administrator

New Hi-Tech Flutter Based Aquaponics App To Be Developed At Botlhale Our team of developers at Botlhale Village have embarked on developing a next-generation App with Flutter for aquaponics. This is a move that is set to depart from the use of technology as we currently know it. Alicia Cameron, one of the developers at Botlhale Village, says that there are a myriad of benefits of such an App for people who work on the farms. The App enables farmers to view and share information in real time and across platforms. She explains that if something goes wrong with the aquaponics system, a change in the water quality for instance, then the farmer would be able to effect corrective measures.   Matthys Potgieter, who is also part of the development team working on the App, adds that, because this is a cross platform App, the developers will be able to push out messages and updates quicker. While they are concentrating on developing for iOS and Android devices for now, both Cameron and Potgieter believe that nothing would stop the team from developing an App for wearables in the future, should requirements of that nature rise.

What Heritage Day Means to the Community of Belgium Campus “Belgium Campus has its own traditions, practices and beliefs. It is important for individuals to share in these ideals as it creates a culture that is unique to our campus and helps to distinguish our students from any other institution,” shares Deputy Head Lecturer Cindy Delport as the celebration of Heritage Day approaches. We spoke to some of our students as this important South African national holiday approaches, as they reflect on what campus culture means to them.   Armand Riley, a third-year BComp Degree student says, “Being able to accept our differences allows us to build strong relationships across cultures,” while Henru Oosthuizen, a second-year BComp student, tells us that diversity brings different traditions into one place where people can learn about different heritages and understand why we all do certain things.   Second Year B IT student, Josephine Nemoshongwa shares that for her, the importance of having a diverse heritage on campus, means that she has an opportunity to be part of a community with a common understanding in its diversity. Similarly, Charlene Groenewald, a Second Year BComp student, explains how her interaction with fellow students has increased her interest in other cultures since she joined the Belgium Campus community two years ago.   For Albinah Hlongo, also a Second Year BComp student, life on campus and the opportunity to engage with people from different cultures has opened up to new and diverse perspectives, other than her own. Belgium Campus truly is a unique and diverse community where individuals not only gain skills in the IT field but also learn to peacefully co-exist and tackle life together.

05/06/2018 The Future of Flight: South Africa A small university in Pretoria has become the first to develop this technology, long before the MiTs and Tesla’s of the world. “Never underestimate the creativity and potential of a young mind,” Jan Rombouts, the Chairman of Belgium Campus, tells us early one autumn morning as we sit in an airplane hangar, built for an innovative group of technology students.   Located on the outskirts of Pretoria, the Technology University is a far cry from sheer scale of the headquarters or innovation hub for Tesla or even Blue Origin. And yet, it is here, in a small South African suburb, that the future of aviation is emerging.   Bright Young Minds When you meet the Chairman and his young team of whizz kids, top of mind is a question of why an IT University is building an aircraft. “IT has become a part of everything,” Rombouts begins, tinkering with some cables on the aircraft’s wing. “The world runs on innovative ideas and ICT is the platform that endorses the manifestation of these ideas. Information Technology is, after all, an enabler.” True, one of the greatest credos of this age of technology has to be the dexterity with which IT adapts to other disciplines. And here, in this remarkable hanger-come-workshop, does it become ever apparent. The Chairman and project lead, goes on to explain how the students at Belgium Campus have been fortunate enough to work with top universities and companies across the globe, from the United States to Australia. From developing facial recognition technology for drones to innovation projects with Boeing and Lockheed Martin. “As an aviator myself, and someone who thrives on innovation, we sat together as a team when we had come back from a recent project with Boeing and seriously began to consider the possibility of building our very own plane, and here we are today.”   The Environment to Flourish Walking through the hanger, the team of students points out the other innovations currently underway and how no expense has been spared to ensure they have everything they need to explore their ideas and visions; illustrating the university’s passion for the ICT sector and the kinetic power and influence at its command. The management and academic team believe that through empowering their students to innovate and revolutionise their worlds, many more astonishing solutions flow through the campus that will greatly benefit every type of industry and sector.   One such undertaking is their Aeronautics Project where students are given access to the field of Aeronautics and have a full-scale airport hangar at their disposal. “They’ve explored everything from missile-lock technology on fighter jets to seatbelt light activations on Boeing 737s,” Rombouts proudly states.   “I’ve been at Belgium Campus for almost twenty years now and we all truly believe that bright minds thrive best when offered the space in which to create. That’s why we’ve constructed physical innovation spaces called ‘Learning Factories’. Here, our students are given the space and tools to take their ideas from prototype to marketplace, and this is a key focus for us in 2018.” Innovation is a Driver.   The South African general aviation market is extremely small compared to the world leaders like United States and of course, China, who are currently the world’s fastest growing in this segment. That being said, the Aeronautics Project focuses on airspace as a platform for commercial and social innovation.   “The aircraft we are building is purely experimental, as general aviation regulations prohibit modifications to certified aircraft. Within two years, the aircraft will take off and land on its own, but due to its size, legislation in South Africa insists a pilot needs to be inside the cockpit,” he explains. He continues that one of the biggest hurdles to innovation in this sector are regulations. “In truth, there are some technological hurdles to overcome before this vision of next-generation aviation comes to realisation, but regulations and extremely expensive certification processes can set innovation and reform back years, especially for start-ups and SMEs.” The aircraft is a thing of beauty and something to marvel. The team take me through each component, explaining the improvements they have developed, and of course, the impressive list of innovations any future technologist would be proud to have developed. The fuselage, they explain, was imported from the United States, due mainly to its aerodynamic shape for speed and safety.   “Canard Pusher aircraft have an inherent safety advantage since they are insusceptible to loss of control from stalls and spins,” I am told.   “And this plane we are building will push small aircraft speed limits beyond the conventional 120km/h to 400km/h, so performance and safety need to go hand in hand.”   Months of research was dedicated to aircraft engine performance and a Belgian engine was flown in to meet their requirements. The prop originates from New Zealand, while the glass cockpit is a proudly South African component designed and manufactured in Stellenbosch by MGL Avionics. They explain that they chose MGL’s cockpit particularly, because it is an open-source system which gives them the freedom to develop further on what is existing.   Old Technology, Aging Planes, High Mortality Rates Rombouts, an aviator himself with 40 years of aviation experience, points to the dire need for innovation in general aviation, namely fuel efficiency and safety above all else. “In an age of technology and advancement, it is troubling to accept that most of the hobbyist and sport aircraft are basically unchanged from the models first introduced in the early fifties.”   There, in the heart of the Belgium Campus Learning Factory, students are now focusing on making private flight safer by addressing one of the biggest categories of accidents: loss of control. Compared to commercial planes, private aircraft lack safety features and redundancies, including co-pilots, backup systems for navigation information and extra engines.   “A lot of people think innovation is creating something new,” he shares. “When oftentimes, innovation is

3rd-Year Showcase If you’ve got IT flaunt IT On 10 November 2017, Belgium Campus celebrated the 3rd-year students’ innovation projects. This event gave the students an opportunity to showcase the various projects they have been developing throughout the year. The annual event allows students to flaunt their skills as well as advocate the flexibility and adaptability of IT. The different projects on showed how IT can provide solutions to a very wide range of societal challenges. Attending the event were the 1st and 2nd-year students who will be taking over from where this year’s group left off. The event gave them the chance to see what they can achieve if they work hard and dedicate themselves to their studies. All the students who attended are definitely motivated to explore their own potential as innovators in the industry. Externally, Wonderware’s Technology Director, Deon van Aardt and Solutions architect, Devendree Ankiah also came to witness, first-hand, how ready the students are to steer the direction of the future. Both Wonderware representatives were very impressed with the professionalism and eagerness showed by all the students. Deon van Aardt had this to say: “What I appreciate here is the students’ enthusiasm for their projects. All of them are very proud of their projects and I think it makes them ready for industry. When they go out there they’ll be able to very quickly get into delivering very high-quality products.” Congratulations to all the students for exploiting the primary task of an IT professional, which is to challenge and reinvent current methodologies with the purpose of simplifying the way that society does things. Everyone who was involved in organizing and the facilitation of the third-year projects showcase should be proud of the event’s success. The students were particularly grateful for the mentorship from Anila, Charmaine, Milton, Jacques and all the lecturers who assisted them with the projects. To learn more about the 3rd-year students’ projects click here. Tap to select the previous period Next

From ‘tweet to street’: Real world applications in real time. The gap between an idea and its execution – between thought and app – is growing increasingly narrow, opening up a rich playing field for youthful innovators. Today, more than in any previous historical epoch, the arc from the conception of an idea (dreaming it up) to its execution (creating a product in the real world) is shorter than ever before. With global connectivity and cross-border access to data and resources, with crowdfunding and collaborative hubs, it is easier than ever to take an innovative idea in your head and make it real. This kind of rapid innovation and application is reshaping the world as we know it, with new apps and technologies launching almost daily on the global stage. This is encouraging, because, as we are firmly located in the epoch known the Anthropocene (defined by scientists as dating from 1945) – which is a period in which humans have a greater impact on the planet than any other species or natural force – we are going to need to solve problems as quickly as we create them. But not for nothing are we known as Homo Sapiens Sapiens – knowing man. Today, more than ever, our capacity to know ‘stuff’ is growing exponentially. Need to know about thermo-nuclear reactions, positron-emission tomography, biomimetics, capacitive crosstalk or simulated annealing? You have multiple university libraries, search engines, digital catalogues and online articles at your fingertips to help you find out. There’s a blog or a manual on practically every subject on the planet, so that your ability to transform a thought (a bright idea) into an app (a real-world application) can happen almost instantaneously. And innovators and imagineers are getting younger and younger. Millennials seem to be coming up with substantive solutions to real-world problems. Top teens have invented apps that enhance the sound quality of stethoscopes, providing a visual graph on a screen; they have worked on gene sequencing, identifying ‘chimeras’ (two genes that connect to form a unique protein) in rare carcinomas; they have helped to augment the accuracy of FNA (Fine Needle Aspirates) tests for early breast cancer detection. They have designed computer programmes that identify inhibitors that will render deadly flu viruses non-contagious. These are life-saving innovations and, across the globe, other young millennials are making a difference through playful innovation and insatiable curiosity: like the 17-year-old who developed a tool for tracking and ‘cleaning up’ inactive satellites and other space debris, in order to avoid space collisions. In fact, tech millennials have made an impact in virtually every realm of human experience and endeavour. Their methods are often cheap, home-made and cost-effective – from easy water filtration and purification systems for rural areas, to a $10 Global Inlet Director – a simple piece of plastic that can redirect the air flow in an aeroplane cabin to reduce contagious disease transmissions by 55%. Whereas, in the past, innovations were slow to filter down from research labs to reach real people on the street, today, the gap between an idea and access to its applications is narrowing dramatically. It’s a short moment from a tweet (someone broadcasting their idea to the world), to the street – people who can benefit from that new technology. And it often begins with online play. The abundance of bloggers and YouTubers out there means that ideas are circulating at an unprecedented rate. Kids can watch YouTube videos showcasing ‘life hacks’, demonstrating recycling, repurposing and upcycling ideas, providing step-by-step lessons on how to do just about anything on the planet. It’s an epoch marked by an unparalleled fertility of ideas, with cross-pollinations and collaborations across continents. Kids are engaging and talking to each other like never before, albeit often in a virtual space, within a virtual community. And funding for tech projects is now within reach of innovative millennials. Crowd-funding, online campaigns and social networks provide massive audiences who are keen to donate cash to the next compelling project. With this kind of inventiveness, coupled with access to data, professional networks and resources, the future looks promising. And while humans continue to ransack the planet to meet their energy and consumer needs, they’re equally capable of coming up with practical, accessible solutions that undo the damage. The gap between idea and app is narrowing daily.

INFOR SIGNING CEREMONY On Wednesday, 20 September 2017, Belgium Campus and Infor signed the Infor Education Alliance Program agreement. The contract earmarked Belgium Campus as the first partner of the program in Africa. Infor is the world’s 3rd largest ERP technology provider after SAP and Oracle. The association of the two organizations adds to the benefits already enjoyed by Belgium Campus students. The free tools, resources and support systems that Infor provides place BC students at an advantage when entering the job market. During this festive event Martine Cadet, Vice President, Global enablement at Infor said- “The global ICT industry is in need of intelligent, bright people that can push the envelope. For this reason, we focus on the transference of real skills in three steps: Learn, Demonstrate and Excel.” Martine’s sentiments are aligned to Belgium Campus’s inclination to collaborate with business and challenge students to develop creative applications that provide feasible solutions. This was reaffirmed by Thandeka Mbokazi, 2nd-Year Belgium Campus student and attendee of the Infor training sessions “Here our brains and young energy come together with genius Infor ideas to create magic.” During the signing ceremony, Softworx MD Jane Thomson confirmed the sponsoring and offering of 6 internships to females who are currently on the program. Softworx is a member of the EOH group and the only Infor Gold Channel partner in Sub-Saharan Africa. They give companies a competitive edge over their competitors. The collaboration between Belgium Campus, Infor and Softworx is a promise of prosperity for students and all corporations that comprehend the nature of business in the modern society. Vigorous marketing no longer guarantees growth or profitability. Businesses today need to be strategic and tailor their services according to the requirements of their targeted audiences. Having access to talented people who possess the right qualifications and skills is key. Belgium Campus is the ideal source of such persons; the students at BC have the technical and theoretical knowledge that allows them to develop new and creative solutions for businesses whilst pursuing their qualifications. See ceremony interviews on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uni2GwerG8

The Versatility of IT The world runs on innovative ideas and ICT is the platform that endorses the manifestation of these ideas. The beauty of IT is the dexterity with which it adapts to other disciplines; its ability to transform other vocations sets an IT practitioner apart from other professionals and distinguishes it as the most dynamic and invigorating profession.   One example of how IT can be instrumental in simplifying and changing our way of living, according to www.technologyreview.com is the ability to Reverse Paralysis: Grégoire Courtine’s brain implants help restore the freedom of movement in spinal injury cases; where movement is compromised or completely taken away. Courtine’s system reads the user’s intent to move and transmits this intention as electrical stimulation to the spine https://www.technologyreview.com/s/603492/10-breakthrough-technologies-2017-reversing-paralysis/   This development exemplifies the use of IT in neurology. A seemingly disparate discipline in nature and practice. Yet, through IT, a neurological breakthrough was made.   Belgium Campus is not exempted from ICT’s vocational adaptability. Our students enjoy the same research and development opportunities as experts in the field.   A student’s innovation that is closely related to the above-mentioned example won the 2016 RESNA student design competition. “The students on Team Hope devices created a multi-component system to support the integration of emotion into AAC devices, using a variety of sensors and open-source software.” – https://rerc-aac.psu.edu/2016-winner-of-student-research-and-design-competition/   Belgium Campus is also working in collaboration with reputable ICT companies such as E.O.H to promote not only black females but also the disabled and the under privileged to bridge the inequality gap.   We are a dedicated IT University; this though does not limit our involvements with the global community. A Belgium Campus student is trained to be open-minded and seek ways to initiate societal change wherever possible. We have student projects that provide solutions to a range of subjects. Our 2017 3rd-year students’ projects, coupled with an array of innovations from Belgium Campus’s Botlhale village, symbolise how Belgium Campus systematically maintains relevance in the ICT industry and continues to provide professional, capable and qualified IT personnel. Tap to select the previous period Next

THE POOL OF TALENT Friday 29 September, Belgium Campus held the 3rd and final 2017 recruitment event. This day concluded a series of expos where students and companies met to discuss possible employment or internship opportunities. The events’ success was a true representation of how coveted IT skills are, more especially if one holds a Belgium Campus qualification. Companies at the recruitment event: EOH Britehouse Infomet Clickon See more on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVR_g8siwF0 Tap to select the previous period Next

BC 3rd-year Projects What sets us apart sets our students apart; not just a smart catch phrase in Belgium Campus. Our students are a breed above students that study ICT in other institutions. We provide an incomparable learning experience and environment- where students are not limited to theoretical tutelage but are exposed to all the fundamentals of IT. Our third-year students are currently involved in various projects that do not only challenge their IT acumen but also test their resilience to industry pressures. Although the situations we have created are mere simulations; they give the students an idea of how dire the industry demands may get.   In the coming weeks, we will be relaying each project’s progress whilst piling on the pressure-this after all is how gems are formed. One of the elements that discern us as an institution is that we provide technical, practical as well as the necessary psychological support for our students to withstand the pressures of the industry. All the projects are supervised by lecturers and individuals from various Belgium Campus departments- we have taken up the role of the “proposed client”. Needless to say; all the participants, students included, are excited about the projects. We all want a role to play in the inception of greatness. As for the rest of us; we’re just happy to play boss for a while, even in a simulation? Adaptive Traffic Lights: Adaptive traffic lights application will help control and minimise traffic congestion on busy intersections. Using cameras and image recognition technology we will be able to count how many vehicles are in a lane, and therefore adjust the duration of the green light for each lane. Green light adjustments will depend on the congestion of the lanes.     Energy Management: The Energy management system enables the user to monitor and compare weekly and monthly power consumption. Using the mobile application a user will be able to view a summary of individual circuit breakers and receive notifications for high power consumption. This information will be sent and received over a secure network.  Health Monitoring App: The Health Monitoring app is designed for monitoring the health of an individual and in the case of emergency, the app will send out a distress message to the user’s doctor or the ICE contact specified by the user. This app will also allow the user to view his/her present health status when they put on the Fitbit tracker.   Smart fall detector: Primarily, the Smart Fall detection system is designed to be used by the elderly. This device will help caregivers/family members know when the user falls and alert them as well as give the location of the incident. This product assists all users to quickly receive the necessary attention. Smart Fall can also be used by anyone who suffers from any fall related illness.   3-D Gaming: “This Murder of mine” is a time killer for both casual and extreme gamers. In this detective game, the player has to solve nursery rhyme themed murder cases in order to proceed to the next level; each investigation serves as a build up to the main plot of the game.       Facial Recognition Identification cards for what? Identification cards are a traditional form of proving identity. But, cards are very out-dated and have very exasperating short –sights; changing hand bags should not mean prevention of access to your school or workplace. The FR app provides a solution to this age old problem. Using the latest Facial Recognition technology; this security system will verify people’s identity by comparing their facial features with images in our face database.

Minister President visits Belgium Campus 22 August 2017, Belgium Campus, Pretoria- Minister-President Geert Bourgeois and his delegates took time off his African tour to visit our Tshwane Campus. The Minister was impressed with our achievements and the quality of education that Belgium Campus provides. Some of the milestones that the Minister-President pointed out were: our collaboration with industry leaders; the students’ ability to develop innovative programs that assist in the country’s technological growth. The Minister-President also mentioned Belgium Campus’s very commendable 100% employment rate. “Belgium Campus is a very inclusive and a very high-performance University; both go hand in hand and that’s what I admire.” – Minister-President Geert Bourgeois. During his tour, the Minister-President will be visiting two other African countries with which the Flemish government has political partnerships. Tap to select the previous period Next