Mandela University's Milisa Piko re-elected as President of careers exhibition body
Mandela University Communication and Marketing Manager, Milisa Piko, has been unanimously re-elected to be the National President of the Careers Exhibition & Information Association (CEIA) for a second term 2024 to 2025.
Milisa, who is located on the University's George Campus, became the first female president of this 24-year-old association, when she was elected at its national AGM in 2021. Her term started in 2022 to 2023. She serves this organisation on behalf the University’s student recruitment services.
The Careers Exhibitions & Information Association (CEIA) is a non-profit organisation constituted by public relations officers, recruitment officers and recruitment managers, information officers, marketing managers, the Department of Basic Education, private companies and foundations, and institutions that are tasked with supporting career guidance and information dissemination at schools.
The core business of the Association is to provide comprehensive career information through interactive communication and hosting of national career exhibitions.
Mandela University Human Settlements Chair gets international recognition
The research chair for Human Settlements at Nelson Mandela University, Professor Sijekula Mbanga, was honoured with an international award from the United States-based National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) for his outstanding contribution to the international understanding and exchange of global experience in the housing and community development field.
Chair for Human Settlements at Nelson Mandela University accepting the International Research and Global Exchange (IRGE) Award during a NAHRO conference and exhibition in New Orleans earlier this month.
Prof Mbanga, who has held the Chair since 2015, was awarded the International Research and Global Exchange (IRGE) Award during a NAHRO conference and exhibition in New Orleans earlier this month, in recognition of his contributions to policy development, inclusive human settlements and sustainable housing in South Africa and beyond.
The IRGE award was introduced at NAHRO in 1983, when Prof Mbanga was just doing Grade 9 at Tsomo Junior Secondary School and possibly unclear as to his career aspirations, never dreaming that he would one receive such global recognition.
Mandela University alumnus examines power of sport in BRICS paper
Mandela University alumnus Molatelo Racheku combined his passions of sport and diplomacy in a paper presented to the BRICS+ Sport Diplomacy Forum last month.
Mandela University alumnus Molatelo Racheku presented a paper exploring the power of sport in uniting communities to the BRICS+ Sport Diplomacy Forum.
The 29-year-old social activist, originally from Botlokwa in Limpopo but now based in Gqeberha, focused his presentation on the power of sport as a unifying force, an ideal often stressed by former South African president Nelson Mandela.
Racheku has a strong background in sport, albeit recreationally, and has made his mark in administration for which he was named Madibaz Sport Administrator of the Year in 2018.
He explained that the forum comprised BRICS member states that came together to encourage collaboration and inclusivity in sport.
In doing so, they strive to create new relations while fostering existing ones among the trading bloc nations.
His presentation had its roots in the SA-Russia Bilateral Youth Forum, hosted by the South African BRICS Youth Association (SABYA), in which he participated in July. It included stakeholders from Russia and the rest of the BRICS bloc.
Racheku and other participants were then asked by their Russian counterpart, Kira Ivanova, to write a short proposal to the forum.
Master’s student in Chemistry wins national competition with hybrid project
Mandela University’s Lodewikus Vorster, a master’s student in chemistry and researcher at the engineering innovation hub eNtsa, recently won the IOM3 (Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining) Young Persons' Lecture Competition South Africa. He will now represent the country at the worldwide competition final next month.
The Young Persons' Lecture Competition invites students and professionals up to the age of 28 to deliver a short lecture (12 to 15 mins) on materials, minerals, mining, packaging, clay technology, wood science or an engineering related subject.
Candidates compete in a series of heats, organised by IOM3 local societies, from which regional finalists are selected to compete in the national final.
The winner then goes on to represent their country in the Young Persons' World Lecture Competition.