Deciding what career to choose is not always easy. So much depends on this decision. Will you be happy doing this for the next how many ever years? Will you be good at it? In fact, will you even be able to find a job in the crowded employment market?
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The world of Information Technology is growing daily at an ever-increasing pace. It is a field of expertise that has infiltrated and shaped almost every industry and area of our lives. As such, it also offers a growing field of career opportunities – it is one of the industries that is universally expected to flourish as the fourth industrial revolution progresses.
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If there is one thing that has defined the evolution of the human race over the last few decades, it is the rise of modern technology. Life as we know it has become synonymous with technology – in fact, one cannot even imagine life without it – and this trend is set to continue.
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Securing a tertiary education qualification is vital in preparing yourself for success in today’s highly competitive job market. However, this is only one aspect to consider. You also have to ensure that you pursue a career in which there is a demand for skills and that offers a future in terms of employment and job security.
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Belgium Campus COVID-19 Communication 24 – Action Plan and Returning Students Dear Students, We hope that your year has started well and that you are eager for the academic year to commence. Following the recent address by the President and the announcement that South Africa will remain under adjusted lockdown level 3, we would like to assure you that we are ready to start the academic year as scheduled and that we have a sound COVID-19 action plan in place to ensure that we can do so safely and without interruption. The academic year will begin on 4 February for all first-year students and on 5 February for all returning students. COVID-19 Action Plan As we enter 2021, it is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic did not remain in 2020 as many of us had hoped. With this in mind, we have adopted a proactive approach and have put a plan in place for each lockdown level and all eventualities. A summary of this plan can be viewed below: Lockdown Level Campus Restrictions Selection Criteria Residences Level 5 0% of students permitted on campus. All students must assume online learning. N/A Closed. Level 4 Only selected students permitted on campus. Remainder of students must assume online learning. Deaf students. Students who are identified as at risk. Open for selected students only. Level 3 33% of students permitted on campus. 67% of students must assume online learning. Same as level 4 and: Students without the necessary infrastructure for online classes or with unfavourable home environments. Students with practicals which cannot be completed at home. Same as level 4 and additional identified or invited students. Level 2 66% of students permitted on campus. 34% of students must assume online learning. Same as level 3 and: A new group of identified students from 1st to 3rd years. All students who require access to specific or specialised infrastructure which is not available at home. Same as level 3. Level 1 100% of students permitted on campus but limited to social distancing protocols and venue capacity rules as gazetted, if any. N/A. Open for all residence students. Campus Rules and Regulations All students who return to campus under any lockdown level are required to do so under strict COVID-19 health and safety regulations. These include: Staying at home and attending classes online if experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms (most commonly fever, dry cough, tiredness and/or loss of taste or smell). Completing daily COVID-19 pre-screening using the Belgium Campus pre-screening app (available on Google Play Store) and on-campus screening at the designated screening zone. Please ensure that you answer all pre-screening questions truthfully and that you follow the instructions given on the app. Carrying your student card at all times. Student cards will be used for contact tracing purposes and no student will be allowed on campus without one. Wearing an appropriate mask (covering mouth and nose) at all times. Adhering to physical and social distancing rules. This means keeping a distance of at least 1.5 meters, preferably 2 meters, between yourself and those around you. Following basic hygiene practices. This includes properly washing or sanitising your hands regularly. Adhering to venue capacity rules. Informing the appointed COVID-19 compliance officer ASAP if you have, or suspect that you have, been in contact with someone who has COVID-19. NB: With all three of our campuses located in areas which have been identified as COVID-19 hotspots (Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Nelson Mandela Bay), it is crucial that we work together to decrease unsafe interactions and minimise the risk of infection. We are relying on all students to act as responsible citizens with high ethical standards. This means not only taking responsibility for your own actions but also holding those around you accountable for theirs. Phased Approach to Education Under Each Lockdown Level Return of Students Under Lockdown Level 5 Under lockdown level 5, 0% of students are permitted on campus and all students must assume online learning. Classes will continue as scheduled via the HybeFlex system. We understand that students without the necessary infrastructure for online classes will have difficulty attending class and completing certain subject-specific tasks and assignments during this time. Consequently, synchronous and asynchronous methods of education will be implemented to accommodate these students. Alternative means of communication such as WhatsApp will be used to share content and will serve as a platform for group formation and group work. Furthermore, our assessment platform is mobile friendly which will allow students to complete quizzes and tests via their mobile phones as required. Return of Students Under Lockdown Level 4 Under lockdown level 4, Deaf students and students who are identified as at risk will return to campus to continue their studies. All other students must assume online learning via the HybeFlex system. As with level 5, it is likely that there will still be students who do not have the necessary infrastructure to attend online classes from home under this lockdown level. We will adopt the same approach outlined under level 5 to address this difficulty. Return of Students Under Lockdown Level 3 Under the current lockdown level, we are permitted to have a maximum of 33% of students on campus. The remaining 67% of students will be required to assume online classes via the HybeFlex system. We endeavour to make the selection of these students as fair as possible and the students invited to return to campus will be done so based on need. As previously mentioned, we undertake to give preference to our Deaf students, students who do not have the necessary infrastructure to attend online classes, students with home environments not conducive for studying and students with practicals which cannot be completed from home. Return of Students Under Lockdown Level 2 Under lockdown level 2, 66% of students are permitted on campus. In addition to the students invited back under lockdown level 3, an additional group of students will be invited to return. This will include identified students from 1st to 3rd years and all students who
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A Second Chance to Qualify for A Degree In IT Our Maths Bridging Programme has come to an end and our students are eagerly awaiting their results. Helping our students realise their true potential is extremely important to us and hosting this 2-week intensive mathematics course is one of the ways we do this. Our Maths Bridging Programme is available to all first-year students at the beginning of each year. Not only does it give our students the opportunity to brush up on their mathematics in preparation for their higher education qualifications, but it also provides students who did not meet the enrolment requirements for a degree in IT with a second opportunity to do so. After attending class with our expert lecturers for two weeks, students are required to complete a test on the material covered. The results of this test determine which students are eligible to study a degree in IT with us. Registered with Universities South Africa (USAF), we are able to use these results to apply for special exemption from the Matriculation Board on behalf of these students. Students who want to study our Bachelor of Information Technology are required to achieve 50% or more for the course and students who want to study our Bachelor of Computing are required to achieve 70% or more. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s course took place a little differently with the majority of students attending online. This, however, didn’t stop our new students from making the most of the opportunity. Here’s what some of them had to say about the experience: “I did maths literacy in high school so without this course I would only have been able to study a diploma. Although the course was challenging coming from a maths literacy background, the lecturer was extremely helpful and I am feeling much more prepared to start my qualification.” – Megan Coetzee, first year student. “This programme is great because it allows you to quickly grasp the mathematical concepts and problem-solving skills you will need to excel in a degree in IT and later as an information technology professional. I learnt a lot and I would definitely recommend the course to all students who want to study information technology.” – Lesedi Mmathapelo Sedibe, first year student. Do you want to study a degree in IT but are unsure if you will meet the necessary enrolment requirements? Our Maths Bridging Programme could be just the safety net you need! Visit the Matriculant Recourse Portal on our website to learn more about the programme and the other helpful resources we make available to matriculants: https://www.belgiumcampus.ac.za/ News/Main /ResourcesforMatriculants.html -Louise Fuller
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Belgium Campus Elects Female SRC President for Second Consecutive Year Belgium Campus iTversity has elected a female SRC president for the second year in a row. With information technology remaining a male-dominated field, could this be an indication that today’s youth will be the driving force that sees more females welcomed into leadership positions in the industry? We can’t say with certainty but one thing’s for sure, this year’s SRC president certainly displays all the qualities a great leader should. Blessed Rapudi is a 3rd year Bachelor of Computing student specialising in software engineering at the iTversity. She describes herself as an outgoing individual who is not afraid to work hard to reach her goals. “Everything I have achieved so far has been the result of hard work and determination and there is still a lot I am yet to achieve,” she explained with a confident smile. After completing her studies, Ms. Rapudi intends to complete a master’s degree overseas before entering the working world and eventually opening her own business. She plans to open a non-profit to expose young females to information technology and the exciting world of code. “We need to see more females taking up space in the industry and I want to help achieve this,” she shared. After serving on the SRC board for the past two years, Ms. Rapudi felt that she was ready to rise to the challenge of becoming Belgium Campus’ 2021 SRC president. “I really enjoy serving people. I have been a volunteer at my church for the past 7 years where I learned to work with different people in many different situations. I felt that this experience, combined with my leadership and listening skills, would greatly assist me in the role of SRC president.” Ms. Rapudi shares her goals for the year ahead. “I want the Belgium Campus SRC to be a safe haven where students can raise anything from new ideas to challenges. I also want to create a positive and productive environment on campus, and foster continued trust, transparency and collaboration between students, the SRC and campus management. I believe that together we can achieve more and take Belgium Campus to new heights!” -Louise Fuller
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Challenging Questionable Publication Practices On 10 December 2020, Belgium Campus iTversity hosted a webinar on questionable publication practices. The webinar was a result of a research group between members of the University of the Witwatersrand, Rhodes University, the University of South Africa and Belgium Campus iTversity. It addressed how this very real issue affects the field of scholarly publishing and discussed possible strategies and solutions. But what is scholarly publishing and why has it been so easily infiltrated by predatory publication practices? Simply put, scholarly publishing is the publication of research results by scholars who have gained new knowledge within their specific disciplines. It is an essential part of knowledge creation and key for the expansion of various fields of study. It also comes with the added advantage of enhancing the scholarly reputation of those who publish, which increases their funding and employment opportunities. Despite all its benefits, over the years scholarly publishing has developed a dark side. A number of fraudulent organisations have exploited the field, turning it into a business model that takes advantage of the need to ‘publish or perish’. This increased pressure to publish, combined with the lack of awareness regarding this growing threat to academic integrity, makes it easy to fall victim and find yourself caught in a publication scam. The webinar provided an in-depth breakdown of these issues and provided insight on how to use journal lists and digital interventions to identify and avoid predatory publishers. Guest speakers included, Scholarly Communications Librarian at the University of the Witwatersrand, Denise Rosemary Nicholson, School of Computing Professor at University of South Africa, Kirstin Krauss, and Head Librarian: Technical Services at Rhodes University, Wynand van der Walt. Watch the full webinar below: https://youtu.be/RZj4zKFmwC0 -Louise Fuller
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Investing in the Youth and Bridging the Digital Divide CEO, Enrico Jacobs, visited Spa Park Primary School last Friday to donate IT infrastructure on behalf of Kiewitfonds and Belgium Campus iTversity. The donation included 60 complete thin clients, servers and network, which were installed into one of the school’s computer classrooms and which will be maintained by the iTversity. Spa Park Principal, Mr Adams, expressed his gratitude for the donation, “There aren’t enough words to thank you for your support to our learners but thank you and God bless.” It was a celebratory occasion with the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motsheka, performing a ribbon-cutting ceremony to reveal the new classroom for the first time. Also present were the Ambassador of the European Union, H.E. Ms Riina Kionka, and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium, H.E. Didier Vanderhasselt, who made a donation of 30 ‘School in a Box’ tablets. Investing in the future of South Africa has always been extremely important to Belgium Campus and CEO, Mr Jacobs, believes that the best way to achieve this is by investing in the youth. It is for this reason that Belgium Campus endeavours to support primary and high school educational projects that prepare today’s youth for the future of work and the digital economy. “With every sector using technology as its driving force, information technology skills are now crucial. If we want to prepare the youth for the best possible future, we need to expose them to these skills as early as possible,” stressed CEO Mr Jacobs. The relationship between Belgium Campus and Spa Park Primary School spans many years and this is the fourth computer classroom donated to the school. Belgium Campus CEO, Mr Jacobs, and Spa Park Primary School Principal, Mr Adams, first met 20 years ago at the Rotary Club. Over the years, their friendship developed into a fruitful partnership with far-reaching support. In addition to embodying the spirit of Ubuntu, Belgium Campus is also dedicated to teaching its students to think globally and act locally. This is achieved through various mobility programmes and international partnerships. The programmes afford Belgium Campus students the incredible opportunity of travelling to Europe for their internship and also allow Belgium Campus to welcome a number of international students who wish to complete their internships in South Africa. Belgium Campus’ mobility programmes also sparked the institutions relationship with Belgium-based NPO, Kiewitfonds. After hosting some Belgium Campus internship students, Kiewitfonds board member Valère Knaepen, visited South Africa to find out more about the institution that helped nurture these well-rounded individuals. During his stay, Mr Knaepen visited Bela Bela where he was inspired by the community projects and sense of fellowship. He returned to Belgium determined to see what his community could do to help. To date, Kiewitfonds has raised a total of 140 thousand Euros (just over 2.5 million Rand) through the organisation of festivals and other fundraisers. We are proud to be part of a network committed to investing in the youth and bridging the digital divide. We hope that our efforts will inspire others to do the same. -Louise Fuller
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Belgium Campus COVID-19 Communication 23 – Consultation Sessions Dear Students, This email serves to remind you of the additional opportunities for assistance Belgium Campus iTversity has made available for all students. Consultation Sessions Since the beginning of October, Belgium Campus iTversity has been offering consultation sessions to all students. The sessions give students an opportunity to meet with their lecturers on a one-to-one basis or in small groups, to actively engage with the course material and get assistance with any subjects they may be struggling with. The sessions also provide an opportunity for students to thoroughly prepare for their upcoming exams. How to Book a Session Consultation sessions can be attended online or face-to-face on campus. They take place on Fridays from 10h00 – 12h00 or 15h00 – 17h00, strictly on an appointment basis. Students who wish to make an appointment can do so by sending an email to their lecturer. Please note that all students who wish to attend sessions on campus will be required to undergo the necessary screening procedures and adhere to all COVID-19 health and safety rules and regulations. NB: Once a session has been scheduled, it is compulsory for the student to attend. Should something come up preventing this, the student is required to email their lecturer, at least one day before the date of their session, to cancel or reschedule. Student Tutors In addition to the above, Belgium Campus iTversity’s online student tutors can also be contacted for assistance. For help getting in touch with a student tutor, you can contact any member of the SRC or one of our student counsellors at the following email addresses: Alisha Narine: [email protected] Zwonaka Netshikwati: [email protected] Belgium Campus iTversity remains committed to ensuring that no student is left behind. We will continue to do everything in our power to make sure that each student is given a fair opportunity to successfully complete the academic year. We strongly encourage all students to take advantage of the above opportunities. Kind regards, The Belgium Campus iTversity team
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