalment of its Thought Leadership Series on the Digital Economy. The public seminars aim to provide critical information pertaining to the utilisation of digital platforms to grow businesses.

New President of Convocation Peace builder and community activist Mlungisi Noludwe, who graduated with a BA degree from UWC in 1998, was elected as the new President of UWC’s Convocation at the Annual General Meeting on 6 June 2015.

UWC and Missouri Plant Science Symposium Researchers from UWC and the University of Missouri came together to discuss cutting-edge plant science research as a means to mitigate the effects of climate change, at the first University of the Western Cape–University of Missouri Plant Science Symposium, held at UWC from 15 to 17 June 2015.

UWC hosts third annual Youth Indaba Youth from disadvantaged communities in Cape Town gathered at the third annual Youth Indaba at UWC on 20 June 2015 to discuss solutions to the challenges facing South Africa’s youth.

EVENTS


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UWC-Missouri symposium showcases cutting-edge plant research

The Universities of the Western Cape (UWC) and Missouri (MU) co-hosted the first UWC-MU Plant

Science Symposium (15 to 17 June 2015) at UWC to discuss cutting-edge plant science research that aims to mitigate the effects of climate change. The event was organised with support from the Centre of Excellence in Food Security (CoE-FS), which is co-hosted by UWC and the University of Pretoria.

Under the theme Sustainable Food Security and Environmental Ecosystems for World Prosperity, the more than 30 presentations at the symposium focused on the abiotic and biotic stresses that plants are subjected to, and how these affect food security and environmental sustainability. Some of the stress-causing factors are drought, heat, salinity (salt levels) and bacteria.

With its track record in plant science – specifically around major Missouri crops like maize and soybean – MU is keen to identify areas where that knowledge can be applied to a broader canvas.

Professor Robert Sharp, director of MU’s Interdisciplinary Plant Group (IPG), says collaborations such as the one with UWC allow scientists to draw greater attention, on an international scale, to issues of food security and water scarcity. “This is an opportunity to link up with colleagues in other countries – in this case Southern Africa – and to put our minds together and make more rapid progress in this regard.”

”It was a chance to bring people in these highly specialised fields to one place to talk about a very important topic,” says Professor Julian May, co-director of the CoE-FS, who provided delegates with an overview of the food security landscape in South Africa and the broad range of work supported by the Centre. “International partnerships are important to what we’re trying to do in the Centre of Excellence. They allow us to bring in resources that are not necessarily available to South Africans.”

UWC and MU have a relationship that dates back nearly 30 years. But the collaboration around plant science offers

a host of new prospects for joint research ventures, networking and exchange opportunities for scholars and graduate students from both universities, according to Professor Ndiko Ludidi, group leader of the Plant Biotechnology Research Group at UWC. It allows the universities – whose work in the field overlap and complement each other – to jointly address a major global concern.

“So if we bring those commonalities together and, of course, our different levels of expertise and different approaches, we can really advance plant science research to new levels,” says Prof Ludidi. “The kind of impact we can make in science and in society in general would benefit substantially from this kind of international collaboration.”

Aside from scientists from UWC, MU and the University of Pretoria, colleagues from CoE-FS collaborating institutions such as Stellenbosch University and the University of Cape Town also participated in the symposium.

UWC GrEEn InItIatIvE

The Plant Science Symposium attracted delegates from UWC and the University of Missouri, as well as the University of Pretoria, the University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University, among other institutions.

Prof Julian May of the CoE-FS set the tone for the symposium, painting a picture of food security in South Africa.


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Learners experience hands-on instruction in science and conservation education at the UWC-Cape Flats Nature Reserve.

Cape Flats nature Reserve serves as outdoor classroom

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) recognises the need for young people to learn about the ecology of the Western Cape’s dwindling natural areas.

The University’s 32-hectare UWC-Cape Flats Nature Reserve protects one of the most important floral conservation sites in the Cape Lowlands, where only small fragments of strandveld and coastal fynbos are formally conserved.

The reserve consists of three major floristic regions – vlei, flats and dunes – with around 220 recorded indigenous plants species. Animals present in the nature reserve include grysbok, mongoose, several reptiles and over 100 bird species.

Aside from being used as a base for ecological training, environmental education and research by university students and researchers, the reserve also helps schools to educate their learners outside the classrooms, through its environmental education programme. Rather than describing examples of nature

in the classroom, educators can now use the reserve to enable learners to see and touch what would otherwise only be observed in textbooks.

Learning programmes at the reserve’s Environmental Education Centre are designed to comply with the school curriculum. The Centre, facilitated by Environmental Education and Research Support Officers Laurenda van Breda and Phoziswa Mpangela, accommodates approximately 50 learners at a time. Many of the schools involved in the programme are in previously disadvantaged communities.

Mpangela says the schools apply at the nature reserve and all grades and types of institutions are welcome, including children’s homes, crèches, old age homes, centres for juvenile offenders, primary and high schools. The programmes are presented at no cost to participants.



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Young Africans raise environmental awareness

It takes the collective efforts of many stakeholders to achieve an environmentally-friendly campus that

meets the high standards reflected in the University of the Western Cape being frequently recognised as one of Southern Africa’s greenest campuses.

One such stakeholder, the student-run Young Environmental Africans (YEA) project, promotes environmental education and action across all faculties of the Institution.

In 2014, YEA partnered with the Geography Department to conduct a survey and raise awareness about the importance of the environment and joined Students Against Fracking in an anti-fracking campaign.

Geography students also conducted a survey across campus and hosted the first Greener Grass Summit, that brought

together student groups interested in sustainability and environmental awareness.

They also found time to engage in community outreach through participation in a social upliftment project at the Masikhanye food garden in Khayelitsha.

This active student organisation has been involved in community outreach programmes where members teach communities about the importance of establishing sustainable community recycling schemes.

President of the Young Environmental Africans, Usomeleze Fitoli, says the organisation promotes the protection of the environment not only for its aesthetic value but for its ability to sustainably improve the lives of people through social and economic empowerment.

“We aim to encourage public engagement and participation in

environmental issues and to show how they affect the socio-economic issues in society.

“Volunteering at a food garden established by pensioners who share our environmental integrity values was a pleasure. The lessons learnt there were about unselfishness and the value of good old-fashioned hard work.

“The food garden has the ability to remain organic and productive. The garden also provides local businesses with vegetable stock,” he says.

He adds that YEA plans is to support all green initiatives at UWC, raise awareness among the student body as a whole (including about water and electricity use), continue to lobby for environmental education as an inter-disciplinary course throughout all faculties and promote green-friendly transport.

Members of the University of the Western Cape Young Environmental Africans project helping out at the Masikhanye food garden in Khayelitsha.



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Pharmasea project scours oceans’ depths

The University of the Western Cape is one of 24 institutions around the world taking part in the European Union-funded PharmaSea

project. The €9.5 million four-year project searches for organisms that could fuel new drug discoveries. Led by Professor Marcel Jaspars of the University of Aberdeen, the project focusses on biodiversity research and bioprospecting for pharmaceutically useful compounds.

The project will collect samples in some of the hottest, deepest and coldest places on the planet, including mud and sediment from deep ocean trenches, using strategies commonly used in the salvage industry to reach samples 6 000 metres deep.

It will then attempt to grow unique micro-organisms in the collected sediment and isolate novel drug-like molecules that may be useful in the development of medical drugs (including new antibiotics) or cosmetics.

The project hopes to discover and develop new pharmaceuticals from marine sources such as bacteria, deep-sea sponges and fungi, for the treatment of central nervous system diseases, inflammation and infection. Researchers will employ classical microbiological isolation techniques, as well as modern metagenomic technologies, to screen for and isolate novel microorganisms associated with South African marine sponges and sea squirts, and to identify new drug-like activities produced by these microorganisms.

The goals are to deliver one or two drug candidates with some preclinical evaluation carried out on them, so that the whole package may be attractive to pharma, in addition to a number of unique compounds with associated potent and selective bioactivity that can be forwarded via other mechanisms.

The researchers from UWC are led by Professor Marla Tuffin, the Director of the Institute for Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics at the Faculty of Natural Sciences, and the Dean of Natural Sciences, Prof Mike Davies-Coleman.

Most of the invertebrate species that have been sampled to date are from Algoa Bay. These invertebrates are new to science.

PharmaSea Arctic collection in 2009 led by project leader Marcel Jaspars.

IMBM PharmaSea researchers (from left) Relebohile Matobole, Lucas Black and William Mavengere examine their equipment.



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Water brings Africa and China together


As developing regions, Africa and China have similar water concerns. Water consumption shot up as the regions enjoyed more than a decade of economic growth.

But now water shortages are threatening economic growth. According to the World Bank, this will cost China about 2% in GDP growth every year. At the same time, the United Nations Organisation believes that Africa currently lacks the “institutional, financial and human capacities for managing water.” South Africa is fast approaching physical water scarcity, defined as having inadequate water resources to meet demand.

The ChinAfrica Water Dialogue Forum, the timely brainchild of Professor Yongxin Xu, the UNESCO Professor of Hydrogeology at UWC, was established in 2013. Prof Xu imagined the annual forum as a platform that would bring together scholars and researchers from Africa and China to address concerns about the looming global water crisis. While many international conferences debated and discussed the issue, he wanted the Forum to look specifically at water resources in the context of economic development.

“The purpose of the Forum was to exchange science and technology information as well as experiences shared by other developing regions,” says Prof Xu. “Africa and China have many similarities as developing regions, and have so much to share.”

The inaugural Forum in 2013, held at UWC in collaboration with South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), was themed Sustainable Utilisation of Water Resources in the Developing Countries. That was also the title of the 2014 conference, staged in Guilin, China. This year’s meeting, to be held at UWC from 17 to 19 August, will discuss Development and Management of Water Resources in Africa and China.

The Forum has sparked numerous exchanges and collaborations. In 2014, UWC master’s student Tebogo Madlala attended the International Training Course on Karst Ecosystems and Geomicrobiology at the International Research Centre on Karst (IRCK) in Guilin (karst refers to the geological feature – and source of groundwater – characterised by rock tower formations associated with underground drainage systems like sinkholes and caves).

Another master’s student, Sibongile Manamathela, was invited in 2014 to present at the International Conference on African Agriculture, Rural Development and Sino-African Cooperation in Nanjing Province, China. “This kind of capacity building is very important for research,” says Prof Xu.

In the meantime, the IRCK has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the CSIR for the further study of karst water. A new MoU between the Institute and South Africa’s Water Research Commission – like IRCK a Forum partner – will be signed at the August Forum at UWC. The MoU concerns ways to implement the groundwater protection measures proposed for South Africa.

Overall, says Prof Xu, the Forum is going from strength to strength. In addition to attracting large numbers of high-level delegates from Africa, China and elsewhere, UNESCO and the national Department of Water and Sanitation will also participate in the August meeting.

“Everyone is taking this collaboration very seriously, and the prospects for it look good,” says Prof Xu.

Prof Yongxin Xu is looking forward to another productive ChinAfrica Water Dialogue Forum as UWC prepares to host the third meeting in the series in August 2015.

Prof Yongxin Xu (right) and UWC colleague, Dr Thokozani Kanyerere, will help direct the discussion when UWC hosts the third ChinAfrica Water Dialogue Forum.


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Can businesses afford not to go digital?

The University of the Western Cape hosted the first instalment of its Thought Leadership Series on

the Digital Economy in May. The public seminars are aimed at providing critical information on the use of digital platforms to grow businesses.

This series follows up on the report released last year by UWC, Stellenbosch Business School (USB) and Ikamva National eSkills Institute (iNeSI), entitled Strategies, Practices and Skills for Competitiveness in the Digital Economy: A Perspective on Large Companies in South Africa.

The report and the seminars focus on the relationship between people and technology, and how this can be improved to unlock opportunities for growth in the digital economy.

As Western Cape iNesI Hub Director and UWC lecturer, Dr Leonora Craffert, explains: “We are amidst a paradigm shift, and we need to equip ourselves and our institutions for the digital economy. The objective of the series is to provide a platform for discussion, exploration and learning between the world of work (business) and the world of enquiry (academia) to engage with this new set of challenges and opportunities. We owe this to current and future customers and employees.”

The first seminar, entitled WT# is the Digital Economy, was well attended by business leaders, government officials and members of the UWC community. Prakash Patel, a seasoned “tra-digitalist” – and now Chief Digital Officer for Fogg Experiential Design CT – was the keynote speaker at the event.

Points of discussion centred on the emergence of the digital age, what the digital economy really is, what digital means for business and how some businesses are growing using digital

platforms while others are failing due to their incapacity to keep up with the growing digital sphere.

According to Patel, what the digital economy is depends on who you ask – everyone will have a different definition. Whatever the definition, the emergence of the ever-expanding digital sphere has led to changes in the way we do business. For example, Patel explained that there has been a distinct shift from traditional marketing, especially with the emergence of digital platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, where people are engaged in sharing information. “Marketing today is a conversation, a dialogue and a sharing of experiences.

“To be part of the digital economy, businesses/organisations need the following: people with the right

e-skills, accessibility, affordability and infrastructure,” says Patel.

“Africa has the potential to play a large role in the digital economy,” says Professor Kobus Visser, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences at UWC. “However, we need proactive engagement between key role-players – business, academia, government, etc. – to ensure that we all are kept abreast on how to stay current and competitive. We cannot afford to stagnate.”

Issues to be addressed at future seminars include what skills are required of graduates and employees to remain part of the digital economy, what is meant by new business models for the digital economy, and innovation in and for the digital economy.

From left to right: Professor Kobus Visser, Prakash Patel and Dr Leonora Craffert attended the opening of the Digital Economy seminar series.

NEWS


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This year, the enabling legislation to allow fracking to begin in the Karoo was passed in South Africa. In his State of the Nation Address, President Jacob Zuma stated that the

manufacture of shale gas could be a ‘game changer’ for the South African economy.

Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, is the process of drilling far below the earth’s surface before pumping a high-pressure solution of water, sand and chemicals directly into the shale rock below to fracture the rock and release the natural gas trapped in the rock. The gas is released into the water solution and travels up the drilled well pipe to the surface where it is separated from the solution. The gas is then used as an energy source.

The impending fracking in South Africa has created conflict between economists and environmentalists. Environmentalists are concerned about the contamination of the ground water aquifers, located in the layer just above fracking sites, through exposure to shale gas and the chemicals contained in the water solution. They have also raised objections to fracking on the basis that it would cause adverse landscape and environmental changes to the Karoo. For example, large amounts of water have to be transported to the fracking sites to be used in the fracking process. Some of this water will be left behind in the wells while some will be stored in surface pits.

Many geologists and economists would like fracking to take place in South Africa, believing that the economic benefits of

fracking would far outweigh the possible environmental effects. According to Dr Mimonitu Opuwari of the Department of Geology at the University of the Western Cape, fracking would not only bring billions of rands in revenue but would create 300 000 new employment opportunities in the country.

Dr Opuwari says that while there would be geological changes to the Karoo, the geological changes will be confined to the mined parts of the Karoo and the gas mined will be a clean source of new energy. In the long run the environmental benefits gained from the use of this clean source of shale-gas energy will far outweigh the damage that will potentially be done to an area of the Karoo landscape.

UWC Geology master’s student Jade Holtman says that the fears of water contamination that environmentalists raise are based on contaminated water found by some farmers in the United States of America, but these contamination levels were very low. He also says that the water solution currently being employed is environmentally friendly and contains no chemicals.

Looking to the future, Dr Opuwari explains that fracking is still years away as there are many processes that must first take place before fracking can begin. What needs to happen first is a study on the social impact of fracking that will engage the local communities, before the exploration phase can begin. Dr Opuwari also notes that the USA and China have been fracking for years and anticipates that South Africa will benefit from their knowledge and technological advancements.

NEWS

Fracking in the Karoo


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UWC footballers named in team sA

Summer Universiade, the World Student Games, is the pinnacle of sporting participation for university

athletes, coaches, managers, medical and technical staff.

So it meant a great deal when five UWC footballers – women footballers Vuyo Mkhabela, Nelly Mamabolo, Thalea Smidt and Thembi Kgatlane, as well as Thapelo Sixishe (men’s team) – were named in the South African team to compete at this year’s event in Gwangju, South Korea, from 3 to 14 July 2015. Newly appointed UWC Director of Sport Administration, Mandla Gagayi, was appointed as the Deputy Head of Delegation.

The Universiade, organised by the International University Sport Federation (FISU), is an international sporting and cultural festival which is staged every two years in a different city. It is regarded as second only to the Olympic Games. Participation in the competition is particularly important to the University as it speaks to the Institutional Operating Plan’s objective of the holistic development of students and of leadership development.

Gagayi, an assessor for University Sport South Africa, says the selection of students is good for the University. “This affirms our efforts and also acknowledges our contribution, as the University, to the bigger picture of sport development in the country,” he says. “Every selection,

whether in Banyana Banyana or a university sport national team, is an indication of our university’s potential to develop athletes. Just imagine how many more national athletes we would produce with the right resources.”

The students were elated with the news and said their selection is proof that UWC is on the right track in terms of sports

development, particularly in women’s football, and will motivate more students to take part in sport.

“This shows the hard work that UWC put into sports, and I’m very proud and happy to represent my university,” says Mamabolo, a second-year BA psychology student who hails from Limpopo. Although she was named the player of the tournament at the University Sport South Africa Club Championships late last year, she didn’t take anything for granted at the trials and her hard work paid off.

For Smidt, a first-year BSc Biotechnology student who is from Strandfontein, Cape Town, selection to Team South Africa was a dream come true. “I waited for this opportunity for long. It’s an honour for me as I worked hard to get this breakthrough.”

Mkhabela, who is doing a Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Development and Peace, has been a member of the national team in the past and was happy to maintain her position. “It’s very exciting, it really shows that my performance has not dropped and that I have been doing well.”

The only male athlete selected from the University, Sixishe was as thrilled to be in the team but noted that they faced a big challenge “because we have a point to prove as we have not participated in the last five years.”

Tapelo Sixishe has been selected as the only male footballer to participate in the UWC team at the World Student Games.

SPORTS

UWC MeDIa OFFICeDo you have any important UWC stories to share? Do you know of an event on campus that you’d like to see featured? Have you heard of UWC alumni who’ve done amazing things, which you think the world should know about? or maybe you have a few suggestions, comments or questions about something in this newsletter? Whatever the case may be, the UWC Media Office would really like to hear from you.Just email us at [email protected], call us at 021 959 9525, or drop by our offices.

CONTRIBUTORSnastasha Crow

Myolisi Gophe

nicole Isaacs

nicklaus Kruger

Asiphe nombewu

Luthando tyhalibongo nickay Photography


16 The Jakes Gerwel Education, Endowment and Development Fund

Equal Access to SuccessDrivingGolf DayFundraiser

In partnership with SAfm and Kagiso Asset Management

Donor Relations

FROM HOPE TO ACTION THROUGH KNOWLEDGE.

‘‘Evident from developed nations, access to the higher education system has played a critically important

role in the economic development of the country.‘‘

- Jakes Gerwel

Included in the donation:• Green fees• Halfway house• Prize-giving dinner• Complimentary gift• Waterholes

Donations are tax-deductable and all proceeds go toward the Jakes Gerwel Education, Endowment and Development Fund for student bursaries.

R20 000 donation per team

Date: 18 August 2015Venue: Wanderers Golf Club, GautengContact: Marlene Scholtz 021 959 2482 or [email protected]

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Publications On Campus Issue 3. August 2015

Documents