Cape Peninsula University of Technology

Staff and students are shaping up at a free boot camp series at the Outdoor Gym on the Bellville campus.

The boot camp sessions take place on weekdays from 4 pm to 6 pm and staff and students can join any 30-minute slot during this time.

“Professional trainers facilitate the camp every day. The pieces of outdoor equipment in the gym are used to enhance body fitness. The sessions are absolutely free, there is no sign-up fee and you can come whenever you feel you need to level up your fitness,” said Phillip Chibvuri from the CPUT Residence Business Unit.

Chibvuri said participation and interest in the boot camp were growing.

“We are looking at ways to bring excitement to all students and staff about appreciating the spaces we have on our campuses as well as the benefits of a healthier lifestyle, which can go a long way in enhancing productivity and output,” he said.

Chibvuri added, “Once the boot camp has deeper roots we are looking at giving students and staff swimming lessons to equip them with this skill more especially as we live in a coastal metropole.”

To all the young women out there: never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.

An innovative lecturer with a passion for her craft has been selected as a finalist in the 2019 International e-Learning Excellence Awards.

With cyber criminals becoming increasingly brazen, the CTS Department is launching a new cyber security awareness programme for staff members this month.

Associate Prof Glenda Davison has been appointed as the new Head of the Biomedical Sciences Department.

Davison, who joined the Department as a senior lecturer in 2006, takes over the reins from Prof Tandi Matsha, who was awarded the National Research Foundation’s SARChI Research Chair in Cardiometabolic Health last year.

“It’s been an adventure so far,” said Davison whose focus area is Haematology.
“I’m so fortunate that we have brilliant staff here in the Department who are as enthusiastic as I am and always willing to go the extra mile.”

Davison is passionate about ensuring that the Department produces graduates that are in touch with society’s needs.
“When our students graduate we want them to be sensitive to the unique needs of South Africa. They must be empathetic and understand the inequalities in the country and be in tune with communities. I want to ensure an inclusive environment where we pay attention to the issues facing this country.”

One of her main goals will be to increase the Department’s connections with laboratories.
“I would really like to strengthen the links with private and public laboratories here in the Cape, with other universities that have research laboratories as well as with laboratories outside the Cape, including in rural areas.”

Davison, who is an honorary lecturer at UCT, said her career highlights include her promotion to Associate Prof in 2017 and receiving her NRF rating last year.
In 2011 she received the BridgeMohan award for her research contribution to Haematology.
“Graduations are always my biggest highlight. I love seeing the joy on the students’ faces and the parents’ excitement and to know that we made a difference.”

Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Prof Anthony Staak, is retiring from the institution after 36 years.