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Campus Newsletter to Alumni: No 1 April 2015
NWU AlumniNewsletter
Table of Contents
Editors Letter
Message by Rector
New NWU Convocation
Pretoria Alumni Celebrated Entrepreneurial Excellence
Campus news and achievements
Alumni Awards 2014
Please nominate Alumni Awards 2015
CSRC President letter to Alumni
2015 planning
Update your info (inspire 5 more friends to update and win a corporate gift.)
Editors Letter
We hope that you will enjoy our first newsletter for 2015. We want to maintain communication with our alumni and we want to keep you informed of our achievements and make you part of your Alma Mater and its future.
Our, alumni is an important part of our University’s structure and success. Apart from our current students, you are our most loyal supporters and stakeholders. You as Alumni generate invaluable word-of-mouth marketing among your social and professional networks. Through your engagement we can continue to benefit from your skills and experience. You are great role models for current students and are often well placed to offer practical support to students as they start their careers.
We believe that our Alumni are often in the position to engage the expertise of our University in your professional lives. You are our national and international ambassadors. Please take the knowledge that you gained from your Alma Mater
to your hometowns and countries and into your professional and social networks.
Please feel free to share this newsletter and its contents on you networks and amongst friends, colleagues and family and let the knowledge and activities and achievements evolve amongst us.
We want to support our alumni in their professional and personal lives through activities such as the facilitation of social and professional networks, preferential access to on-campus expertise. We want you also to suggest ways of giving back to your Alma Mater. Read our Meal a Day project.(Page...)
Please update your current detail at the end of the newsletter or become a convocation member by clicking on the link in the Convocation article. Also send us photos of you with details. We are starting a Who’s Who on the website. Send photos to [email protected].
Hoping to hear from you soon. Enjoy reading!
Susan van Rooyen
Dear Alumni,
Susan van Rooyen
Alumni Relations OfficerMafikeng Campus
018 3892388
NWU Alumni
Message by Rector at Official Opening 2015, Prof Mashudu Davhana-Maselesele
The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mafikeng Campus rector, Prof Mashudu Davhana-Maselesele, has declared 2015 a year of creativity and innovation
during the official opening ceremony held at the Great Hall on 11 February 2015.
“2015 is a year of creativity and innovation for the campus in all areas of our core business, which is in teaching and learning, research development and community engagement,” said Prof Maselesele.
“For creativity and innovation to occur, we need a group of people who are driven by passion in what they do. We will need a group of people who are united and work as a team. We are also excited about the use of technology in enhancing teaching and learning activities. We further believe that our research should provide answers to challenges that our rural communities are facing,” she added.
Outlining the plans for 2015 academic year the rector indicated that another focus area will be established in the Faculty of Commerce and Administration. The campus will now also move towards developing B-rated scientists.
During the official opening, one best performing first-year student per faculty and extended programmes were awarded the Rector`s Achievement awards
consisting of laptops and certificates of excellence. Grade 12 achievers who obtained four or more distinctions in 2014 and participants in the different sporting codes and cultural activities who did well in 2014 were also acknowledged.
The NWU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dan Kgwadi, gave an overview about the challenges, achievements and plans for the whole university. He further congratulated the Mafikeng Campus on their research output and smooth registration and orientation programme.
The official opening was amongst others attended by the Bafokeng Queen Mother, Mmemogolo Semane Molotlegi, the chairperson of the North West Planning Commission, Mr Darkey Africa, NWU Council member, Mr Tiego Kgomo and members of institutional management.
During the Official opening Laptops were given to best performing students by the campus rector Prof Mashudu Davhana-Maselesele and the Vice Chancellor Prof Dan Kgwadi, first from left.
NWU Alumni
New NWU ConvocationDr Sammy Thekiso was elected president of the NWU convocation at the
triennial general meeting held on 23 August at the Quest Conference Estate. He follows in the footsteps of Adv Jan Henning SC, who resigned due to ill-health and passed away on 7 March 2015. A new executive committee for the Convocation was also elected as shown above in the picture.
The next triennial general meeting will be held in 2017.
Convocation in a nutshell: As an NWU graduate and alumnus, we invite you to join the Convocation of the NWU. The main function of the Convocation is to represent the views of the alumni to Council, to encourage cooperation among alumni and to elect members into Council. In promoting our values, good governance, support and innovation, we develop mutually beneficial relationships between the university and its alumni.
Membership Every graduate and diplomate of the university or its predecessors and current full–time, permanent staff members may become a member of the Convocation. You have to apply for membership and pay the prescribed fee (R50) for lifelong membership. More information is available on the application form. Contact person: Ms Izette Schouwstra, 018 285 2594 or [email protected].
NWU Council The Convocation is represented by four members in the NWU Council. If you are a member of the Convocation, you can be nominated and elected as a Council member. Only members of the Convocation may vote in this election.
Convocation - kindly click on the link found in this particular website to access the form to become a lifetime convocation member for only R50 once off.
http://www.nwu.ac.za/content/membership-and-application-forms-convocation
The members of the newly elected executive committee of the Convocation are, at the back from left, Mr Henk Schalekamp, Mr Bert Sorgdrager, Mr Werner Human and Mr Nelson Mongale. In front from left are Dr Dirk Hermann, Dr Sammy Thekiso, President, Prof Marius Stander, and Adv Marlise Kruger.
NWU Alumni
Mafikeng Alumni celebrated entrepreneurial Excellence amongst Alumni!
The Mafikeng Alumni had a “Pap and Wors” evening on 17 October 2014 at Bronerg Wynlandgoed in Pretoria East. The Theme for the evening was
“Entrepreneurial Excellence” and Alumni were beforehand invited by the Alumni Relations Officer on the Mafikeng Campus, Susan van Rooyen, to share with their Alma Mater and fellow Alumni “What did I do with my degree”. Five Alumni gave a brief outline of their success of their corporate and research development in their working environment.
Tshegofatso Molebatsi finished his LLB in 2010 at NWU and is currently an associate at Attorneys and also the Founder and Consultant at Innovative Legal Consulting and of Epoch Microchips – a company which he shares with Shalton Monthaw and another Alumnus. Their explanation of some of the revolutionary innovations that they are working on impressed everybody so much – orders were placed!
Lerato Nonyana studied Bachelor and Honors of Commerce in Economics, is now a Senior Financial Analyst at National Treasury, and is responsible for granting ESCOM its monthly subsidy – so that we can have electricity. Karabo Tsatsi who studied Physics and did Honors in Nuclear Energy is the Research Officer at the UNISA Nuclear and Innovation Directorate. In a previous position he received a grant and designed and build a successful remote control device for the occurrence of Nuclear Disaster to investigate the inside of the plant and collect waste and refuge without endangering Human life.
Michael Thabo Sibeko studied B.Com Economics and started working as an auditor, but was so frustrated with the routine that after a while he and some others formed their own company years ago with great
success. His Company innovates, research and design revolutionary inventions that are used daily by people.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dan Kgwadi, found time in his busy schedule to attend this event and gave a brief overview of the time he spend in office as the new Vice-Chancellor at the NWU. He then informed the Alumni that the University is following a comprehensive and well-planned process to put in place the vision and the mission for proper transformation and development. He also inspired the Alumni to keep up the good work and to become part of the convocation whereby they can be more active partners and stakeholders of the University.
The Rector on the Mafikeng Campus, Prof Mashudu Davhana-Maselesele were inspired and impressed by the entrepreneurial Excellence that were displayed by the Alumni and asked them to become more involved by claiming with pride their rightful position as ambassadors for the University ploughing back there expertise and resources. She elucidated on the many ways Alumni can become more devoted and involved with their Alma Mater and pleaded by them to choose one of the ways to help us become more visible and successful. The evening was well attended, pleasant and the Alumni enjoyed each other’s company and did some valuable networking amongst themselves and with staff and management. It was decided that a Showcase of all the achievers will be kept on the website as soon as possible – and will be continuously updated with more Alumni achievers.
From left to right: Mickey Ntshwe; Dilalammogo Phetwe-Ngandwe; Kagiso Ntshwe (Manager Student Affairs); Prof Dan Kgwadi (Vice Chancellor NWU); Jimmy Phazha Ngandwe; Maxwell Dyasi (SRC Deputy President)
NWU Alumni
Campus news AND ACHIEVEMENTS
A former BCom graduate from North-West University’s Mafikeng Campus, Shaah Bootha, was named on the Chartered Accountancy Senior Executive, Professional Development at SAICA, said: “This is an immensely impressive achievement, requiring talent, hard work and great commitment. We are delighted to have candidates of such high calibre entering the profession.”
Shaah Bootha had finished matric at the age of 15 and completed his BCom chartered accountancy degree at NWU, Mafikeng when he was 18 years old. He has done his CTA through UNISA.
Five other former BCom graduates from the Mafikeng Campus have also passed the CTA examination and can call themselves chartered accountants (CA). Together with Shaah, these six candidates is the highest number in one year from the Mafikeng Campus that sat for and passed the examinations. They are Shaah Bootha (Honours Roll), Masego Dzumba, Bongani Mabena, Tswaledi Mohlala, Tebogo Ntseane, and Kirk Thomas.
The Assessment for Professional Competence (APC) is conducted by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). The exam, written in November 2014, is the last formal assessment before one can register as a CA (SA).
NWU Mafikeng Campus graduate Shaah Bootha, named on Chartered Accountancy Honours Roll
Shaah Bootha
NWU Alumni
Prof Oladimeji Oladele
NWU Mafikeng Campus researcher receives grant to help improve famers’ resilience to climate changeProf Oladimeji Oladele from the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension on the Mafikeng Campus of the North-West University (NWU) recently received a grant of € 20 000 from the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) based in the Netherlands.
Prof Oladele received the grant for his winning proposal on “Documentation of proven practices, tools or policies that promote resilience and help farmers to address the challenges posed by climate change”.
The World Bank will also be providing additional financial support to Prof Oladele’s research work on improving farmers’ resilience to climate change through the dissemination of agro-weather information in the Embu and Ada’a districts of Kenya and Ethiopia.
The ACT is a joint international institution of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States and the European Union (EU). Their mission is to advance food and nutritional security, increase prosperity and encourage sound natural resource management in ACP countries. They also provide access to information and knowledge, facilitate policy dialogue and strengthen the capacity of agricultural and rural development institutions and communities.
“This grant will help me to be on the forefront in the dissemination of techniques and information to farmers in Africa to adopt and improve climate-smart agriculture,” says Prof Oladele.
Campus news AND ACHIEVEMENTS
NWU Alumni
Prof Bernard Mbenga
NWU Mafikeng Campus academics gain international acclaimA book published by two academics from the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences on the Mafikeng Campus of the North-West University (NWU), Prof Bernard Mbenga and Prof Andrew Manson, has gained international acclaim. The book entitled ‘People of the dew’ has been translated into six international languages i.e. German, French, Mandarin, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish.
The translation of this book was made possible to a large extent by the Bafokeng Administration and Jacana Media Ltd publishers.
‘People of the Dew’, originally published in 2010 by Jacana Media Ltd, portrays the history of the richest ethnic community in Africa, the Bafokeng in Phokeng of the Rustenburg region of South Africa.
“The Bafokeng community, and by extension South Africa, will get much more international publicity. Moreover, the translation now offers scholars who don’t have access to the English edition, access to knowledge about the Bafokeng tribe and South Africa,” said Prof Mbenga.
“I feel elated and honored that our book has received international exposure in so many prominent languages of the world,” he added.
Prof Mbenga and Prof Manson have also co-authored another book entitled ‘Land Chiefs Mining’.
Campus news AND ACHIEVEMENTS
NWU Alumni
Scientists from India Tea Research Association visit NWU Mafikeng CampusProf Lumkile Lalendle (Vice Rector Academic), Prof Mashudu Davhana-Maselesele (Rector) and Prof Funso Kutu (Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology) welcomed the scientists from the India Tea Research Association on Campus.
Two scientists from the India Tea Research Association are visiting the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mafikeng Campus from 16 February until 1 March 2015. This visit is part of the International Research Collaboration Project funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF).
The project represents one of the 2014 NRF-approved research projects funded through the Indian/South Africa collaborations research programme. The project will focus on assessing the impact of trace metal contamination through fertilizer application on the quality and production of tea.
“This project will not only provide a platform for the training of postgraduate students but will also allow the participation of interested young academics from my department,” says Prof Funso Kutu from the Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology. “A young South African female candidate with a master’s degree in science has been identified and admitted to register for her PhD on this project,” says Prof Kutu.
“The research visit by the two scientists enables us to assess the current status of the project and finalise plans for the immediate implementation of the project in our different institutions. They will also take time off to interact with colleagues from the School of Agricultural Science by sharing their research experience in the field of agricultural chemistry for tea production,” he concluded.
Campus news AND ACHIEVEMENTS
NWU Alumni
Alumni Awards 2014
The NWU honored four of its Alumni during October 2014. From the Mafikeng Campus Mr Alec Moemi received an Alumni Award during
a ceremony at the Maslow Hotel in Sandton on 31 October 2014.
Alec completed his BJuris degree at the former University of North West (now the NWU’s Mafikeng Campus) followed by a master‘s degree in political governance and transformation from the University of the Free State. He also studied corporate communication management at Wits University’s Business School, and holds a certificate in public relations.
Alec is the director-general of Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) However his skills and passions are not limited to sport alone and in his student days he also participated in student leadership. His career path also led to the Office of the Premier in the Free State Provincial Government where he worked as chief director responsible for special programmes and inter-governmental relations.
As director-general of SRSA, he is on top of his game and working hard to take South Africa to the next level in sport.
Alec Moemi
NWU Alumni
Alumni Awards 2015 - acknowledge outstanding alumni
PLEASE NOMINATE!
As in 2014, the NWU will again in 2015 publicly recognise alumni for their
personal and career accomplishments and for exemplary contributions to society. As you are probably acquainted with various of the NWU’s outstanding alumni, it would be appreciated if you could nominate some of these achievers, or have them nominated. Herewith the information regarding the nomination process as well as the criteria for the Alumni Awards 2015.
The Executive Committee (Exco) of the NWU Convocation invites all office-bearers of the NWU, alumni, permanent staff members and members of the NWU Council and Board of Donors to submit nominations for the Alumni Awards.
Exception: Current members of the NWU’s Council, the Exco of the Convocation, as well as members of the Institutional Management may not be nominated for the awards.
In order to acknowledge the achievements of our alumni over a broader spectrum,
the criteria for the 2015 awards have been revised and approved by the Exco of Convocation. With this in mind, herewith the criteria:
A total of eight awards will be awarded each year. From the nominations received for the Alumni Awards, the Exco of Convocation may choose to award the Lifetime Achieve-ment Award to an exceptional nominee. This award will only be made on rare occasions where the candidate(s) have truly demonstrated exceptional and meritorious service to society.
For 2015 the NWU Alumni Awards will be given in six categories, namely: education, research, community involvement, business leadership, arts and culture, and sport.
Alumni Award
To qualify for an Alumni Award, alumni must meet the following criteria:• They must have obtained a degree or a
NWU Alumni
diploma from the NWU or its predecessors• They must have achieved distinguished personal and career
accomplishments• They must have made exemplary contributions to society• They must have shown significant leadership in the above-mentioned areas• They must demonstrate ongoing commitment to the NWU
Young NWU Alumnus Award
An additional category, namely the Young NWU Alumnus Award has been added, and this will be awarded in recognition of professional excellence displayed by a young (35 years or younger) alumnus in any of the six categories of excellence.
To qualify for the Young NWU Alumnus Award, the alumnus must meet the following criteria:• Must have obtained a degree or a diploma from the NWU• Excelled early in life and shown potential for continued success• Received recognition as an emerging leader through professional and/or
community achievements• Attained increasingly responsible positions within their organisation,
business or field of work• Received recognition for significant professional contributions, discoveries or
creative work through honors, awards and/or media attention• Served as an outstanding young role model for current and future NWU
students• Must be 35 years old or younger
Nomination process
For the 2015 nomination process, all nominations must be submitted electronically to the Institutional Alumni Relations Office.
The closing date for nominations is 15 May. To complete the electronic nomination form click on the following link: http://www.nwu.ac.za/alumni-awards-nomination-form-2015
Remember to complete all fields on the form, keeping the criteria in mind and supplying proper motivation where requested. Follow the instructions for sending your nomination and remember to attach all supporting documentation.
Enquiries: Enquiries about the nomination process can be directed to Ms Therina du Pisani at the Institutional Alumni Relations Office at tel 018 285 2595 or [email protected]
NWU Alumni
Letter from the current CSRC President
Dear AlumniThe CSRC 2014/15 would like to thank you for being our ambassadors in the field of expertise you are currently involved in and like to call on you to help the University be the best in being our funding donors as a lot of infrastructure and funding is needed. We have come a long way, as we celebrate this year 35 years of excellence. Stability in all academic, social and integration has united us to excel beyond and has made us become one university. We urge our ALUMNI to participate and be pro-active instead of passive in the affairs of this campus by attending events that highlight the achievement of this campus and also by being there in all the assistance and support this campus need. We thank you for everything and we continue to ask God to bless all of you. The CSRC 2014/15 will continue to champion student’s interest and have the heart to see this campus growing beyond.
Yours in Student Governance
Tutu KgobaneCSRC President0721800288
Mr. Tutu Kgobane
NWU Alumni
2015 planningMake sure you are aware of the following Reunions for Focus groups:The CSRC Alumni are invited to visit us on Campus on 22 May and the Soccer Institute Alumni will visit the campus on 19 August.
We would also like to inform you of our intent to establish chapters around the country. Our current status on regional chapters is: Pretoria: Volunteer
Chapter president: Moses Kotsokoane, Botswana Gabarone Volunteer Chapter President: Friday Leburu. New chapters will be formed as soon as volunteering individuals are identified: Next towns during 2015 to be visited to establish a chapter is: Nelspruit, Bloemfontein, Klerksdorp/Potchefstroom, Mafikeng. We are also planning on starting faculty focused chapters with all 5 faculties on Campus.
Update your information(inspire 5 more friends to update and win a corporate gift.)Please be so kind as to update your information – kindly click on the link below.
http://www.nwualumni.mobi/login.php?id=&lang=en
We are also interested in starting a Picture Gallery for Alumni
We want to start a Gallery of our Alumni like a Who’s Who - with a few sentences. Please send your photos for our Who’s Who. Your name, your qualifications the year you finished, your current position or if you are still unemployed -and your contact number if you want friends to find you.
Send photos to [email protected]
NWU Alumni
