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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.

3rd-Year Innovation Projects 2019 Belgium Campus iTversity provides a unique learning environment that pushes beyond the barriers of theoretical knowledge and skills into real world application and understanding. We challenge our students to partake in projects that simulate the pressures and expectations of the industry while at the same time challenging and expanding their IT knowledge and allowing them to explore their potential as future innovators in the industry. This is one of the many things that sets us apart. Our third-year students are currently working on their final year innovation projects. They are tasked to come up with inventive technological solutions to a wide range of societal challenges. They will present these projects to their lecturers, who will be acting as the client, at the end of November. Read below for a sneak peak of some of the pioneering projects currently in progress. Pharmacy Drone Pharmacy Drone is a project that aims to assist individuals living in rural areas to order and receive medication from the comfort of their own homes, saving them from what is often a long commute to the nearest pharmacy. The idea is that these individuals will be able to place their order through an app and their medication will be delivered to them with the use of drones. This should solve the issues that come with pharmacy delivery vans, including petrol costs, the cost of the vans themselves, as well as the frequent vandalism and robbery of these vans. Revolution Medical Revolution Medical is a globally connected medical system that aims to address the challenge of international access to medical data. It will allow doctors to access a patient’s medical history from anywhere in the world. This will ensure that regardless of where in the world an individual finds themselves needing medical care, a doctor will have access to their medical records to give them the appropriate treatment. Traffic Prediction Using Data Mining Data mining allows for the discovery of patterns in large data sets which involve methods at the intersection of database systems, machine learning and statistics. Traffic Prediction Using Data Mining aims to provide motorists with an alternative traffic prediction system by collecting data on routes, and using this data to determine traffic flow and congestion. Smart Soil/ Smart Irrigation System Smart Soil/ Smart Irrigation System aims to provide a solution to the biggest threat to the countries food supply, infertile soil. It will assist farmers by monitoring soil levels and determining how ‘healthy’ the soil is, as well as determining the optimal amount of water required for each crop per square meter. This should not only assist farmers with knowing what nutrients are needed and what crops to plant next but it should also help conserve water and avoid wastage. The hope is that the system will eliminate crop losses and improve overall yield. Smart Trolley Tech We all know how frustrating standing in a long cue at the shops can be or how disappointing it is when you order something online and what arrives is nothing like what was advertised. Smart Trolley Tech is a Windows based application which aims to solve these issues by allowing customers to physically see and touch the items they would like to purchase, while being able to skip the process of cueing. It is designed to integrate with a new type of trolley that allows customers to add items to their trolley and checkout without having to go to the tills. The app will allow users to make shopping lists, see specials, locate items in store and should also assist with stock tracking.   Item Finder Item Finder allows users to locate a missing item using a trackable device attached to the item, avoiding hours of searching. The device will be recognised through a phone app and tracked using GPS coordinates. The device will also have a sound feature that will assist with finding missing items in smaller areas.

A Liberty Voyage to Remember On the morning of October 4th 2019, Liberty passports in hand, our Liberty Group South Africa sponsored students set off on a journey to discover what Liberty has to offer them as future employees. A mixture of excitement and nerves was evident in the air as our students stepped through Liberty’s front doors in Braamfontein. “We didn’t really know what to expect. We just received an invitation to visit their offices but we weren’t told what the visit would entail,” shares Blessed Rapudi, a 1st year Bachelor of Computing student. Belgium Campus iTversity and Liberty Group South Africa have a longstanding, mutually beneficial relationship. Liberty provides our students with bursary support and recruits a number of them post-graduation. They currently sponsor 20 of our female students, all of whom were invited to spend the day at their offices. “Being sponsored by Liberty is great, not only does it give me the opportunity to study further, it also gives me the opportunity to work for an incredible company,” Lesego Sebopa, a 3rd year Bachelor of Information Technology student says. “During our visit to Liberty they mentioned that they were so pleased that we as the 20 girls are leading and contributing in this male dominated industry. I think it’s amazing that they are sponsoring 20 black females as they are recognizing what young black females are capable of and what we can contribute to the industry,” adds Lebogang Kunupi, a 3rd year Bachelor of Computing student. After a delicious breakfast and armed with goodie bags our students headed to the Battle Alley where they received a warm welcome from Mr Benjamin Marais (Liberty Group CIO) and Ms Pumeza Bam (Liberty Group Executive: Human Capital). They learned about the mega infrastructure and databases supporting Liberty’s backend and frontend. They were then taken on a grand tour. They were shown all the different departments and given an outline of what each department is responsible for and how they all work together for the benefit of the company as a whole. “Before the visit to Liberty I felt scared. I felt like I wasn’t ready to start work next year. After the visit and finding out about all the different departments and what would be expected of me, I am feeling much more confident and ready to tackle this next stage in my life,” comments Mamila Nhlapo, a 3rd year Bachelor in Information Technology student. “It was amazing to see the different departments and get a feel of the company culture. Everyone was so free and energetic and you could tell that everyone was motivated and enjoying what they do,” adds Phelangreate Molatudi, a 3rd year Bachelor of Computing student. Our students listened to the inspiring story of one of the executives which centred on following your dreams and setting goals that will help you lead a successful life. They navigated the contact centre and hung out with management before further discovering what the crazy Cyber World has to offer. “It was very clear from our visit that Liberty is a company with a lot of opportunity for growth and this was fantastic to see, the whole visit was incredibly inspiring” Josephine Nemoshongwa, a 3rd year Bachelor of Information Technology student concludes. In short, it was a voyage to remember!Find out more about our relationship with Liberty   Tap to select the previous period Next

September Exam Results We would like to congratulate our students for their continued hard work and dedication. They achieved an overall qualification rate of 86% and an overall pass rate of 87% for the past September examinations. Our Tshwane campus wrote a total of 1305 exams and received a 90% pass rate with 483 distinctions achieved. Our Ekurhuleni campus wrote a total of 414 exams and received an 80% pass rate with 127 distinctions achieved. Our Nelson Mandela Bay campus wrote a total of 105 exams and received a 92% pass rate with 50 distinctions achieved. Exam reviews will take place on the 1st and the 8th of November 2019. If you would like to have your results reviewed by a senior lecturer, please apply through your Canvas portal before the 25th of October 2019. We have entered the fourth and final quarter of the year and the finish line is well within site. We encourage our students to continue working hard and we have no doubt that they will continue to excel, after all, that’s just the way we’re wired.

BCMusketeers Participate in WRC Symposium Hackathon Belgium Campus iTversity students, Otshepeng Mashele and Ronald Qobolo, teamed up with Expotech Industries Founder, Joël Tiogo, to participate in the WRC Symposium Hackathon last month. Students were tasked to come up with innovative technological solutions to the water and sanitation challenges facing the African continent. According to UN-Water, “Half of the people who drink water from unsafe sources live in Africa. In Sub-Saharan Africa alone, only 24% of the population have access to safe drinking water.” The 36-hour hackathon, hosted by Geekulcha, took place on the 11th and 12th of September at the Sandton Convention Centre. 30 young techies with backgrounds in computer science, programming and engineering took part, innovating for a common cause. Our students, along with Tiogo (under the team name BCMusketeers), came up with an IoT solution termed Breaking Barriers aimed at decreasing water wastage while improving service delivery by bridging the communication gap between the government and the community. “During our research we found that many consumers are unable to report or get updates regarding the water issues in their area, so we came up with a system to solve this,” Qobolo commented. “In South Africa, 37% of the country’s water gets wasted through leakages and bridging which is why this project is so important to us,” Tiogo added. The system uses sensors to detect irregular water flow in pipes, updates the relevant government about the issue so that action can be taken and integrates with an instant messaging system that informs residents of the affected location. “The hope is that the system will provide the municipality with more accurate data and a better understanding of the common water related problems in the community, as well as deepen customer trust by providing them with readily accessible, accurate information at any time and from anywhere,” Qobolo commented. “It was an amazing networking and learning opportunity! I can’t thank Geekulcha and HERE Technologies enough for hosting and mentoring us, as well as Belgium Campus for ensuring that we arrived at the venue safely,” said Mashele, who received some awesome HERE Technologies merchandise and was named Best Female Star for helping to bridge the gender gap through her contribution to technology. Tap to select the previous period Next

Heritage Day Through the Eyes of Belgium Campus Students “I think it is important for us to celebrate Heritage Day because it is a way of giving honour and respect to each and everyone’s culture and their different traditional beliefs. Belgium Campus has people of different races, backgrounds and cultures and having such a diverse community means everyone is allowed to be themselves and feel accepted. I am from the Democratic Republic of Congo and to celebrate my culture I wear my traditional clothing called pagne. I also enjoy traditional food with my family. We eat pap and pondu (kasava leaves) as well as bingovu (sweet potatoes) and lamb,” says Nkolo Mukeza-Yves, a 2nd year Bachelor of Computing student. “I see Heritage Day as a celebration of the diversity and different cultures within our country. My family and I celebrate Heritage Day by coming together to have a braai. It is a time for us to share the food we enjoy, while also enjoying each other’s company,” Tennille Hardy, a 2nd year Bachelor of Computing student shares. “As human beings we share many traits but we also have an array of differences. To many people this can be very scary but I believe that the celebration of our differences can convey our respect and willingness to understand one another. To me, Heritage Day is an incredible occasion during which our cultures shine bright and the philosophies we treasure are displayed. I believe Belgium Campus is a culturally diverse institution because of the spectra that is the student body and the members of faculty. The benefits of this diversity are many but most importantly it prepares us for a future of open mindedness and acceptance. As an Indian, I like to celebrate my heritage by indulging in our traditional cuisine and celebrating cultural events like Diwali with my family. I enjoy treats like soji (a sweet delicacy) and savoury dishes like mutton curry and roti. Two of my favourite pastimes are listening to Indian music and watching Bollywood movies,” shares Aaron Krishna, a 2nd year Bachelor of Computing student. “I think issues like the xenophobic violence that has been taking place in South Africa are caused by a lack of understanding of each other’s cultures. Heritage Day is important because it makes people aware of the different cultures out there and it helps people develop an appreciation for cultures outside of their own. It is the perfect time for people to ask questions about each other’s traditions and through these conversations we may realise we are a lot more similar than we are different. I was born in Australia, my dad is originally from Zimbabwe and my mom is from the Eastern Cape. In my culture your heritage comes from your father, so I consider myself to be Zimbabwean but I love that I have been exposed to and been able to experience a number of different cultures,” comments Haniel Maponga, a 1st year Diploma in Information Technology student. “Heritage Day unites people from different cultures and walks of life. I feel it is important to celebrate our different heritages and show appreciation for them because anything that you don’t appreciate you’ll eventually lose and what a shame this would be. Although I grew up in South Africa, I am originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo and this culture is embedded in me, it makes me who I am today. My family and I celebrate our heritage by eating a lot of our cultural foods like le frète, matembele and le bitoyo,” shares Samuel Kalubi, a 2nd year Bachelor of Computing student. “Celebrating our heritages is important because it helps keep them alive for the future generations. Being at an institution like Belgium Campus, where everyone comes from different places, we are exposed to a number of different cultural perspectives which broaden our understanding of the world and help us grow as individuals,” 2nd year Diploma in Information Technology student, Mutale Mwananshiku, says.