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Bc Student Innovation Team Wins 2nd Prize Between February and May 2017, Belgium Campus students partnered with the Electrical Engineering students of PennState University, Pennsylvania, USA. The students from the two Universities were tasked with designing and creating a way to tilt and rotate Horizon Signal Technologies’ solar panels on portable traffic signal systems. This challenge was intended to help the panels receive the maximum solar energy without having to move the whole system. During the research processes for this challenge, it was discovered that the existing panels only generated 30% to 40% of the possible 90% that can be obtained from solar energy. This particular shortcoming of the system presented an opportunity for the team of students. Every challenge presented to Belgium Campus students is characteristically met with the aim to exceed the “client’s” expectations. Instead of developing a system that tilts and rotates as stipulated by Horizon Signal Technologies; the students were able to create a system that tracks the direct beams from the sun throughout the day. This solution allows the panel to generate optimum solar energy. This addition to Horizon’s initial requirements for this project; allowed the team of students an opportunity to provide the company with an extra edge that sets them apart from similar corporations. The collaborative team of Belgium Campus and Pennstate students were awarded the second place for this innovation; which has been installed in Horizon Signal Technologies’ portable traffic systems. One of Belgium Campus’s value propositions is “WHAT SETS US APART WILL SET YOU APART”. We are set apart by the multidisciplinary and multi-cultural relationships we form with international institutions. We are also distinguished by our ability to provide our students with a platform that familiarizes them to real-life industry situations. At Belgium Campus, we work tirelessly to ensure that your learning experience is supported by relevant situations that ensure that your industry growth happens within the industry. This particular experiment with Horizon is an example of many student developments that begin as experiments but end up being viable solutions to existing industry challenges.

BELGIUM CAMPUS’S 2ND OPEN DAY- 29 JULY 2017 You are about to be introduced to a whole new world designed by your imagination. You know how much influence IT has had in the development of… well, the development of everything. What you do not know, at least until Saturday 29 July 2017, is how you can become part of this exciting and innovative industry. The Belgium Campus Open Day will give you more than a glimpse into the world of ICT. We will be presenting hands-on workshops in: • Smart Farming • Solar panels, • Hacking and Network Security, as well as • Game programming These workshops, amongst others, will give you clarity on how you can become one of the deciders in the next wave of IT development. Also on display will be our Aeronautical project, Robotics lab, 3D printing, as well as the various innovations developed by our students; who have already started making their mark in this dynamic industry. Take the first step in the direction that decides the direction of the world. Join us on 29 July 2017, from 09h00 to 14h00.

International week (Smart Farming) The integration of ICT and agriculture started with the subtle use of satellite images. Now the growing popularity of drones has virtually put the control of Geo-positioning systems in the hands of farmers. The use of drones has optimized area usage and increased land usage. Although revolutionary, this does not begin to encompass the many probabilities that ICT can initiate in agriculture. With sufficient research and understanding of the farming society’s needs we can design numerous ways to improve land usage; control water usage and monitor crop protection. These are just some of the elements that will have an enormous impact on the profitability of the farming market. Also, should this initiative reach its estimated highs; it will help deliver productive and sustainable agricultural production as well as simplify farmers’ decision-making and management. At Belgium Campus, we have already articulated our commitment to improving lives in rural areas. Although not specifically designed to simplify farming- our students’ Solmon solar invention has simplified a lot of lives in rural communities by providing them with solar energy. This invention allows us to remotely monitor the system via the internet and system parameters sent to the monitoring station. To further explore the vast possibilities of Smart farming in South Africa; for our second International week, which commenced on 8 May and ended 12 May 2017– Our students and their international counterparts presented their possible solutions to existing problems and for yet-to-be-identified problems. All these solutions will be based on specifications prescribed by the South African Agricultural community. The agricultural industry is amongst the most traditional trade in history. But as characteristic of the concept of evolution, we need to constantly progress ourselves and consequently, many cultural norms have to be reinvented throughout time. This truth about evolution provides the playing field for innovative minds, more especially in a field as broad as IT. We thank the PennState University from the USA, Pennsylvania for allowing their students the opportunity to explore the South African agricultural landscape with us. Such social experiments advance our aspirations and solidify our stance as a premier ICT institution in South Africa. Tap to select the previous period Next

IBM and Infor courses at Belgium Campus Belgium Campus has partnerships with various ICT corporations. These organizations allow our students leverage when entering the job market. Also, with the aid of these interactions, we are able to provide a unique learning experience; this further endorses our unparalleled 100% graduate employment rate. Our collaborations with industry leaders present us with many opportunities that add to the improvement of our students’ education. IBM and Infor are some of the companies with whom we partner. This collaboration ensures that the Belgium Campus learning experience provides technical advancements and that we are aligned with industry needs. Both these companies will conduct training for our students, from 18 to 22 September 2017. The training will be on the latest technologies and developments spearheaded by IBM and Infor respectively. Our 2nd and 3rd-year students will be attending training on the following IBM courses: Mobile Development; Computer Security; Big Data and; Business Intelligence. As well as these Infor courses: Mongoose application development framework (Mongoose 10) and Infor CloudSuite Industrial (Syteline). These courses are predominantly designed for IT graduates. Yet our relationship with the two companies allows current students to attend this training. Belgium Campus as an educational institution is motivated to not only grant our students with qualifications. We believe that the right education and relevant collaborations are some of the necessary tools in developing coveted professionals. The IBM and Infor training in September will be aligned to next generation technologies and will provide the students with valuable skills that will springboard their careers. Through relationships such as these; we are able to validate our commitment to awarding students with opportunities that clearly define their roles as future ICT pioneers.

International week (Smart Cities) The Belgium Campus international week started on Monday, 27 March 2017 and ended, 31 March 2017. A group of BC students together with students from Belgium and The Netherlands; visited the Tshwane Call Centre and received a warm welcome from management and the staff. Considerable progress has been made in the integration of municipal services. But there is still a lot to do before the communities can enjoy the full benefits of Smart City innovations. As it stands, responsible members of the community have to physically go to the municipal buildings to get assistance on basic services. We all know how exhausting this process can get. With the long queues and sometimes having to go from cubicle to cubicle, it is not convenient. This is where we come in. As is typical of Belgium Campus, such challenges become opportunities. We put together a group of students from Belgium and the Netherlands as well as some of our students. This group evaluated how we can simplify this process through Information and Communications Technology. Once realized the Smart cities initiative will: Improve lives Improve governance Give better results to residents, and Simplify access to services We are plugged in and capable of developing a practical application for this initiative. You know why? It’s the way we’re wired.  Tap to select the previous period Next

Great response for the BC Open Day The Belgium Campus Open Day held on Saturday 29 July was a great success and a true reflection of how interested people are to learn IT the Belgium Campus way. We want to thank Sybrin for joining us on the day and reaffirming the importance of our relationships with corporate institutions. All three of our campuses had good attendance from prospective students; some even took this opportunity to save their spots for the 2018 academic year by enrolling on the day. We are grateful for everyone’s contribution to this event’s success; we wish to express gratitude to the school principals, guidance teachers and the students that accepted our invitation. We trust that the students now have the right information to make the best choice for their futures. The students are now aware of the many possibilities in this exciting, lucrative and revolutionary career path. They also know that Belgium Campus is South Africa’s premier IT University. The information that the learners received about Belgium Campus, ICT and the important positions that are waiting to be filled in this revolutionary industry- has provided the nudge needed for them to make the final decision on where they should start their tertiary careers.  

THE MARS ROVER INNOVATION The use of robotics to explore celestial bodies has become the most popular and cost effective. Boeing: the world’s largest aerospace company brought us the challenge of designing a Mars rover that is capable of operating within 100 feet of its starting position and can collect rock samples. In addition, the system had to be controlled over the internet. For this challenge, the Belgium Campus students collaborated with students from the University of Melbourne, Australia. The Melbourne Electrical engineering team worked on the electronics side of the project, whilst the Belgium Campus students were responsible for the software aspect: Belgium Campus students were tasked with the planning, execution, and implementation of the client side software; as well as the final testing. Our Robotics and Hardware programming elective subjects put our students at an advantage for this challenge. The Belgium Campus robotics lab lets the students interact and develop their knowledge of industrial devices and technologies. For the Mars Rover challenge, the collaborative team from the two Universities was given a budget of $1000.00 to design a rover with an emphasis on safety. The students met all of Boeing’s specifications and created an internet based control system which allowed the pilot to collect and deliver samples. The Boeing project is one of the many elements that solidify our stance as an innovation-focused institution. Such projects reflect our commitment to providing an industry relevant learning environment for our students.

ACADEMIC UNION, OXFORD NOMINATION Belgium Campus’s international academic prominence was articulated in no uncertain terms when we were nominated by The Academic Union, Oxford for The European Quality Award in Education. This recommendation was made by the Socrates Nomination Committee after having evaluated our implementation of a modern quality education system. The auspicious event was held on 03 July 2017. Vice Chancellor Enrico Jacobs attended as Belgium Campus’s representative, also as a speaker at the event. More than 175 regional businesses, professionals and academic elite from 52 countries worldwide gathered in Lucerne, Switzerland. In honor of individuals and organizations that play a major role in enhancing and maintaining high standards in education and in business. Belgium Campus was recognized and nominated for the high level of learning processes that we provide as well as our ability to continuously provide highly qualified alumni in regards to the latest international educational standards. This event did not only provide us with a platform to showcase our position in the international community. Since the event was designed to honor both Businesses and Educational Institutions, under the theme: From Quality to Excellence – Models of excellence. This convocation gave us a boundless networking opportunity to attract more businesses and educational institutions into partnering with us. The international acknowledgement of our efforts speaks volumes about our relevance in the global community. The fact that we are rated amongst institutions that provide the highest standard of education in the world transposes to our students- both current and prospect. Belgium campus is equipped with the necessary tools, unique teaching methods, and the best personnel to provide the best education. Tap to select the previous period Next

School Visit Hoerskool Die Anker and Hoërskool Warmbad came to see us this week.   When is your school visit? Are you joining us at our #OpenDay on 22 April 2017? Tap to select the previous period Next

Women in ICT The ICT sector remains a buoyant and rapidly growing sector for employmentand a key economic factor underpinning both national and International development. This growth in employment, however, has not yet led to a parallel increase in women in this industry. Statistics show that women in South Africa only make up 20% of the ICT sector workforce compared to a 56% representation globally.   As this problem garners more attention and awareness among socially conscious business organisations, many companies have now begun to fund more black female students to study towards Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) professions. In April, Belgium Campus made scholarships available to nineteen black female students from disadvantaged backgrounds.These girls were selected by the South Africa Women in ICT Forum led by Mrs Nokuzola Ehrens and FOTAD (Future of the African Daughter) led by Gqibelo Dandala. Last week, South Africa Women in ICT Forum hosted a brunch to celebrate the girls’ success so far.   Through her experience and academic background in the ICT industry, Gqibelo Dandala noted that a number of factors have contributed to the lack of women in the ICT industry. “I mentor a lot of young girls and I have come to realise that many girls are discouraged from endeavouring to find success in the ICT industry due to lack of resources and support, some are just not interested,” said Dandala. This is despite there being a lot of opportunities available for women in the industry.   Puleng Kwele, the CEO at Broadband Infraco, who chaired the event shared her own impressive ICT career path story as a black woman in the industry, this greatly inspired and motivated the girls. Also present was the Principal, Professor Enrico Jacobs who reiterated thatengaging women in the ICT sector is not only the right thing to do from the point of social justice. He added that as job opportunities in the digital economy continue to grow in South Africa, demand for qualified personnel especially women in the industry is also escalating. He urged the girls to work hard as companies are looking to increase the number of women in the ICT sector.   Mrs Nokuzola Ehrens awarded the girls for their hard work and commitment so far. “I am very proud that you are working very hard and I see that our efforts have not gone to waste. I have always believed that where women are educated and empowered, economies are more productive and strong,” she said. The girls were very appreciative to Belgium Campus and the South African Women in ICT Forum for being given the chance to study. “We are very grateful for the opportunity that Belgium Campus and Women in ICT have given us. We are from disadvantaged backgrounds and one can only dream of such a chance. We are living our dreams and working very hard,” said one of the bursary recipient currently studying under this programme.   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.