General News

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

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.