Thetha - Nelson Mandela University
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Thetha Alumni & Friends Magazine
Special Covid-19 Edition
October 2020
Your legacy will live on,
Our pandemic
heroes
Keeping campus safe
and running
#MaskUpMandela campaign
Change behaviour, save lives
Tourism Trends
Weathering the perfect storm
Convergence Fund
A pandemic lifeline
Back to business
Ad-man Mike Abel on
advertising’s future
ICT solutions break new ground
IN SERVICE TO OTHERS
Mandela University steps up to the plate
NO STUDENT
LEFT BEHIND
Bold plan to rescue 2020
academic year
CONTENTS
TRIBUTE
Your legacy will live on, Lungile............................................................. 5
IN SERVICE TO OTHERS
42
Navigating COVID-19’s
unchartered waters
Welcome to this, the fourth edition of Thetha, our alumni and friends’ magazine, with its special
focus on COVID-19 – the global pandemic that has irrevocably changed our lives forever.
Like every individual, organisation, community and country, Nelson Mandela University has
been navigating the unchartered waters unleashed by an invisible enemy whose presence
#MaskUpMandela campaign................................................................. 8 continues to impact lives and livelihoods.
Convergence Fund............................................................................... 10
Together We Can...................................................................... 12 With no roadmap or how-to guide, each of us has, in some form or another, been adapting
Wear a Mask, Save a Life..................................................................... 12 or adjusting to new ways of living, working and studying. Or to use the quote, “we’re
Walk the talk, wear the mask!.............................................................. 13 building a boat, while sailing”.
Science, statistics and saving lives...................................................... 14 This edition reflects that journey to date – the building of our boat, of its many
Digital solutions save the day.............................................................. 14 captains and heroic crew members, of our sailing partners within and beyond our
Plotting a disease................................................................................. 15 shores, and of the many lessons learnt as we endeavour to enable all 28 000-plus
E-learning project reaps rewards........................................................ 15 students to complete the 2020 academic year under very trying circumstances.
Helping hands for health..................................................................... 15
It’s not been easy. We have lost much, including those nearest and dearest to us,
Working against the clock................................................................... 16
like our own Executive Dean of Health Sciences, Professor Lungile Pepeta, whose
Intubation unit deployed to hospitals................................................ 17
memory will live on in the positive impact he had on so many (see page 5).
Service above self................................................................................. 18
But we have grown, too.
IN SERVICE TO OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS
Automation, digitalisation and artificial intelligence have become fundamental
A Shot in the arm for digital transformation...................................... 19 drivers of our new reality. What we are experiencing today is no longer just the
Students Leading the Way................................................................... 23 screenwriters’ script for a sci-fi movie. And, our crew – our staff, students and
No Student Left Behind....................................................................... 26 alumni – have rapidly adapted to acquire the new digital skills to continue
The show must go on........................................................................... 28 sailing while working and studying remotely.
COVID-19 HEROES As a university in the service of society, however, it can never
46
just be about us, but rather what we can do with and for others.
Keeping the campus functioning and safe......................................... 31
When the National State of Disaster was announced and life
COVID-19 HEROES – OUR ALUMNI
under lockdown began in March, staff, students and alumni
COVID-19: changing lives & needs..................................................... 34 needed no reminder. Many dived straight in, offering their time,
Building a low-cost ventilator in a month.......................................... 36 talents and finances to support and develop
Alumni step up...................................................................................... 38 innovative solutions to the many challenges
TRIBUTE triggered by the pandemic. Read about that
response on pages 8–39.
Tribute to the late Cumngce Gawe..................................................... 40
Read too about the frontline heroes; those who
WHAT TO EXPECT POST COVID-19
are keeping the campus safe and functional under
Brave new world................................................................................... 41 the COVID-19 compliance regulations (pages 31-33).
Global car industry: ‘Game on’!.......................................................... 42 While we do not know when the present choppy waters
Tourism: Where to now?...................................................................... 46 will become calmer and we eventually find a safe harbour, we
Healthcare lessons on price tariffs...................................................... 48 do know that the world will never be the same again.
Alumni Relations: embracing change................................................. 50 To this end, leading alumni from the automotive industry,
SPORT tourism and marketing share their predictions for the future, along
Lockdown lessons learnt...................................................................... 53 with our own futurist guru, Professor Chris Adendorff
Madibaz back in the big time.............................................................. 55 (page 41). Their efforts make us proud.
We hope these stories, and the ongoing efforts of the Alumni
Relations Office, will inspire you too.
Publisher: Paul Geswindt
For more, go to www.mandela.ac.za/coronavirus
Editor: Debbie Derry
Sub-editors: Beth Cooper Howell and Gillian McAinsh PO Box 77000, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, 6031 Debbie Derry
Writers: Beth Cooper Howell, Gillian McAinsh, Debbie Derry, T +27 41 504 3935
Editor
Nicky Willemse, Lize Hayward, Coetzee Gouws E alumni@mandela.ac.za
and Cathy Dippnall
Production: Lyndall Sa Joe-Derrocks
Design: Juliana Jangara
Photography: Many thanks to all who contributed images to this publication alumni.mandela.ac.za
Cover image: The Mandela Bench – public art piece situated on the
23
University’s South Campus
Disclaimer: All information contained herein was correct at the time of going to print. The University cannot be held responsible for any changes or developments that may October 2020 | mandela.ac.za | 3
take place.
TRIBUTE TRIBUTE
Your legacy will live on,
Lungile
(1974 – 2020)
Vice-Chancellor Professor Sibongile Muthwa pays tribute to Nelson Mandela
University’s Executive Dean of Health Sciences Professor Lungile Pepeta, who
passed away from COVID-19 on 7 August, aged 46.
I can still hear Professor Lungile A giant among us inspiring and one of the top thinkers,
Pepeta saying, “I almost don’t Paying homage to Lungile, Health a brilliant mind, an outstanding
believe that we have come this far” Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said: “South academic and a pioneering
while he was standing in one of the Africa has lost one of her best sons – researcher. He was a visionary who
University’s lecture halls for our confident, knowledgeable, articulate, held high hopes for our country and
new medical school. He had worked an innovator who always harboured
tirelessly to get the medical school dreams of a better South Africa and
off the ground. spent time figuring out strategies to
At the beginning of 2021, when take this nation to the future of his
we are due to enrol the first cohort ideals.”
of students for our MBChB degree, Lungile personified everything
we will be looking for Prof Pepeta, or that is good about our country. Born,
Lungile as we called him, to see his
The loss of raised and schooled in Mbizana in
University Shop
youthful smile and shining presence the rural Eastern Cape, where he was
acknowledging, “We have done it!”
Lungile was a paediatric
Lungile is a laid to rest, he pursued his dreams
and showed what can be achieved.
cardiologist, Professor and Executive
Dean of our Faculty of Health
loss for the Dr Basil Brown, the former Head
of the Department of Cardiology at
Sciences, with its approximately 4000
students. The loss of Lungile is a loss
whole higher Port Elizabeth Provincial Hospital
worked with Lungile from 2009 to
Your one stop shop for all your Nelson Mandela University branded for the whole higher education sector education 2017, when Lungile was Head of the
clothing, corporate gifts, bags and memorabilia! and country, and Nelson Mandela Department of Paediatrics at Dora
University is devastated that he is sector and Nginza Hospital in Port Elizabeth.
gone. To think that we will never see Dr Brown described the impact that
him again is too hard to bear, and country, and Lungile made on the delivery of
all our students and staff members paediatric cardiology services:
T +27 41 504 4371 E Shop@mandela.ac.za W shop.mandela.ac.za feel it deeply. As has been said in the Nelson Mandela • Since 2009, the number of cardiac
University is
many tributes to Lungile, a giant tree catheterisations done increased
@UniversityShopMandelaUni @UniversityShop_MandelaUni
has fallen. from 10-20 a year to more than 150
Our hearts are with his wife
Dr Vuyo Pepeta, and his daughter devastated that a year
• The number of open-heart
Kungawo and son Lungaka. He loved
his family and community, and we he is gone.” operations on children doubled
from about 30 to around 60 a year
Sanlam Student Village loved him. He was not only our Dean, • The HPCSA accredited his
he was a rare, shining presence in so department for the training of
much darkness. paediatric cardiologists and under
4 | Thetha | October 2020 October 2020 | mandela.ac.za | 5
TRIBUTE TRIBUTE
his tutelage at least four paediatric better serve all South Africans. Our – from our cities to our deep rural 01 Prof Lungile Pepeta
cardiologists have qualified while new medical school, according to his areas.” 02 Prof Lungile Pepeta and Dr Khanyisa Makamba in Cuba 01
working at Dora Nginza and vision, is based on a comprehensive Reverend George Makhabeni of 03 Prof Lungile Pepeta on the building site of the medical school
on Missionvale Campus
other provincial hospitals. One of approach to medicine that focuses the Methodist Church in Mbizana,
04 Prof Lungile Pepeta and Dr Khanyisa Makamba with South
these, Dr Adele Greyling, went equally on the four pillars of who spoke at Lungile’s funeral, called African students at the Medical University of Sancti Spiritus
for further training overseas and medicine − disease prevention, him “one of that rare breed of good in Cuba
qualified as the first paediatric health promotion, treatment and men”. He said: “Good men rise up in
electrophysiologist in South Africa rehabilitative medicine. He was clear difficult situations. Lungile was one
• He supervised the training of at that “the system will produce well- of them. It was in his nature to help
least 20 specialist paediatricians at rounded general physicians, trained and to speak out.”
Dora Nginza to practise in diverse communities Lungile was outspoken about
• He pioneered the use of devices how politicians needed to put aside
for repairing cardiac defects, their differences and unite in the
establishing himself as one of the battle against COVID-19. He was
best interventional paediatric equally outspoken about how the
cardiologists in the country. pandemic had exposed weaknesses Fighting the good fight
in the health system in the Eastern In collaboration with Dr Litha One of our political science
A University Cape and nationally. Matiwane, Deputy Director-General postgraduate students, Asemahle
pioneer In several articles in the of the Eastern Cape Department Gwala, said in his tribute: “What set
Lungile had similar impact media, written in collaboration of Health, whom Health Minister Dr Prof Pepeta apart was his unmatched
at Nelson Mandela with Professor Fikile Nomvete, Zweli Mkhize deployed to the Nelson Lungile love for humanity that propelled
University when he took gastroenterologist and Medical Mandela Bay Metro in April this those who could not fly to soar to the
up his post as Executive Programme Director of our year, Lungile led our whole Faculty personified sky.”
Dean in 2017. Medical School, they stated: of Health Sciences in working with There is so much to say about
He championed “The clinicians and all the health clinicians and health workers to everything that Lungile, and the difference he
the Faculty of Health services teams in our hospitals support them and respond to the has made to so many lives. He
Sciences’ interprofessional are in direct contact with needs of the public health service. is good about established a legacy that will live on
education approach, COVID-19 patients; they are at He strongly appealed for critical through our staff and students. His
in which all health the frontline of the fight against vacancies for nurses, radiographers, our country.” spirit is soaring to the highest now
professionals train the pandemic, yet their voices clinical physicians and clinical and at the same time he will always
and work together. He are not being sufficiently heard in epidemiologists in our public be with us and we will make sure that
emphasised how their terms of what is happening, what hospitals to be filled. his bright light never dims.
scope of practice would is needed and the support they He was in constant contact with Lungile led from the front and
be enhanced by the medical need.” government officials, urging that the his constant exposure to the virus
school, as every discipline will COVID-19 guidelines be changed in hospitals and communities, as is 03
have a presence in the clinical to enable effective containment the case with all our health services
space, and all health sciences of the pandemic through stratified professionals, was just too great.
professionals will be working testing, with the most at-risk groups Many lives have been claimed and he
together as equals and feel equally prioritised. was taken from us on 7 August.
valued and heard.
He was a pioneer and
innovator, opting for
new approaches to
02 04
6 | Thetha | October 2020 October 2020 | mandela.ac.za | 7
IN SERVICE TO OTHERS IN SERVICE TO OTHERS
Zikhusele.
Ukhusele nabanye. Protect yourself.
Protect others.
Ngokunxiba kwakho i maski awukhuseli ubomi bakho
kuphela, kodwa ukhusela ubomi babanye abantu
obakhathalelayo kakhulu. Zibandakanye kwi ntshukumo
By wearing a mask you not only protect your life, but
i #MaskUpMandela ukwenzela ukubonakalisa inxaso
yakho kwabo bancamayo, bencamela ukusisebenzela
also the lives of those you care about the most. Join
thina kunye nelizwe lethu ngelixesha. Lena the #MaskUpMandela movement and show your
ngenye yendlela ezininzi esidlala indima kwi support to those who are sacrificing to
#FlattenTheCurve.
serve us and our country during this time.
This is one of many ways we are playing our
UKUQUBUKA KWE CORONAVIRUS TSALELA
UMNXEBA KWI NOMBOLO KA ZWELONKE: part to #FlattenTheCurve.
0 800 029 999
08h00 - 16h00 (Ngomvulo-Ngolwesihlanu)
CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK national
HOTLINE: 0 800 029 999
08h00 - 16h00 (Monday - Friday)
Yinxibe xa uphuma Zama Yihlambe qho emva Qinisekisa ukuba
endlini ukungayiphathaphathi kweentsuku ezimbini yogquma impumlo
nomlomo
#MaskUpMandela campaign
Wear it when you Try not to touch it Wash it every 2 days Make sure it covers
go out nose & mouth
The awareness stories, calls for volunteers, free
posters and mask patterns and advertising
have one goal in mind – changing behaviours
to save lives, writes Debbie Derry of the Beskerm jouself.
Beskerm andere.
University’s #MaskUpMandela campaign Deur ‘n masker te dra, beskerm jy nie net jou
lewe nie, maar ook die lewens van diegene
• A site for volunteering services vir wie jy die meeste omgee. Sluit aan by die
#MaskUpMandela-beweging en wys jou
If we can change behaviour, we can And so, as an institution established a webpage that houses • A cartoon series, in three ondersteuning aan diegene wat opofferings
maak om ons en ons land te dien. Dit is een
save lives. of higher learning whose core #MaskUpMandela webpage (https:// languages, called the eRona van die vele maniere hoe ons ons deel doen
in #FlattenTheCurve.
It’s as simple and as difficult as business is education, Nelson www.mandela.ac.za/News-and- Times, demonstrating prevention
that. If we are able to get a nation Mandela University initiated its Events/Coronavirus-Information/- measures as our best defence CORONAVIRUS-UITBREKING NASIONALE
NOODLYN: 0 800 029 999
to wash and sanitise their hands, #MaskUpMandela campaign early MaskUpMandela) educational against the virus. 08h00 - 16h00 (Maandag - Vrydag)
practise social distancing and wear in March to create awareness resources: In addition, the University is
a mask, we can make a marked and call staff, students and the • Free posters in all languages running an extensive regional
difference in saving lives amidst wider community to “mask up” in • Mask patterns to download marketing campaign in the province,
the COVID-19 pandemic, as those protecting themselves and others. • Educational and inspirational which has been a COVID-19 hotspot, Dra dit as jy uitgaan
Probeer om nie
daaraan te raak nie Was dit elke 2 dae
Maak seker dit
bedek neus & mond
countries already accustomed to To aid the University as part stories about those who are under the tagline of “It is in your
“masking up” can attest. of a national call to this end, it making and receiving masks hands”.
8 | Thetha | October 2020 October 2020 | mandela.ac.za | 9
IN SERVICE TO OTHERS IN SERVICE TO OTHERS
Given the historical,
innate aloofness of Caring for the the glaring socio-economic
inequalities weaved into South
higher education community Africa’s fabric.
The University stepped up to
institutions, focusing
Nelson Mandela University the plate, dramatically escalating its
Nelson Mandela played a critical role in the engagement efforts in response to
University on pandemic response, working COVID-19 challenges.
closely with government, The University is also part
genuinely working in of national and global research
individuals, companies and
service of society is local communities to provide networks and programmes, serves
not an easy task – but solutions. on both the Eastern Cape’s and
Nelson Mandela Metro’s Extended
this is exactly what we • Engineering network.
Provincial Command Councils, and
Ventilator production, face
are doing. shields and sanitisers, etc. offers advisory support and services
Currently, in partnership with in education, health, economic and
By Professor André Keet SASOL, sanitiser production human settlement spheres.
focuses on donations
Re-positioning Mandela University in the service of society and distribution to the More than a lifeline
Convergence Fund
community.
• ICT solutions. A range of During this challenging year, poverty,
apps and programmes were hunger and food insecurity, together
developed and employed, with other forms of deprivation, were
most notably a paperless, again underscored as a critical area
Almost all universities claim to cloud-based solution for of social suffering for the materially
‘engage’ society, but they may the field hospital in Port poor, who are otherwise rich and
do so in the form of patronising, Elizabeth. valuable communities forced into
paternalistic charity. Ironically, this Two years ago, Vice- intervention in the University’s overall risk of defaulting on chronic • Academic expertise. Our even greater hardship through
‘pseudo-engagement’ increases Chancellor Sibongile Muthwa project. medication, due to hunger. Faculty of Health Sciences unemployment and job losses in
social distance between institutions challenged the University The Fund provides an Resource allocation elsewhere was involved in several both formal and informal sectors.
and the very communities that they community, asking: how can we opportunity for people to cultivate also applies, based on advice interventions, while scientists These everyday struggles for
wish to serve – and marginalises the drive social justice and serve humanity through their contributions. from implementing partners. and academics across all survival are central to the renewed
wealth of education offered by the the public good, together with The equalising and humanising The Fund is managed faculties offered their skills, consciousness and spirit of the
people in those communities. a strong, robust and relevant coming-together of University and through the Mandela University research and programme University.
Universities miss out on the academic project? community is a key organising Trust, which is independently initiatives – all based on While the state plays a central
key learnings offered by society, The answer, she said, was principle of the Fund. audited, and overseen by social relevance. role, it is proven that social
and which are based on real life to interact fully with the vibrant Since its launch, in mid-May trustees who ensure that there is • Online events. Seminars action, steered by communities
and the everyday; most public communities which we serve, this year, the Fund has raised more accountability and transparency and community discussions in collaborative relationships with
customary knowledge is therefore in fluid and equalising ways, than half a million rand from staff in its deployment. were a core focus, with the others, is the most productive and
not absorbed, understood or suitably through hubs of convergence. and the broader University family. community convergence ethically-sound way to approach
utilised. Prof Muthwa further The funding has been utilised in Moving forward workstream gathering community-based work.
challenged the University to partnership with credible civil society several crucial projects under Our engagement approach is
Bucking the trend reimagine engagement as the co- structures in the Nelson Mandela Our Vice-Chancellor’s daring a collaborative engagement informed by our conviction that
creation of platforms, places and Bay Metro and George. The initial proposition to reverse, undo, umbrella. communities are innately resilient
Universities generally view their local spaces, where the community- interventions focused on safe food re-think and reconstitute has • Community projects. These and enterprising, and that partnering
communities – and the work they society-university converge to and other material relief because been central to the University’s include, inter alia, counselling with them is an equalising and
do ‘for’ communities – as part of a collectively respond to the harsh that need was – and continues to be academic and social project over support for community mutually beneficial relationship for
branding exercise, rooted in ongoing challenges of our times. – urgent. the past two years. healthcare workers, both parties, enabling the University
institutional competition and with the Current interventions have As the COVID-19 pandemic solidarity-based engagement to sharpen its social justice intentions
aim of gaining ‘points’. Emergence of expanded the safe food relief swept the globe and country, around sustained, co- with, hopefully, a pragmatic and
This unhealthy obsession with an convergence concept with an eye to longer-term it reinforced and made more operative community food lasting impact.
almost meaningless rating regime sustainability, particularly through urgent Nelson Mandela systems, building an archive For more information about the
also disrupts the potential for a new, The establishment of supporting community kitchens and University’s commitment to be of resources to support work of the Convergence Fund,
community-oriented, social justice- the Mandela University food gardening teams to strengthen ‘in service to society’. activists and organisations, please visit www.mandela.ac.za/
led character for the South Africa Convergence Fund, which is local, collective and solidarity-based The pandemic proved to promoting citizen reporting News-and-Events/Coronavirus-
university sector. aimed at supporting vulnerable food systems. be more than a health crisis. and exploring food and Information/Convergence-Fund or
Mandela University, however, is communities adversely affected Other areas of focus include The unprecedented occurrence material relief efforts. contact Dr Ossie Franks on email:
committed to working against these by a myriad of socio-economic the elderly, survivors of gender- in the history of our young oswald.franks@mandela.ac.za or
trends. challenges, is a central based violence and people at country’s democracy highlighted mobile: +27 082 889 6967.
10 | Thetha | October 2020 October 2020 | mandela.ac.za | 11
IN SERVICE TO OTHERS IN SERVICE TO OTHERS
Our external response to the community during COVID-19
Together WE CAN By Beth Cooper Howell
Walk the talk,
wear the mask! ALL SMILES
Third-year media and
Mandela University’s ongoing pledge to being in service to society sprang
The Nelson Mandela University Psychology
communication students created
Society posed a challenge to students, staff
into action during the gruelling first months of coronavirus, as the COVID-19 and the South African public at large: to take exciting ideas for children’s masks,
Co-ordinating Committee (CCC) harnessed our knowledge and expertise to part in its mask selfie competition. then designed and delivered them
Running on social media, the competition –
partner with others in beating the pandemic. “nmumaskupchallenge” – challenged entrants to Alfonso Arries Primary School
to take a creative mask selfie, post it to their in Bethelsdorp. Staff in various
These pages showcase a selection of the sterling availability and a mobile testing unit. Facebook or Instagram pages, and challenge a
innovations and initiatives offered by our staff and • Research and engagement. Our microbiologists friend to do the same. faculties signed up to sew
students, from feats of engineering in the design and provided expertise in virology and pandemic response; masks, while an appeal to the
production of critical health resources, leading-edge ICT faculties partnered to create ICT solutions for COVID-19
solutions and food aid, to futuristic data modelling and management (track and trace, case identification) and
public to get sewing was
creative, compassionate campaigns designed to educate our senior academics offered skills and round-table also successful.
and empower local communities. Because together, we discussions on the critical role of data modelling and
can. how to respond to the disease’s impact on both basic
and higher education.
Call to action “We are known as a University in the service of
Nelson Mandela University rallied its troops in the early society,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor Sibongile Muthwa.
days of COVID-19, providing a suite of skills and expertise “As public universities, we have three missions:
to support local and provincial government’s efforts. research and innovation, learning and teaching, and
• Health resources. Design, production and distribution engagement. Therefore, we have an obligation to
of hand sanitisers, face shields and masks, goggles, lab respond, to stand and raise our hands – particularly as we
gowns, gloves, intubation boxes, ventilators, 3D printing are named after Madiba.”
Wear a Mask, Save a Life
The #MaskupMandela campaign touched the lives of thousands of individuals and
organisations throughout the greater Nelson Mandela Bay area.
WE CARE
Over 100 masks were
donated to staff and
residents of Cheshire Homes in
Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth,
by the Faculty of Humanities,
represented here by Prof Pieter
Binsbergen (back, second from
left) as part of the University’s
#MaskUpMandela
campaign.
12 | Thetha | October 2020 October 2020 | mandela.ac.za | 13
IN SERVICE TO OTHERS IN SERVICE TO OTHERS
Science, statistics and saving lives Plotting a disease
Research plays a pivotal role
Behavioural change remains key in the fight against COVID-19. in pandemic prevention and
Mandela University took the lead in research and discussions around data management – and the work of
modelling. This is because it is a vital tool for answering the burning question in students can pave the way for
any disease pandemic: when is the peak? significant developments in this field.
The institution hosted a webinar in June to address the role of data Geographical Information Systems
modelling in trying to predict an answer to this question, using various data
Predictions honours’ student Michelle Lee, for
models. made through data example, came up with the goods by
Predictions made through data modelling have been key to the national modelling have been creating an operational dashboard for
response to the pandemic. They have helped predict the scale of the pandemic’s COVID-19 in South Africa.
impact relative to the country’s health system capacity, while also being used
key to the national The map is similar to the famous
to gauge the success of government’s policy regulations and intervention response to the John Hopkins University map.
strategies. pandemic. While still in development, Lee’s
The answer to that ‘burning question’ remained a simple one, according to study will assess the role of interactive
Nelson Mandela University Professors Azwinndini Muronga, Darelle van Greunen mapping for disease surveillance. The COVID-19 mapping dashboard being developed by Geography honours’ student Michelle Lee.
and the late Lungile Pepeta: “It is in our hands.”
E-learning project reaps rewards
The Accounting Sciences Department piloted an online During the pilot, the students were seated in the
Digital solutions save the day
tutorial project to promote online learning in their normal tutorial venue, whereas the tutor, who would
department – with excellent results. normally conduct a face-to-face tutorial, was instead
Staff members Tarish Jagwanth, Lee-Ann MacPherson located in the lecturer’s office.
and Feroza Oliveria, in conjunction with e-technologist The interactive session was a nod to the future of
The Centre for Community Technologies (CCT) took for the Nelson Mandela Metro Andrew Thuo, conducted extensive research to launch blended education, with physical and virtual teaching and
centre stage in pioneering technological innovations over on the Joint Operating the tutorial during lockdown via the Microsoft Teams Live learning a likely duet.
COVID-19. Committee. Event Function.
The urgent need for digital solutions became a priority ICT projects included:
worldwide, with the CTT leading the local charge. • Online COVID-19
“There is recognition in the importance of how self-screening
technology can assist us to make far quicker decisions
and to be more ready (for fighting COVID-19),” said CCT
tool for staff and
students
Helping hands
Director Professor Darelle van Greunen.
Apart from the team’s work as part of the University’s
• Automated
facilities for health
Coronavirus Co-ordinating Committee’s collective and stock
response to the COVID-19 challenges, Prof Van Greunen management Mandela University geared
also facilitated the work of the IT and Data workstream tool to better up to help plug health system
manage gaps in the Eastern Cape and
provincial stock nationally.
and
equipment, JUST ONE CLICK: Prof Darelle van Greunen, The Faculty of Health Sciences
Director of the CCT, demonstrates the newly
such as created Yabelana app.
teamed up with provincial health
beds, department deputy director general
medical machinery and personal Dr Litha Matiwane to investigate the
protective equipment needs of medical staff, hospitals and TEAM EFFORT: Displaying the hand sanitiser donated by Nelson Mandela University to the
Eastern Cape Government are (from left) Vice-Chancellor Prof Sibongile Muthwa, Premier
• A COVID-19 contact trace and track tool healthcare institutions.
Oscar Mabuyane, Health MEC Sindiswa Gomba and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science
• The Yabelana App, helping older people to access Within days of the pandemic Prof Azwinndini Muronga.
services and information in South Africa’s largest hitting South Africa’s shores,
townships the Coronavirus Co-ordinating • Participation in the World Health • Using 3D printing technology to
• ICE Readiness of Schools app to help schools assess Committee and its teams got to work Organisation’s Global Solidarity manufacture and distribute health
their readiness for e-learning on projects such as: Trial, in the search for treatments equipment, such as visors
• TjopTjop, an app co-designed by Nelson Mandela • Provision of critical resources such • Provision of the University’s large • Thousands of litres of hand
University and North-West University, aimed at assisting as face shields, ventilators and face mobile clinic, Zanempilo (“bringing sanitiser manufactured and
schools and businesses with faster entrance point masks health”), bringing to seven the distributed by the University to
TECH SAVVY: The TjopTjop app helps schools and businesses to screening and accurate digital records. • Fast-tracking screening apps and number of units deployed across provincial government, community
screen faster – and more accurately – at entrance points.
capturing data on comorbidities the province organisations and institutions.
14 | Thetha | October 2020 October 2020 | mandela.ac.za | 15
IN SERVICE TO OTHERS IN SERVICE TO OTHERS
Working against the clock TOGETHER WE
CAN: Mandela
University-designed
InnoVenton, the University’s intubation units
Institute for Chemical Technology, played an important
produced its first batch of 200 role in the use of
litres of hand sanitiser within two respiratory equipment
working days.
to treat COVID-19
“We had to make do with what
patients. Pictured at
we had, taking into account the the foot-shaking for
urgency,” said InnoVenton’s Dr the handover of the
Nicole Vorster. intubation units at
First, the team had to develop a Livingstone Hospital
recipe at laboratory scale, and then were (from left)
source the ingredients. The country’s
Cecil Frost (Shibah
alcohol shortage proved a challenge,
but fortunately, other ingredients
Engineering), Dr Marnè
– glycerol, for example, to soften Page, Dr Lorenzo
the liquid’s effect on hands, water, Boretti and Dr Lynn-
colourant and perfume – were readily Hay Frewen.
available.
Intubation unit deployed
to hospitals
The The anaesthesiology staff organised the manufacturing of the
Department of at Livingstone Hospital recently
received the first four intubation
intubation units.
These units encompass the
Mechatronics units designed by Nelson Mandela intubation box, including the vacuum
University’s Advanced Engineering extraction units and custom-made
stepped up to Design Group (AEDG). connections and adaptors for quick
the plate with PE Hospital Group
anaesthesiologist for COVID-19
installation and use in theatre. They
have been tested for efficiency in in-
face shields response Dr Lorenzo Boretti had theatre training sessions.
earlier this year asked the University’s After some delay with
for frontline AEDG students to design an administrative issues, the first units
intubation unit for the hospital have been delivered as an additional
workers, group. This request was due to the layer of protection for our healthcare
provincial pandemic and the strain it placed on
the city’s hospitals.
professionals, says Clive Hands,
AEDG project manager.
hospital staff, Prof Danie Hattingh, Director of National funding is now being
the Innovation through Engineering sought so that units can be deployed
the South
“We had to Institute housed at Nelson Mandela to hospitals across the country, says
African Police University, secured funding from the Hands.
make do with Mandela Bay Development Agency For more information about the
Services and to build the intubation units. This development of the intubation units,
what we had.” enabled several to be supplied including the trials and tribulations
charities. across the PE Hospital Group. encountered along the way, see the
AEDG website:
In addition, Nelson Mandela aedg.mandela.ac.za/Projects/
University alumnus Cecil Frost, Intubation-Unit-Accesories
director of Shibah Engineering,
16 | Thetha | October 2020 October 2020 | mandela.ac.za | 17
IN SERVICE TO OTHERS IN SERVICE TO OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS
Mandela University cleaning teams led the way so that other staff and
students could safely return to campus in a phased approach.
A 20-strong team of cleaners sanitised areas from the get-go,
received COVID-19 training and adhered to strict hygiene protocols.
They, together with other frontline staff – protective services,
essential workers and other essential employees – played a A Shot in the Arm for
DIGITAL
fundamental role in helping the University fulfil its safety mandate: to
prepare, prevent and protect.
Service above self Transformation
Social work student steps forward
Third-year Social Work student Alicia Daniels always wanted to make a In light of the critical role that ICTs play in
difference, no matter how small.
A resident of Tiryville informal settlement in Uitenhage, Daniels was one of
“The aiding continuity of learning and business
dozens of Mandela Uni students who opened their hearts and gave of their time children, during COVID-19, universities and colleges
to help the less fortunate during COVID-19.
especially, are worldwide need to prioritise the technologies
“The children, especially, are so close to my heart and so I decided to look
required for a seismic structural shift in
for sponsors among my friends and family to have a little soup kitchen for them.”
Alicia found 10 sponsors to provide four meals of soup and bread for 60
so close to my higher education. By Dr Samuel Bosire, Chief
children ranging in age from 3-16, over two weeks.
“I know that two weeks will never be enough, but the smiles and the joy I saw
heart ... ” Information Officer, Nelson Mandela University
on the children’s faces brought joy to my heart.
“I come from a poor background and I know exactly how it feels to be
hungry, and therefore I am making it my mission to finish my studies and make a
difference in my community.”
LENDING A HAND: Student volunteers
packing food parcels for communities
and organisations on behalf of Nelson
Mandela University’s Convergence Fund.
18 | Thetha | October 2020 October 2020 | mandela.ac.za | 19IN SERVICE TO OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS IN SERVICE TO OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS
transformation as the vehicle.
In our view, the herculean task
of salvaging the academic year
is possible in partnership with
The fact government, the private sector and
communities. The matter of digital
is that the access has demonstrated that so
ground much more can be achieved – and
so much faster – when we all work
of online collaboratively.
learning or
Challenges we faced included:
e-learning • Limited time for expanding digital
has shifted access, content creation and
course design
irrevocably • Strict adherence to best practices
• Support and training of lecturers in
facilitating online learning
• Addressing the question: what
about students with limited or no
connectivity and devices?
A team effort
The ease with which any institution
transitions to operating remotely
using digital platforms is directly
Photo: Lunga Ngcabashe (@lubrapictures)
proportional to the number of
years of deliberate planning and
Risk management experts describe transform since the start of the development it has invested in
the global pandemic as a black swan Solutions for students pandemic has been described as people, technology and support Photo: Lunga Ngcabashe (@lubrapictures)
event – rare, but high in impact. Many Mandela University “emergency remote teaching and infrastructure.
The need for rapid digital students live in townships, learning”. The fact is that the ground
transformation in higher education informal settlements and Buoyed by great generosity of online learning or e-learning
was thrown into focus following the rural areas – how are they to from software vendors and has shifted irrevocably. And this
closure of campuses across South access the internet, let alone telecommunications companies, the transformation will not produce the
Africa. learn and study in a suitable option to launch online became more desired outcome unless barriers to
Calls for online solutions are environment? viable and affordable. participation are eliminated and no
now en vogue, with universities and We immediately adopted Some traditional assumptions student is left behind.
colleges working hard to achieve a flexible pathway approach have also been debunked. Most In a nutshell, wherever higher
the end-goal of catching up and to ensure that all students telling among these is that students education institutions might be on
completing the 2020 academic year had access to materials and are either on campus or working this curve, they need to radically
in limited time. support, whether online or via elsewhere with unlimited access to ramp up their digital
Technological strategies and work packs, and revamped our data and connectivity. transformation
solutions became a critical factor entire learning and teaching This is simply not the case – and strategies.
in delivering learning and teaching, process, from assessments and higher education institutions have
and supportive return-to-campus academic timelines to support had to think on their feet to ensure “Higher
protocols; and will continue to do so.
Increasingly, platforms that
and teaching methods. (See
page 26)
that no student is left behind.
The fact is that digital education
previously supplemented face-
to-face lectures have become a
In addition, Mandela
University’s ICT team produced
transformation won’t work unless
barriers to participation are
institutions have
primary learning portal. Even before
COVID-19, institutions had begun
an array of solutions addressing eliminated. All stakeholders in the
higher education system require
had to think on their
administrative and practical
grappling with blended learning (a issues such as transport, meals, quality access to digital resources. feet to ensure that
hybrid of contact and technology- residential return, cleaning and
enhanced learning and teaching). screening. Unity is strength no student is left
This pandemic has presented an
Unprecedented times opportunity for South African behind.”
The scale and speed at which the universities to demonstrate
sector has been required to digitally resilience and innovation, with digital Dr Samuel Bosire
20 | Thetha | October 2020 October 2020 | mandela.ac.za | 21IN SERVICE TO OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS IN SERVICE TO OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS
ICT SOLUTIONS
The impact of COVID-19 has fast-tracked much, including these
new automated solutions in making life simpler and safer:
Online COVID-19 self-screening tool: Staff and students can
take responsibility for their own well-being with the screening
information also fed directly to the University’s health officials for
overall monitoring. (http://webapps.mandela.ac.za/Screening/)
Students invited back to campus: This integrated system
notifying those students identified to return to campus enabled
students to agree to the new on-campus terms and conditions
and sign up and receive their study travel permits all online.
Meals: Students may select their meals, collection points and
times online across all Port Elizabeth campuses.
Food parcels: Students who are part of the nutrition programme
can now discreetly arrange to collect their food parcels using the
new online booking system.
Timetable venue booking: This new system not only allows
lecturers to book face-to-face venues and classes on a weekly
basis but has developed to prevent clashes and cater for
multiple class groups of fewer students per class. The booking is
automatically emailed to the affected students who then show
the information as their permission to visit campus or enter the
facilities.
Cleaning: An online form has been developed for staff to request
the sanitisation of venues to assist the University with its cleaning
processes and response times.
Student transport: Working with the returning student
STUDENTS
information, along with the lecturer venue requests and the
individual students preferred pick-up point, the new integrated
student transport will enable a more efficient service.
Lab bookings: A general lab booking system is now in place,
giving students the opportunity to pre-book their 90-minute slot
LEADING
in labs that have been reconfigured to comply with all COVID-19
compliance measures.
Attendance confirmation: Students invited to campus for a
face-to-face class can confirm or decline their attendance. The
the way
system also prompts the student to confirm his or her pick-up
location should they require transport.
22 | Thetha | October 2020 October 2020 | mandela.ac.za | 23IN SERVICE TO OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS IN SERVICE TO OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS
He is aware that many students
face additional pressures over and
Don’t take life above the pandemic.
for granted “Some of them are poverty
stricken. They may have food when
“COVID also made they are at university because we
us realise the value of support them, but back home
something that we took for there is no food. So, they would be
granted: life,” says Jack. distressed by that.”
“Health and education Virtual classes and online
are bedrocks and if you learning are another challenge.
have an unhealthy nation,
Just as staff have had to adapt
everything has to adjust
how they teach, students also
around that or it will fall
have had to adapt how they
apart.”
learn.
Nelson Mandela University
– but what about the year after? You has put in place short-term
need a certain level of education now contracts with major cellphone
to get into matric in 2021, and so on, service providers and supplies
and so on. students with 30GB data each
“We need basic education (to month. It also has handed over more
function) because without that we than 5000 laptops to those with no
cannot exist.” suitable device on which to work.
Many students living and
Student Counselling studying remotely off campus have
not had access to computer labs, so
It’s been an immensely stressful few these new laptops have helped
months for students. immensely.
“We asked our Student Messages such as
Counselling to provide the necessary “My laptop is with me,
support and to be flexible. They I’ve charged it and
strive to go beyond the call of duty I’m getting down to
even if it is after hours and of course work” are music to
to provide online support. Jack’s ears.
“At the same time, our students Luthando Jack
have also been equally appreciative
of the support we’re providing. What to do differently in future
Some have even written to thank
us.”
In a personal touch, Jack has “We need to reflect honestly and ask: ‘What are those things that worked?’
phoned each student the University and consolidate them. Also, what the pitfalls were – and then try to correct
knows has contracted the virus. He them. Embed all the best practices that we’ve taken out of COVID and save
Nelson Mandela indeed, their entire campus life for adjustments’. has been surprised at how many of them, holistically, into our own systems as the University.
University Dean of the rest of 2020 and ahead. “The difficulty is that the them know his name and humbled “Let us learn to live with the virus. Let us no longer make it an add-on in
Along with the unpredictability only thing that is certain now is by reactions to his simple yet caring our work – rather let it be embedded in all our processes at the University,
Students Luthando
brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, uncertainty.” gesture. for students and staff, because some of the things that the virus reminded
Jack looks at how Jack is addressing these concerns by He knows the dire effect the “Those who have been in us to do are centred around basic, healthy lifestyles.
students are coping striving to empower students while coronavirus has had on the academic quarantine with us say ‘we feel we “That is the first thing that we need to do.
giving the necessary support along year, not only at tertiary institutions are at a home away from home’. So, The second thing is to up the game in terms of public education about
as they embrace new the way. but also at school level. Which leads that type of total support system, living healthy lives and taking full responsibility.
ways of living and “My passion is unleashing the to the question: what happens especially as they undergo this “All of us have to adapt and realise that we live in a changing,
learning, writes Gillian potential of young people and their to universities and their students difficult period, is necessary and it connected world largely driven by technology. The focus of our leadership
assets,” says Jack. if schools and their learners are must be an ongoing support until we development programme is to encourage these attributes in our students.
McAinsh “What this period requires from delayed? get through this.” “They need to be prepared to reinvent themselves in an ever-changing
us is to communicate authentically “We will have continuing students Between 18 June, when university world. Which means that the purpose of the University is to teach them how
Dean of Students Luthando Jack has and to keep on saying ‘what we share but we also need that pipeline for new re-opened, and the end of July, there to learn.
a tough task on his hands: Mandela with you is based on what we know students, so the pandemic talks to the were around 20 student coronavirus “The university of the future must be built now, not tomorrow. If we
Uni students want to know what now. Things may change and so we entire schooling system,” says Jack. cases and Jack is happy to report build it only tomorrow, we’re going to be irrelevant tomorrow.”
is happening to their studies and, may have to come back to you with “Yes, we can push the matrics out that most are now well.
24 | Thetha | October 2020 October 2020 | mandela.ac.za | 25IN SERVICE TO OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS IN SERVICE TO OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS
No Student Left Behind
With the 2020 academic year in disarray following the global pandemic, 10 KEY LEARNINGS
Mandela University was forced to send students home on an extended recess 1. In complex, disruptive situations: the value of
in March. This heralded a challenge – how to restart learning and teaching “shrinking the change”, “smoothing the path”,
finding the “bright spots”, monitoring progress,
with 29 000 students dispersed across the country and globe. Professor and being flexible and adaptable to plot and
Cheryl Foxcroft, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Learning & Teaching, reports. adjust our plans.
2. Positive relationship shifts between students
and staff: mutual growth of understanding of
In 2016 during #FeesMustFall, we faced the challenge of the percentage and categories of students that can return LT and life challenges and appreciation of effort
completing three weeks of learning and teaching (LT) and at various lockdown levels. and hard work.
the end-of-year examinations with almost no access to our Next, we adopted a phased approach to resuming LT 3. Navigating the online environment: students
campuses. activities: need explicit, clear communication about how
With some out-of-the-box thinking, we rose to that • From April, students prepared to learn in alternative to navigate content, what is expected of them
seemingly impossible task to complete the academic year ways and thereafter, learning intensified for Pathway 1 in a task, what they can expect from a lecturer,
and had a bumper graduation ceremony. (PW1) students from May. and so on.
Fast-forward to 2020. • PW1 consists of, on average, 70% of our students. 4. Planning around technology: knowing which
Uppermost in our mind was the differing contexts, They completed their semester 1 module assessments device a student uses for learning purposes
circumstances and needs of our students, and especially in June-July. Some have returned to campus to do has assisted lecturers to plan learning
the challenges students experience when learning experiential work in laboratories and studios, or clinical facilitation and the design of learning materials
remotely, as many of them live in townships, informal training. From mid-July, we phased in the provision of accordingly.
settlements and rural areas where online access and a intensive blended LT for PW2 returning students and 5. Experimenting bravely: lecturers need to be
private space to study are a big ask. those who now have acquired laptops and connectivity, adaptable, flexible and innovative in terms
We started by declaring our unwavering commitment while dispatching learning materials to other Pathway 2 of learning design and teaching. Sometimes
to provide all students with LT opportunities and support students. this involves trying out something in new,
to complete the 2020 academic year, despite the trying • We also aim to return more of the PW2 students without unimagined ways.
times. devices or connectivity as soon as possible. 6. Meaningful learning: greater thought has gone
Thereafter, to plan and tackle the LT journey, we We are remaining agile and employing flexible into learning materials and activities provided
needed a compass to guide us. A set of principles and timeframes to allow students enough time to adapt (for example, including voice notes and
values were generated to serve as a guide. to online and remote learning. To assist us, we track adjusting some of the texts and activities so
progress weekly and have regular reflection sessions. that they are relevant to the COVID-19 context).
Blended pathways 7. Expanding our online offering: facilitating
Given our strong commitment to social justice and equality, Support beyond academics LT online was challenging for both students
we developed two blended learning pathways (and Embedded in our approach is support for and staff and for students to adapt to learning
variations of these) to enable our students to complete their student learning and wellness through a variety of online. However, many of them persisted, and
first semester modules and the academic year. means and platforms. As students either return to campus or continue students felt actively engaged in learning when
These pathways have been adapted as more A range of support and capacity building to learn remotely, we will adopt a blended LT delivery a range of platforms and media were used.
information and national guidelines were gazetted, such as is available for academics regarding practising approach for the remainder of the 2020 academic year. 8. “Without-a-box” thinking: this is needed
flexible, human-centred pedagogy in a technology- This means that most of the theoretical work will be in the second semester to find ways to make
rich environment. covered online, augmented with virtual lectures and the workload for students and lecturers more
The LT compass flipped-class discussions. Contact sessions that adhere to manageable.
physical distancing and health requirements will be limited 9. Finding the balance: while the switch to
Pathway 1 learners are to lab and studio work, experiential and work-integrated continuous assessment was appropriate for
• Prioritise health of students and staff
• Be flexible and adaptable through
those with suitable devices learning and possibly for some revision sessions and online learning, a better balance between
tutorials, tests and exams, depending on the lockdown assessment and learning opportunities needs
uncharted territory during fluid times and connectivity to complete level. to be found in that “continuous assessment ≠
• Adopt a human-centred, flexible Given our human-centred, flexible, blended pathways
most of their learning digitally. approach, and the grit and determination displayed by our
continuously assessing”.
pedagogical approach 10. Greater coordination of assessments: this is
• Reaffirm the core values of our University
Pathway 2 learners did not students, academics and professional and administrative needed across all departments and faculties, as
support staff to persist with this difficult journey and adapt students were sometimes faced with multiple
• Commitment to excellence, social justice initially have access to devices as needed, we are on track to complete the 2020 academic assessments on the same day.
and equality, and integrity. or connectivity. year by the end of February 2021.
26 | Thetha | October 2020 October 2020 | mandela.ac.za | 27You can also read
