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Entelect Challenge University Cup 2020 We Didn’t Win the Cup but Our Cup Remains Half Full Belgium Campus iTversity participated in its second Entelect Challenge University Cup earlier this month. Future tech leaders from universities across the country showcased their programming skills at the one day hackathon, which marked Entelects’ 3rd annual event. The event was open to undergraduate students and full time honours students, and we were proud to have 20 students from a range of courses and years, representing Belgium Campus and giving the challenge their all. In teams of 2 or 3, the online event challenged participants to optimise the placement of batteries in a power grid for an alternative fuel company. Successfully doing this would reduce the negative effect that gaps between batteries has on the transmission and distribution of power. Presented with 5 power grids and 25 battery shapes, participants were required to create an algorithm that would place the batteries in an optimal location, while taking into account the space already used for other components within the grids. The hackathon provided our students with a unique opportunity to strengthen their programming capabilities in a fun and rewarding way, while also improving their teamwork and time management skills. Read what some of our students had to say about the experience: “The hackathon taught us to work as a team. We bonded through brainstorms and learnt a lot from each other. As first years, my team and I didn’t have much programming experience but we improvised and learnt as we went. Overall, the hackathon was an amazing experience and I will definitely do it again!” – Francois Greeff, 1st year BComp student. “Working as part of a team to try to solve a challenge under time constraints was a fun and exciting experience. Even though we didn’t win, I learnt a lot and would definitely do it again.” – Elne Van Wyk, 3rd year BComp student. “The hackathon expanded my programming knowledge. I learnt how to use basic Java and Python, two languages I had never worked with before. I also learnt a lot about programming as a team, and it was fun working together to try to solve the challenge. It is definitely an event I would like to participate in again.” – Zandrei Kleynhans, 1st year BComp student. We may not have won the cup but our students’ feedback and positive attitude reminds us that at Belgium Campus our cup remains half full. And don’t count us out just yet, we are sharpening our programming skills and will be back for the cup next year Read about the other hackathons Belgium Campus participated in this year:Hack the Waste (a hackathon which challenged students to develop innovative solutions to the global waste problem): https://www.belgiumcampus.ac.za/News/Hack-the-Waste-2020.html GirlCode (an all-female hackathon that challenged participants to solve the UN Sustainable Development Goals within the context of COVID-19): https://www.belgiumcampus.ac.za/News/Female-Students-Strife-App.html -Louise Fuller

Alumni: Marius Vorster CTO at Inoxico Pty Ltd At Belgium Campus iTversity we view our graduates as a reflection of our institution and the values and work ethic we pride ourselves on. We enjoy finding out the different paths they embark on once leaving us and try to share their achievements whenever we can. Marius Vorster graduated from Belgium Campus in 2011 with a Bachelor of Computing. Since then he has worked at the following local and international IT companies: anaXis, frog, Britehouse, and Inoxico Pty Ltd where he is currently CTO. We checked in with him to find out how his passion for IT developed and to get some advice for our current students. 1. How did your passion for IT develop?“I’ve always liked computers so there was a natural gravitation towards that. My time at Belgium Campus helped me realise my passion for programming and completing my internship in Belgium really broadened my perspective. I realised that there’s so much potential creation power in developing software and solving problems. There’s a unique combination between the creative side and the logical side which play off each other, and that really accelerated my passion for what I do.” 2. What do you think makes Belgium Campus unique?“The sense of community at Belgium Campus really stood out to me. When you join Belgium Campus you join a close-knit community with a similar culture and way of thinking and learning. This community, combined with the exceptional training Belgium Campus provides and being thrown into the deep end, produces graduates who are able to make a real difference, not just in South Africa, but all over the world.” 3. What advice do you have for current Belgium Campus students pursuing careers in IT?“I usually advise graduates to see the first few years of work as the time to build a solid foundation and learn as much as possible, rather than a time to look for the best salary. A lot of companies are going to try to entice you with perks, and although these will sound exciting, perks will not give you the experience you need to stand out in a crowd and advance your career. You need to look for a company that provides an environment for knowledge sharing and room to expand your horizons. This is more difficult than it sounds because we live in a culture that puts value on how much money you earn and what car you drive. However, if you are able to humble yourself in the first few years and focus on what really matters, it will definitely pay off in the long run.”

Virtual Career Days Calling All Corporates Belgium Campus iTversity invites all corporates in search of skilled IT interns to attend our Virtual Career Days. To register, please visit the following link Register Now Each year, Belgium Campus iTversity hosts a number of Career Day events where top companies with available IT internship positions are invited to showcase their organisations. These events allow companies to see the high standard at which our students perform and to engage with them as potential employers. They also provide our students with an opportunity to secure their crucial internship year at one of the attending organisations, in order to gain vital industry knowledge and complete their qualifications. This year, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be hosting our Career Days online. Each attending organisation will be allocated different time slots to meaningfully engage with small groups of our students, between 9am and 5pm, on one of the following dates:   24 July 21 August 16 October All organisations will also be given access to our students’ CVs and work portfolios prior to the event, so that they can get a better idea of who our students are as well as their specific competencies. applicable, a second short testimony video featuring a Belgium Campus student or alumni currently working/completing their internship at their organisation. The videos can contain the following information: Introductory Video (5-10 minutes) A short intro/background on the company; An explanation of what the company does; The company mission/vision; Projects that the company is involved in; The type of students the company is looking to recruit e.g. bachelor’s degree or diploma; Any other important information or fun facts. Introductory Video (5-10 minutes) What it’s like to intern/work at the company; What the company culture is like; Opportunities for growth and development at the company; Any other important information or fun facts. Creating opportunities for talented young individuals to access quality higher education regardless of their socio-economic status is high on our agenda at Belgium Campus iTversity. It is for this reason that we request a R25,000 placement fee for every Belgium Campus student successfully placed at an organisation. These placement fees contribute towards our bursary fund and are used solely for the purpose of increasing the number of deserving students who can study with us. If you are an organisation who would like to take part, please indicate this by registering at the following link: CLICK HERE. As soon as we have an indication of the amount of organisations that will join us, a schedule will be drawn up and forwarded to each organisation. If you have any enquiries or need further clarification, you can contact us via email at [email protected], or by phone at 010 593 5368.

Some Positivity Amidst the Pandemic We find ourselves in unprecedented times. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on our daily lives and routines. We have been forced to become resilient and adapt, and we are proud to say that the Belgium Campus iTversity community has risen to the occasion. In a time where bad news seems to outweigh the good, we thought we would share some good news to brighten your lockdown period. Below are some of the achievements of our staff, students and the Belgium Campus community as a whole.   With the help of our dedicated staff, our students’ technological competence and willingness to adapt, and the support from their parents, we were able to make an almost seamless transition to online learning in just 3 weeks. More than 90% of our students are successfully participating in online classes, and tests and assessments have been able to continue as scheduled before the lockdown. The Belgium Campus community’s resilience and positive attitude also shone through when we were faced with the challenge of handling upcoming events during lockdown. We were able to successfully host our first Online Open Day where we were joined by over almost 600 unique visitors! We are eager to make the upcoming one just as successful. We are also making the necessary arrangements to host our Career Days online so that our students don’t miss out on this unique learning and networking opportunity. It was with great sadness that we had to postpone our official graduation ceremony. However, this sadness quickly turned into pride and joy when our students allowed us to be a part of their lockdown celebrations by sharing their celebratory images with us. We are thankful that we can still look forward to coming together to celebrate when it has been declared safe to do so.   Our students have also continued to work on joint innovation projects with their international counterparts at the University of Sydney and Penn State University. Their projects concepts ranged from improving the automotive industry with BMW, to a vertical farming robot that automatically plants and harvests crops in a three story vertical hydroponic greenhouse.   Our students also participated in this year’s international virtual hackathon, Hack the Waste. We are proud to announce that 3 of our students, Thabang Mahlangu, Coert Grobbelaar and Chantel Mokoena, were even part of the winning teams! Visit our website to read about their innovative solutions and their contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals:https://www.belgiumcampus.ac.za/News/Hack-the-Waste-2020.html   Since the announcement of the first few cases of the COVID-19 virus in South Africa and throughout this period of transition, we have remained dedicated to maintaining a transparent and constant stream of communication with our students and their parents. We are overjoyed with the support and compliments we have received and we commit to continuing to live up to this precedent. Below is some of the positive feedback we have received from students and parents. It really lifted our spirits and we hope it does the same for you. “I am impressed by how seamless Belgium Campus made the transition to digital platforms and I love that our online classes allow us to maintain the same lecturer-student relationships that we had in person.” Tebogo Moropa, 3rd year BComp student “The transition from campus life to online classes has been surprisingly smooth. The platforms at our disposal and the engagement from students has been exceptional.” Keamo Matlala, 3rd year BComp student “Thank you to Belgium Campus iTversity for taking such good care of our children (their students) and for the regular correspondence. I really appreciate it.” Ms. Adelheid Celliers, Mother. “I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to Belgium Campus iTversity and your incredible staff. I will be forever grateful for the assistance, understanding and dedicated attention you give to your students. My daughter graduated with an Honours degree in Computing (specializing in software engineering). Words alone cannot express the joy and gratitude we are experiencing right now! May Belgium Campus iTversity continue to excel in equipping our children with critical and essential skills and in all its endeavours. Thank you once again and may God Almighty bless all of you and Belgium Campus iTversity. I look forward to meeting you all in person at the graduation ceremony.” Ms. Adelheid Celliers, Mother. We will be reopening our campuses to some of our students to make sure that no student is left behind in the 2020 academic year. The students returning are in line with the 33% guideline set out by the Department of Higher Education and were selected based on a survey assessing their ability to access online resources. The necessary measures are being implemented to make sure these students return to a safe and regulated environment. We look forward to welcoming them, and their innovative energy, back to our campuses.   We would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every member of the Belgium Campus community for supporting us during this difficult time. Thank you to our students and their parents for trusting us to provide the best quality education regardless of the circumstances. We will continue to live up to the standard we have set as an institution and we will keep our promise to leave no student behind. Together, we can overcome any obstacle.

Tap to select the previous period Next OPEN DAY INTERACTIVE ONLINE OPEN DAY We are all familiar with the saying ‘seeing is believing’, which is why we invite you to join us for an online IT journey of discovery and innovation. Our open days are the fastest, most effective way for us to show you what makes IT, and more specifically a Belgium Campus iTversity qualification, an excellent investment in your future. Join us online and discover first-hand the exceptional standard of education and unique educational experience only offered at Belgium Campus. We promise you won’t be disappointed! GET TO KNOW BELGIUM CAMPUS Belgium Campus is a private higher education institution that specialises in IT; the fastest growing industry on earth! Our students work on innovation projects with real-world impact from their first year of study. These projects are varied and far-reaching, including projects that improve the health, aviation, automotive, agriculture and even aerospace industries! We collaborate with international universities and industry experts to give our students a competitive edge. The words Belgium Campus iTversity carry weight in the South African IT industry and with a Belgium Campus IT qualification, your name can too! Whether you would like to study programming or have a burning desire to study artificial intelligence, this is the place for you. Interested? Attend our Online Open Day and find out more. YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO Exciting workshops covering topics including: HTML, C#, AWS, BI, Automation (BMW), Aviation (eye tracking) and Aquaponics; A detailed breakdown of the world-class, industry-relevant IT qualifications we offer; A virtual campus tour showcasing the state-of-the-art facilities and varied activities our students have access to; A chance to view the real-world innovation projects our students work on; An explanation of our unique, truly participative education model; A look into our dedicated programme for Deaf students; Answers to all your pressing questions surrounding IT and Belgium Campus iTversity; A live chat to assist you with your application. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in41OvypOh4&feature=emb_imp_woyt&ab_channel=BelgiumCampus

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