Prof. Herman Vermark, Dean: Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology (FEBIT) congratulating Dr Elisha Markus for becoming the 2018 Mid-Career Researcher in the faculty.  

On 10 April 2019, the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment & Information Technology (FEBIT) hosted the annual prize-giving ceremony to recognise the exceptional and outstanding performance of employees and students. All nominations were based on the best academic achievements of students attained from January to December 2018.

At the annual ceremony, certificates, floating trophies and vouchers were awarded to the top achievers. The categories of the awards include Higher Certificate, National Diploma, BSc, BTech and post-graduate degrees for students from all 6 departments within the faculty. 

Guest speaker, Dr Cobus van Rensburg PhD (Eng), MBA, PMP - Specialist: Engineering Project Improvement, SVP and Director on the Board of the PMI SA Chapter from Industrial Development Corporation of SA Ltd. (IDC). He discussed the rapidly developing and evolving world and the landscape which older people are living through and which students and the current generation have to come in.

He said that change is increasing rapidly, and the society is being exposed to disruptive changes on a daily basis. He also said that new technology is constantly evolving, and society is experiencing growth like never before in history. “We are still getting to grips with the concept of constantly being out of our comfort zones, and this is something that we are not good at yet. The new normal is that today is not like yesterday and this is the world that we live in. It completely changes the workforce that you as students have to go into.”

He further mentioned that the World Economic Forum recognises ten most innovative and disruptive technologies which are: augmented reality, lab-grown meat, algorithms for quantum computers, super advanced personal assistance, advanced diagnostics for personalised medicine, gene manipulation, artificial intelligence, electroceuticals, aI-led molecular design and implantable drug-making cells.

“As new graduates, your challenge is that modern technology, with all its advancement, makes it easy for you to stay in your comfort zone, binge, watch TV, do online shopping, music streaming and online food delivery. Each of you needs to decide if you want to stay in your comfort zone and stagnate or be prepared to face your fears and reach into your growth zone. Successful people of the future will be those that are changing consistently not constantly. Never before, did humanity have such vast potential for personal development but you need to grab the opportunity and run with it. This institution has now equipped you with the tools and skills necessary to make a huge impact in our country, and the rest is up to you,” he concluded.

The Staro Process Control sponsored the best achievers for the Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering with 3 trophies and 3 industrial process controllers with variable speed drives and software worth R 37 800. Professional Provident Society Holdings Trust (PPS) sponsored the best achievers in the Department of Built Environment with R 2 100, Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering with R 1 000, Department of Information Technology with R 2 000, Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering with R 1 000. The Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) sponsored the best achievers in the Department of Built Environment with prize money worth R 2 900 as well as an additional award worth R 1 600 plus book voucher of R 500. The Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (CRPM) sponsored a 3-D printed component in polymer and another 3-D printed component in Titanium to the Guest Speaker, and 3-D printed trophies to the best achievers in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering.

H Roberts with 77% average received the best BTech student in Civil Engineering for 2018, with him is Prof. Yali Woyessa, Associate Professor in Civil Engineering. The student also receives a cash prize worth R 1 000 from the Department of Civil Engineering.