CPUT consolidates ties with Wellington communities

To strengthen the Wellington Campus and CPUT's presence, image, contribution and impact in Wellington and its immediate environment, the Campus recently formed an Advisory Committee, comprising strategic stakeholders and community leaders.

The purpose of the Wellington Campus Advisory Committee is to receive advice from strategic stakeholders within the community to contribute to the future of the Wellington Campus, increase its footprint and enhance its relevance and sustainability, as well as ensure the safety of the Wellington community at large. The committee is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo and members comprise of deans of faculties represented in Wellington (Faculty of Applied Sciences with Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Business and Management Sciences with Tourism and Business Administration departments and Faculty of Education), heads of departments of these faculties, and senior staff members from the campus.

Members from the Wellington community include representation from Wellington schools, museum, the Breytenbach Centre, agriculture sector, safety and security, local government, and local communities.

"This is still a work in progress and we are learning as we go along," said Assistant Dean: Faculty of Education, Prof Hanli Dippenaar.

Dippenaar said the meetings are held twice annually, in the first and fourth terms of a particular year, on the Wellington Campus. "Particularly interesting at the recent meeting was the official signing of a Service-Learning Agreement with our project partners, Drakenstein Correctional Services. "

"This was an auspicious event and the beginning of further collaboration between CPUT and our correctional Services."

She said seven years ago (2016), a seed was planted, ironically during the fees must fall campaign.

"Drakenstein Correctional Services (DCS) was approached by Dr Chris Hattingh and Dr Ivan November to offer off campus facilities for Education students to write their exams. From that first collaboration, grew an exciting future partnership, despite the backlash of COVID 19. Currently students are tutoring at the Hawequa Correctional Facility and more projects are in the pipeline with Human Movement Studies and reading programmes."