Call to Alumni: 'Make a Lifetime Investment''
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www.vut.ac.za Magazine Magazine Back to your roots Back to your roots Alumni Magazine Call to alumni: ‘Make a lifetime investment’’ VUT honours People’s Champions VUT Building a bigger, better VUT for the future page PB page 1 w Magazine Magazine Back to your roots Back to your roots and training agenda, which promotes access, equity and success. Through addressing access and equity, the institution Magazine has seen its student population increase from fewer than 7000 students in the early 1980s to 22 000 in 2013. To accommodate this phenomenal growth, we have embarked on an aggressive infrastructure development programme, costing close to R350 million, to create a conducive, affirming and scholarly environment for teaching and learning, technology transfer and innovation, research and community engagement. The University has campuses in Secunda, Ekurhuleni, Upington, Sebokeng and Vanderbijlpark, providing CONTENTS excellent programmes in Engineering, Applied and Computer Sciences, Human Sciences and Management Message from Vice-Chancellor & Principal ................ Sciences. A message from the Alumni President ....................... Plans are under way to move the Ekurhuleni campus to Daveyton, to meet increasing demands for a contact ALUMNI COORDINATOR Getting connected with your VUT family ..................... university there. The Daveyton campus, previously Vista Peter Masombuka University, was subsequently given to Unisa and there EDITOR Launch of VUT Alumni Chapters.................................. are occupational plans in place for collaboration and Kathy Wandington Message from Alumni Profiles: joint use of the Daveyton campus by VUT and Unisa. A SUB EDITOR task team from both universities has been established Kediemetse Mokotsi Prof Moutlana to finalise this. • From a cleaner to Faculty Administrative Officer.. COMMUNICATIONS PRACTITIONER VUT is a University that is going from strength to strength. Anne Naidu • Call to alumni: ‘Make a lifetime investment’ ......... It has overcome many challenges and it is proud of the path Alumni Relations: crossing borders COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER • Electrical Engineer says VUT qualification ‘opened it is forging. This publication seeks to illustrate some of the Khanyisa Peter The role of the Alumni Relations office in any institution many achievements and highlights of the past two years and • all the right doors’ ................................................... exists to manage the relationship between an institution MULTIMEDIA OFFICERS to introduce and describe some of the many changes that Mandla Mtombeni • VUT provided the bedrock for municipal manager’s and former students who have acquired a qualification. have, and are continuing, to take place. Celumusa Mtshali VUT is committed to enhancing its relationship with its achievements ........................................................... GRAPHIC DESIGNERS It also aims to cement the professional networks among former students through formal and informal, mutually David Moimane VUT honours People’s Champions ............................... graduates and the University and to grow these to include beneficial programmes. Our Alumni Relations office is graduates not yet connected with their alma mater. We also committed to reconnecting all former students of the Building a bigger, better VUT for the future ................ aim to mobilise resources for further development, such as institution, whether when it was known as the College uplifting academic standards and the professional standing for Technical Advancement, Vaal Triangle Technikon or Faculty Highlights: of VUT, both locally and internationally. Vaal University of Technology. PALAMA Executive Development Programme: Transformation and development In 2012 VUT extended its family links across regional VUT helps capacitate government ............................... and national borders, with Alumni Association chapters VUT has transformed from a predominantly white institution being established in North West and in Lesotho. to one that has opened its doors to previously marginalised Chapter launches planned for 2014 include Gauteng, communities in support of the national higher education page 2 page 3 Magazine Magazine Back to your roots Back to your roots Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Botswana. In addition, a chapter specifically for graduates of Vaal Technikon is also planned. We hope to encourage alumni from all corners of the globe to support networking and social forums through the formation of VUT Alumni Chapters, focusing on academic, sport, cultural, spiritual and social groups. As alumni, you have the opportunity to “give back” to society, via your alma mater, by making contributions through cash donations and equipment, student bursaries and assistance for graduate students, and by adopting laboratories and institutional projects. I look forward to a great partnership with all of you. Professor Irene Moutlana A message from the Alumni President The establishment of the Vaal University of Technology Alumni Association was a significant development in the transformation of the University; one that will help the institution and its graduates retain a lifetime, mutually beneficial relationship. The year 2013 marks the 47th anniversary of the Vaal University of Technology since its establishment in 1966 as the Vaal Triangle College for Advance Technical Education. It later became the Vaal Triangle Technikon (1979-2003) and, in 2004, became the Vaal University of Technology. We deserve to celebrate how we began and the progress we’ve made in ensuring our University’s transformation, and who we will become as we transform further. We need to acknowledge the inspirational builders whose shoulders we rest upon, and the direction we are forging under the leadership of our University community: the University Council, Executive Management and all levels of management, staff, its formations (unions), students, and those formations. page 4 page 5 Magazine Magazine Back to your roots Back to your roots It is time, in this 47th anniversary year of our University, for us as alumni to make a commitment to guarantee its perpetuation for future generations. We are asking Getting connected for your time, your philanthropy and your service as we embark on a mission of making the Vaal University Alumni Association an enabler for the Vaal University of with your VUT family Technology to be a University that leads in innovative knowledge and quality technology. Alumni are invited to contribute to discussions on VUT’s development and its endeavours to continue making a sustainable impact in both its immediate community and broader society. You are also invited to share your success It has been a result of choices made and roles played by stories and your challenges or to just drop us a line to let us and your former classmates know where you are and alumni that VUT looks forward to celebrating a golden what you’re doing. anniversary in three years – an achievement indeed. Networking and Social Media The Alumni Association recognises that a better student Kediemetse Mokotsi experience promotes better alumni relations after our Manager Since inception in 2011, we have attracted individuals and groups to our social media, networks that are invaluable to graduates have joined the corporate world. It is all the Corporate Affairs the Alumni Association and the University. better to have the VUT family include alumni who, through experience, can share their stories and become mentors To network, foster and extend relationships built over the years with students and graduates, we can engage with and guides for generations to come. alumni through Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Our Alumni Chapters, both at local and international level, engage with their alma mater and each other through these gateways. VUT has highly successful alumni who are recognised nationwide in their fields. Many of you are leaders in An advantage of using social media is that our followers link us with former classmates and alumni, helping to boost practice, research and community service, in disciplines our database. Alumni organise and coordinate networking sessions, events and other useful networking initiatives, ranging from engineers through technologists, scientists with little monitoring from our side. and financial and accounting specialists. Contact the Alumni Relations office We encourage you to stay connected with your alma mater, to share your experience and skills as mentors, Contact Person: Peter Masombuka / Comfort Madalane and consider the benefits of being a part, through Email us at: [email protected] / [email protected] philanthropy, of ensuring your University continues on its Telephone: +27(0) 16 950 9973 / +27(0) 16 950 9779 stellar trajectory. Peter Masombuka Alumni Coordinator Write to us at: Mr Sasabona Manganye Corporate Affairs Alumni relations A001 P/Bag X021 Vanderbijlpark 1900 Keep connected with us On our website: http://www.vut.ac.za/index.php/service/support/alumni On Face book: https://www.facebook.com/groups/235948465491/ On LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/vaal-university-of-technology?trk=hb_tab_compy_id_45578 Paying it forward If you would like to contribute to VUT through bursaries, donations, sponsorships or bequests, please contact: Peter Masombuka / Comfort Madalane Email us at: [email protected] / [email protected] Comfort Madalane Alumni Assistant Corporate Affairs page 6 page 7 Magazine Magazine Back to your roots Back to your roots Ensuring best practice