FEBEIT EXECUTIVE DEAN HOSTS GHANAIAN PRO DVC TO CREATE PATH TOWARDS A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL AGREEMENT

The WSU Buffalo City Campus’ (BCC) Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology (FEBEIT) rolled out the proverbial red carpet to host distinguished academic and Acting Pro DVC for Cape-Coast Technical University , Prof Lawrence Atepor, who traveled all the way from Ghana.

Led by FEBEIT executive dean, Prof Didibhuku Thwala, proceedings kicked off at the Potsdam Site Council Chamber with a broad, contextual analysis of the country’s challenges, and how the faculty strategically positions itself to overcome these various challenges.

The challenges highlighted by Prof Thwala were comprehensive, multitudinous and cross-sectional, and covered issues such as:

• Energy Crisis
• Water Pollution
• Food shortage
• Diseases
• Water Crisis
• Traffic Congestion
• Rapid Technological Advancement
• High Population

“Inspired by the university's aim to be an impactful, technology-infused African institution, FEBEIT envisions cultivating innovative minds that contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of South Africa and the broader African continent.”

”The faculty's mission revolves around providing high-quality education, fostering innovation through research, and bridging the gap between academia and industry to enhance the employability of graduates,” said Prof Thwala.

An academic home to approximately 5 000 students, the faculty boasts seven departments that include the departments of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Built Environment, Business and Applications (DBA), Networking and IT support, and Applied Informatics and Mathematical Sciences.

Quite critical to any functional and aspirational academic project is the staff profile – a topic Prof Thwala covered with appropriate consideration.

“The faculty has 144 Academic staff with 7 (5%) as Associate Professors, 27 (19%) with PhDs, 46 (32%) with Masters Degrees, 15 (10.4%) with Bachelor Degrees or Advanced Diploma and 3 (2%) with diploma. This shows the faculty's dedication to supporting staff growth through staff acquiring higher degrees. All the faculty staff are encouraged to enrol for post-graduate studies and all the support is given by the faculty as per the university policy,” he said.

A mechanical engineer by trade and qualification, the Ghanaian visiting scholar, Prof Lawrence Atepor heaped praise upon the university's efforts in creating an enabling and conducive environment for the African child to thrive in the academic space of engineering.

"The substance and aesthetics of this new building have left me overwhelmed, especially when you look at the standard of the lecture theatre, the wooden benches, the smart board - all of this is just simply overwhelming. This is indeed state-of-the-art, modern and relevant infrastructure that will stand students in good stead going into the future," said Prof Atepor.

A well-established collaborative researcher by nurture and nature, with ties across the world due to his ability to hold hands with others, WSU's visitor tabled his university's aspirations and intentions about the possibilities lying in wait for a WSU-Cape Coast Technology University partnership.

"This is the visit which, at its core, seeks to lay a foundation for the two universities to sign a collaborative and tangible memorandum of understanding. This agreement will, in essence, see an exchange of staff, students and researchers with the intent of one group learning from the other," said Prof Atepor.

By Thando Cezula