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Hack the Waste 2020 Creating Thoughtful Leaders Through Global Collaboration Three Belgium Campus iTversity students were part of the winning teams of this year’s Hack the Waste hackathon. The international hackathon brought 61students from across the globe together to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals through virtual collaboration. The challenge: develop innovative solutions to the global waste problem that meet requirements outlined by two socially responsible and environmentally friendly companies; Komunala Brežice d.o.o., a public utility company in the municipality of Brežice, Slovenia and Eco Baltia group, the largest environment management group in the Baltics. All of this year’s participating institutions are members of Businet, a network of international higher education institutions that promote good practices and international co-operation through the collaboration of like-minded institutions. Experts from each institution provided participating students with mentorship in fields including: IT, business, finance and marketing. This spirit of knowledge sharing and the embracement of internationalization provided the students with the necessary foundation on which to build their solutions. Working in interdisciplinary teams and fuelled by an inspirational speech by the creator of Hack The Planet, Tim Van Deursen, students from Belgium Campus iTversity (South Africa), Fontys University of Applied Sciences (the Netherlands), Avans University of Applied Sciences (the Netherlands) DOBA Business School (Slovenia), University Colleges Leuven-Limburg (Belgium) and Banku Augstskola (Latvia) had just 24 hours to conceptualise, design and pitch solutions to an international panel of judges. The panel, which included representatives from Businet, Bothlale Village, Hack the Planet, Eco Baltia group, Komunala Brežice d.o.o. and University Colleges Leuven-Limburg, judged the solutions based on criteria including: originality, feasibility, risk analysis, marketing and presentation and investment possibilities. Two winning teams were selected. Team Waste Pro – Coert Grobbelaar and Chantel Mokoena (Belgium Campus iTversity), Annija Balcere (Banku Augstskola), Janja Šincek Jagačić (DOBA Business School), and Esra Sariaydin and Hamelryck Axel (UC Leuven-Limburg) – for their concept to turn unsorted and unrecyclable waste materials into bricks for construction and team Waste Busters – Thabang Mahlangu (Belgium Campus iTversity), Jelle Zandbergen (Avans University of Applied Sciences), Alojz Gucek and Helena Marinović (DOBA Business School), Alise Dreimane and Reinis Stutans (Banku Augstskola) and Bram van Gils (Fontys University of Applied Sciences) – for their game app that aims to educate children about recycling. These solutions impressed the companies who expressed their desire to work with the students to further develop their design concepts into functional prototypes. All participants also received certificates from Credentify, the first European issuer of blockchain-secured stackable ECTS credentials. The importance of hackathons like this is undeniable. Far-reaching solutions that address sustainable development challenges cannot be developed through isolationism. They require a multilateral, multidisciplinary approach which Hack the Waste allows. Not only do students have an opportunity to develop their technical skills (programming, user interface design, mobile, web and database development), they are also challenged to develop the soft skills and multicultural mindset to become the thoughtful leaders the world so desperately needs. We are proud to be part of a global network co-creating for the benefit of our planet and all who call it home. To learn more about the hackathon and each team’s solution, visit the following website: https://hackthewaste.com   Tap to select the previous period Next

The Future of IT and the Ideal IT Professional At Belgium Campus iTversity our students have the opportunity to attend a range of master classes, covering pertinent IT subjects presented by experts in the field. These classes provide our students with vital industry knowledge and skills, including an understanding of the latest software and technologies used in industry today. On the 10th of February 2020, we were joined at our Pretoria campus by renowned European Data Scientist, Prof. Dr. Jos De Brabanter, from the University of KU Leuven. Mr De Brabanter gave our 3rd year Business Intelligence students a week-long master class in Mathematical Optimization.   During his visit, we had an opportunity to sit down to find out his thoughts on the future of the IT industry, as well as what he believes every IT professional needs to excel in today’s digital landscape. Tap to select the previous period Next

Alumni: Simba Mupfunya Software Architect at Netropolix Since our inception in 1999, we have prided ourselves on producing graduates who enter the industry ready to lead rather than follow. We are extremely proud of our graduates and we try to celebrate their achievements as often as we can. This month we caught up with one of our first students, Simba Mupfunya, to find out what his journey has been like since his graduation in 2005 and to get some advice for our future graduates. 1. What was it like being one of the few students selected to travel to Belgium for your internship?“Belgium Campus opened the door for me to a new world filled with opportunities for those who are creative and work hard. Not everyone could go to Belgium so it was important for me to respect the campus name and prove my worth wherever they placed me.” 2. Where did you complete your internship and what was the experience like?“I was placed at Concentra Media, the largest newspaper publishing company in Limburg province, where I was able to put everything I learnt at Belgium Campus into practice. We developed all the company’s internal software and their main website, now called ‘zimmo.be’. I was also fortunate to arrive when C# had started gaining traction and was involved in migrating all VB classic apps to .NET C#, as well as migrating Oracle DB to MS SQL.”   3. Where did you go once you completed your internship?Concentra was pleased with my performance and asked me to stay on. I had the choice to go into IT operations (network) but I have always been a developer-cum-engineer at heart. Over the years I grew into this role, attending most of the tech events worldwide and even designing methodologies and contributing to Open Source Initiatives.” 4. How did you end up as a software architect at Netropolix?“After about 5 years at Concentra I decided to move on to more challenging projects which I felt would aid my personal growth. Netropolix allowed me to venture into all known types of technologies including, desktop, web, mobiles, AI, Cloud etc., and I am now responsible for all the architectural concepts for our developers. The experience I gained gave me the tools and know-how to produce my first game on the market, SPACERAT. The game links can be found on my website: https://microos.com/” 5. What advice do you have for current Belgium Campus students pursuing careers in IT?“Don’t for one second think that after BC your education is done. Technology is ever-changing, and one needs to be prepared to grow with it. Holding a diploma/degree means nothing if you do not apply yourself to this morphing industry.”

2020 Internship Students The gap between education and industry is a problem faced by many companies today. At Belgium Campus iTversity we understand the importance of preparing our students to deal with the challenges that come with the working world. One of the ways we do this is by helping our students secure workplace training at leading companies in the field. This year’s final year BComp and DipIT students have been placed and workplace training has commenced. We checked in with a few of our students to find out what their experience has been like so far: Decision Inc. Amelia Esterhuysen (BComp Student) “I am excited for the opportunity to put what I have learned over the past 3 years into practice in the working world. I am also looking forward to meeting new people, learning new skills and facing challenges I haven’t encountered before.” Decision Inc. Moses Nsubuga (BComp Student) “I’m enjoying being taken into the Decision Incorporation family and being in this new space. They are giving me all the support and resources I need to get from junior level to the best Business Intelligence Consultant in the Data and Information Analytics Department.” JCH Telecom Juan Heydenreich (DipIT Student) “I am enjoying working at JCH Telecom because I learn something new every day. This experience has taught me about customer service and how to ensure customer satisfaction. Skills I will carry with me throughout my working life.” DVT Kevin Terblanche (BComp Student) “My internship has been a very pleasant experience so far. DVT is a great company and I love the company culture. They don’t just throw you in the deep end and expect you to swim, everyone is there to help you where they can and management is also kind and approachable.” SEESA Mohamed Kader (BComp Student) “I am currently working at SEESA as a Junior Software Developer. My colleagues and seniors are friendly and extremely supportive. They are always ready to offer help and expertise to guide us in our projects. I am enjoying learning ASP.NET and although the project I am working on is difficult, it is a fun challenge and I am enjoying learning a new programming language.” RedScreen (Pty) ltd Chené Reichert (BComp Student) “I am grateful that I am able to broaden my experience with RedScreen. I have become part of an amazing team who made me feel like part of the family from day one. I have gained a lot of knowledge that will help me in the future as a commercial developer and I am excited to see what else this year has in store for me.” RedScreen (Pty) ltd Tania Cilliers (BComp Student) “I am enjoying working at RedScreen, not only because of the welcoming people and the environment, but also because of the experience and skills that I am currently developing.” Sybrin (BComp Students) What our Sybrin interns are enjoying most about their internship: “The diversity of the work and the great company culture.” – Jan de Jager “Learning about the industry” – Akhona Mthembu “inLearning” – Tseko Sejakes “The coffee and learning new things” – Phelang Molatudi “Constantly learning new things, the friendly atmosphere at the workplace and having colleagues that are also from Belgium Campus.” – Marcel Cloete “Learning how to practically apply what we learned at BC and how the industry functions.” – Jean-Pierre Nell “Pool games before work and being able to complete my training at Sybrin” – Brandon Steyn “Learning to use the company systems and growing with the company.” Simphiwe Kheswa “The company culture and the people.” – Alex Kotze “Being able to build something cool with the team.” – Calvin Monageng

13/02/2020 Official Academic Opening 2020 On the 6th of February 2020, members of the Belgium Campus iTversity community lined up outside NG Kerk Wonderpark to celebrate the official opening of the 2020 academic year. We were joined by representatives from the Belgian, Flemish and South African government, delegates from industry, academic and support staff as well as past and present students all eager to celebrate this important event. Our guests were welcomed to the venue with a lively performance from the incredibly talented Mzansi Youth Choir before settling into their seats. We were delighted to be joined by Belgium Campus Chairman, Mr Jan Rombouts, who made the journey from Belgium to join the celebratory occasion and we were honoured to be joined by distinguished guest speakers: Dr Geraldine Reymenants, Representative of the Flemish Government in Southern Africa, Prof. Dr. Walter Sevenhans, Dean of the Faculty of Applied Engineering at the University of Antwerpen and Ms Pumeza Bam, Group Executive of Human Resources at Liberty. A common focus of the night’s speeches was the importance of using knowledge and the power of IT for the benefit of society and the world at large. Dr Geraldine Reymenants focussed on the important role of IT in enabling inclusive and sustainable development. She commended Belgium Campus for having community engagement as a high priority on their agenda and encouraged Belgium Campus students to do the same. “I urge you to use the knowledge and skills you will develop to make a positive social and environmental impact.” Ms Pumeza Bam highlighted the importance of Belgium Campus’ quest to produce industry-ready graduates with the necessary outlook and attitude to excel in the industry. “We, like many other companies, were frustrated with the limited amount of students ready to deal with the demands of the working environment. Belgium Campus students are different; they are able to provide innovative solutions to the real-world problems we present them with and they do it with a positive attitude.” The evening provided an opportunity to reflect on past achievements, including our successful collaboration with universities from across the globe on joint industry projects in the areas of: aquaponics, hydroponics, smart farming, smart aviation, vehicle automation and autonomous underwater vehicles, as well as our continued partnership with the National Skills Fund and Industry which will see 9 of our Deaf students graduating this year. The evening also provided an opportunity to look towards the future and the opportunities that lie ahead. These opportunities include a new collaboration with the University of Antwerpen, to build a bridging programme that will enable students from both institutions to acquire master’s degrees in Applied Engineering, and enable Belgium Campus staff and students to complete PHDs in Antwerp. Prof. Dr. Walter Sevenhans praised the standard of education offered at Belgium Campus, explaining that a joint educational assessment conducted by the universities of Antwerp and KU Leuven, found the iTversity’s Bachelor of Computing qualification to be more advanced than a bachelor programme of European standards. CEO, Enrico Jacobs, stressed the important role educational institutions, and more specifically institutions of higher education, must play in providing a holistic education that reflects the needs of the increasingly globalised world we live in. He encouraged the Belgium Campus community to continue to actively and purposefully collaborate to prepare Belgium Campus graduates for the future they deserve. Tap to select the previous period Next

03/02/2020 Home News News 2020 SRC Board Members The Belgium Campus iTversity Student Representative Council is made up of 10 unique committees all responsible for a different aspect of student life. The board members serving on each committee were carefully selected by the SRC president, to represent the needs and interests of the student body as a whole. The committees and board members are as follows: Outreach: Neo Majosi & Adin Pieters Finance: Karabo Madiba & David Maila Marketing: Dylan Zeiss & Blessed Rapudi Clubs: Coert Grobbelaar & Tumisang Lemao Discipline: Gideon van Zyl & Ruben de Beer Event Planning: Amanda Ndukula & Thato Raphahlelo Sport: Lebohang Sopazi & Gomolemo Lekomanyane Student Relations: Amantle Mashele & Nombulelo Moepi Technical: Matthys van Rooyen, Jan Blignaut & Matthew James Hostel:Belinda Venter, Tseko Molefe, Neo Matsapola, Tumisang Mashile & Dineo Kabini We spoke to a representative from each committee to find out why they feel they are best suited for their position as well as their thoughts on the year ahead: “I wanted to be part of the SRC to excite change and be part of something bigger than myself. I applied to be part of the Finance Committee because I believe every well-functioning organisation needs a solid financial backbone and I felt that my professional experience in the financial industry would be beneficial, having worked as a financial advisor and financial assistant.” – Karabo Madiba, 2nd year Bachelor of Computing student “As the Student Relations Committee we are looking to build student brands. We want to ensure that each student has a solid brand by the time they leave. We are also planning to grow the Belgium Campus brand across the board. We want to make sure that when a student steps into an office and says they are from Belgium Campus iTversity, the name carries weight in the space of innovation.” – Amantle Mashele, 2nd year Bachelor of Computing student “I wanted to be part of the SRC because I felt it would be a good opportunity for me to not only improve campus life but also build confidence and grow as a person. I think I am a good fit for the Discipline Committee because of my strong moral compass and my ability to defuse conflict.” – Gideon van Zyl, 2nd year Bachelor of Computing student “Clubs bring students together and are a great way to make friends. I wanted to be part of the Clubs Committee to positively contribute to student life. You would be surprised how something as simple as a giant chess board can bring people together.” – Tumisang Lemao, 2nd year Bachelor of Computing student “I knew I wanted to be part of the SRC as soon as I saw the Outreach Committee. Giving back to the community is something I am extremely passionate about and something I have been doing since I was in grade four. I am hoping if I lead by example I will be able to instil the same passion in others.” – Neo Majosi, 2nd year Bachelor of Computing student “Living in residence I spend the majority of my time on campus. I wanted to join the SRC to use this time to improve campus life. I have always clicked with the technological side of things, I worked as a sound technician in high school, so I felt the Technical Committee would be the best place for me.” – Matthys van Rooyen, 3rd year Bachelor of Computing student “I think people underestimate the importance of social events when it comes to reducing student stress. Hosting social events on campus provides students with a safe and controlled environment where they can make friends and build a sense of unity. Having done events before I felt I would be a good addition to the Event Planning Committee.” – Thato Raphahlelo, 2nd year Bachelor of Computing student “I am part of the Belgium Campus soccer team and I am fan of most sports. I don’t think you can ever have enough sports. As the Sports Committee, we plan to use the existing equipment on campus to introduce more sports – Lebohang Sopazi, 2nd year Bachelor of Computing student “I wanted to be part of the Hostel Committee because I enjoy helping people and living in residence myself, I am familiar with the challenges residence students face. I also consider myself to be a friendly and approachable person which should help with the position.” – Neo Matsapola, 2nd year Bachelor of Computing student “I applied to be part of the Marketing Committee because I enjoy interacting with people. I am able to speak confidently in front of large groups of people and I know how to get people excited about upcoming events. My Photoshop skills should also come in handy! – Dylan Zeiss, 2nd year Bachelor of Computing student   Tap to select the previous period Next

Mathematics Bridging Course Our first-year students have brushed up on their mathematics skills and are ready for the year ahead. “I am feeling more prepared for the qualification I applied for. I learnt more during this course than I did in 3 years of high school” – Armand Lubbe At Belgium Campus iTversity we believe in helping our students reach their full potential which is why we host a Mathematics Bridging Course at the beginning of each year. “I finished matric in 2011 and started work so I hadn’t done maths in 8 years and my mathematics skills were very rusty. The course helped me improve quickly and understand the logic behind some of the programming we will be doing.”- Reon Gottsche “I did maths lit so I was unfamiliar with some of the work we did during the course but the lecturer explained everything in great detail and in a way that was easy to grasp.”– Kheoma Ridgard Our Mathematics Bridging Course assists our students to confidently tackle each task they will encounter during their studies with us. “This course was more intense and in-depth than anything I have encountered before. It was much more beneficial than any extra classes I have attended in the past and I am definitely feeling more prepared for this year” – Janco Bester

December Exam Results The December examination results are out and we are so proud of our students for receiving an overall pass rate of 89% with a total of 948 distinctions achieved. We hope you get a well-deserved rest and we look forward to welcoming you back ready to excel in the new year. Our Tshwane campus wrote a total of 1735 exams and received an 89% pass rate with 699 distinctions achieved. Our Ekurhuleni campus wrote a total of 424 exams and received a 91% pass rate with 204 distinctions achieved. Our Nelson Mandela Bay campus wrote a total of 119 exams and received an 87% pass rate with 45 distinctions achieved.

MEET YOUR 2020 SRC PRESIDENT The Belgium Campus iTversity student body has spoken and the new SRC president for 2020 is Nikki Truter! “Being selected to be this year’s SRC president is a great honour and a huge responsibility. It feels good to know that my peers have faith in me and I plan to represent them well,” Truter comments. Truter is a 2nd year Bachelor of Computing student specialising in software engineering. She describes herself as a hard working individual who is not afraid to reach for the top. “I ran for SRC president for 2020 because I felt it would be the best way for me to make a positive difference on campus. You can’t expect to see the change you want if you are hiding in the background,” she says. At Belgium Campus iTversity we adopt a student-centred approach to learning which allows us to understand and accommodate the unique needs, talents and capabilities of each student. We believe students are happier and participate in their education more freely when their ideas are listened to and their opinions are valued. “My main goals as SRC president are to improve overall student life and to ensure that each and every student feels heard and represented. I feel this will be best achieved by maintaining a smooth and transparent line of communication between the students and the institution, something I plan to focus on during my presidency. I also hope to get students excited about campus events and student life in general,’ Truter shares. Along with ensuring that each student feels heard and well represented, the SRC president is responsible for selecting a board of representatives for each major SRC committee (Outreach, Finance, Marketing, Clubs, Discipline, Event Planning, Sport, Student Relations, Technical, Hostel) and overseeing their general management. “I feel confident about the board I have chosen. I, along with the current SRC president and vice presidents, chose the people we feel are best suited for each committee and I have no doubt that everyone will do their job to the best of their ability. 2020 is going to be a great year!” Truter concludes.

Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Underway Penn State Innovation Project A new Penn State innovation project is underway. Six Belgium Campus iTversity students have partnered with several Pennsylvania State University students to design and build an autonomous underwater vehicle that detects water pollution. “Our environment is deteriorating rapidly and I am happy to be part of a project that aims to help address this growing global concern,” comments Megan Venter, a 3rd year software engineering student. The six Belgium Campus iTversity students have been divided into two groups. One group is focussing on the autonomous navigation aspect of the vehicle using software engineering practice. They will be using visual input from cameras surrounding the vehicle to develop a code that allows it to recognise colours and shapes, helping it to avoid obstacles and reach its predetermined destinations. The other group is using data analytics for the water pollution detection aspect. They are creating a sensor which will monitor variables like PH, TDS and temperature in order to identify the areas in a body of water where pollution is present and where treatment is required. “A project like this is especially important in third world countries where water pollution is often an issue. These countries usually do not have adequate sewage systems or the necessary technology or capital to effectively identify and treat polluted water. This project aims to provide countries like these with an affordable, accessible solution,” shares Louis Van Zyl, a 3rd year software engineering student. The project fits seamlessly with the two specialisations offered as part of our Bachelor of Computing, allowing our students to apply what they have learned over the last 3 years in a new way. “This is the first time we will be coding hardware which is exciting and important. Everybody works off hardware, coding an app is one thing but making it communicate with hardware is a whole different challenge,” Ms Venter says. An international project like this gives our students a unique opportunity to approach a project from a multicultural, multidisciplinary perspective which ultimately enriches the process of ideation. “All of the Belgium Campus students are software engineers but the Pennsylvania State students include chemical engineers, electrical engineers and students specialising in business. It is great to see how people from different disciplines approach a problem and it allows us to showcase our unique skills and bring them together to strengthen the project,” Ms Venter shares. “Working with people from a different culture exposes you to a different way of viewing and attacking a problem. It is forcing us to overcome challenges like distance and time-zone while gaining vital time management and interpersonal skills that we can carry with us into the working world,” Mr Van Zyl adds. The project will run for 12 months with a new set of Belgium Campus iTversity students taking over at the 6 month mark. These students will be tasked to work with the Pennsylvania State University students to integrate each component into one feasible project. They will have the opportunity to travel to Pennsylvania State University to meet the students they have been working with and present their project in front of a panel of judges at the 2020 Capstone Design Project Showcase. Keep an eye on our social media to stay up to date as the project unfolds.