Change the world

11/06/2019

Keep updated with our Alumni in the news, flying the Nelson Mandela University flag high. 
 
We are proud of you! 
 
 
Home-grown sculptor behind the iconic naming and re-naming images
 
“I feel that art plays a fundamental role within society and the small act of drawing iconic figures, the process of creative re-representation, assists in reiterating the importance of such figures in contemporary society more so than what an archival photograph would have, says artist Jonathan van der Walt.
Van der Walt, Diploma: Fine Art ’13, BTech: Fine Art ’14 & MTech: Fine Art ’17,  drew the iconic artworks representing the names of buildings for the naming and renaming project at Nelson Mandela University. Read full article 
 
 

 

Alumnus journey to SG Comms

 
Sesethu Gqomo, Mandela University BA ‘13 & BaHons (Corporate Communication) ’14 graduate, is the Founding Director at Sesethu Gqomo Communications and has played a huge role in the Student Alumni Society.  Follow the link to watch a small snippet of her interview on BayTV260:
 
 
 
 
 

 

Alumnus to compete at International Competitions

 
Building Diploma ‘19 graduate and Madibaz swimmer Alaric Basson will compete at the FINA World Aquatics Champs from July 21 to 28 in South Korea!
 
This is the first time ever that a Madibaz swimmer is going to the world champs. He was also selected for the World Student Games, which takes place from July 3 to 14 in Italy.
 

 

Alumnus and former staff member launches first book 

Olwam Mnqwazi, BA ‘12 and BA Hons (Development Studies) ‘17 graduate officially launched his first book titled "Writing the Way: Lessons & Conversations I wish to have with you" recently. He is currently the Managing Director of the Black Hat Group.  Mnqwazi's book focuses on the human internal complexities in relation to social dynamics.
 
 
 
 

Mandela's grandson delivers international guest lecture 

Siyabulela Mandela, the late Nelson Mandela’s grandson is a PhD (Conflict Management) candidate in International Relations and Conflict Studies, currently a visiting scholar at the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University, Virginia in the United States.

He recently delivered a guest lecture entitled: By means of Peace or By means of War: In search of an Inclusive Conflict Resolution Approach the War College of the Republic of Ecuador, South America, where he recently. Nelson Mandela University qualifications include a BA ’12 and an MPhil Conflict, Transformation & Management ‘17.  
 

 

Department of Computing Science
 
Leanda Oosthuizen, BSc Computer Science’ 95, Pg H Dip education ’96 & BEd Hons ’03,   Nelson Mandela University graduate was awarded 2019 IT Teacher of the Year by the EC IITP SA . With her is her learner from Grey High School, Benjamin Roode, who is the IT Scholar of the Year.
 
 
 
 
Prof Jean Greyling, Associate Professor in the Department of Computing Science at Nelson Mandela University, was awarded the EC IITP SA IT Personality of the year Award 2019 for his outstanding contributions to the school and university ICT education in the Eatern Cape and nationally. 
Prof Greyling holds a BSc ’86, BScHons ’87, MSc ’91 and PhD ’00 from Nelson Mandela University. 
We also acknowledge Byron Batteson who developed TANKS,educational mobile application, for his 2017 Honours project. Batteson holds a BSc Computing Science ’17 and BScHons Computer Science & Info Systems ’17 from Nelson Mandela University. 
 
 
 
 
 

 

National Architectural Award for Alumnus
 
Riaan Huiskens, Diploma in Architectural Technology ’16, BTech Architecture : Applied Design ’17  & MArch (Professional) Coursework ’19, has been named Corobrik National Architectural Student of the Year. 
The competition involves the top March students from each of the Architectural Learning Sites in South Africa who present their treatise design work, in competition, at a national event in Johannesburg. The competition has been run annually for over 30 years and is the premier competition event in the architectural academic calendar. This is an outstanding achievement for Riaan and the Department.
 

 
Presidential Commission on Fourth Industrial Revolution 
 
Prof Chris Adendorff (from left), Alumnus Baxolile Mabinya and Adjunct Professor Andile Ngcaba.
 
Professor Chris Adendorff , National Diploma in Personnel Management ’95, BTech Human Resources Management ’00 and DBA ’14 graduate of the Nelson Mandela University Business School, who specialises in Future Studies has been appointed by President Ramaphosa to the Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). 
 
Two other members included on the Commission are connected to our University; Alumnus Baxolile Mabinya, Director at a digital technology company, Deviere as well as 2014 Alumni Rising Star Award recipient and Adjunct Professor, Andile Ngcaba, who is a Founding Partner & Chairman at Convergence Partners Investments. Mabinya completed his Master’s in Commerce: Computer Science and Information Systems (cum laude) ‘07. 
 

 
Medical Laboratory Science graduation focus 
 
 
 
Fourteen students of the first cohort of the four-year BHSc: Medical Laboratory Science (BHSc: MLS) professional degree graduated this April.  Mandela University is only the second tertiary institution nationally to offer the BHSc: MLS professional degree. Work opportunities for this degree are in pathology, medical and forensic laboratories, food industries, as well as the medical research field. 
 
Together with this group, one of their lecturers Mariaan Buckle graduated with a Master’s of Health Sciences in Medical Laboratory Science cum laude '19, and her research was on the integration of blended learning technologies into Anatomy and Physiology.