The Central University of Technology Innovation Services (CUTis) under the tutelage of Ms Geralda Winkler, Acting Chief Executive Officer, entered into a three-year agreement with the Council for Built Environment (CBE) to provide support and assistance to learners from Botsabelo, Thaba Nchu and Bloemfontein to excel in Mathematics, Physical Science, Accounting and English. 

The council injected funds to the tune of R498 000.00 for the running of the project.  About 400 learners in grade 11 and 12 from 27 schools will benefit from this project in 2017. “I am excited to be here and be part of this great team and the work that they are doing here at CUT with our future generation. Today’s marriage is not new, I am glad to announce that today’s ceremony is about renewing our vows with CUT. Looking at the great work that you are doing in manufacturing, I can see that there will be more of these ceremonies coming in the future,” said Ms Priscilla Mdlalose, Acting Chief Executive Officer for Council for Built Environment (CBE) during the signing of Memorandum of Agreement entered to between CUT and CBE earlier today In consultation with the Free State Department of Education and Mangaung local school educators, CUT has been responsible for helping learners from local feeder schools in the past 14 years to improve their love for Mathematics and Science. The aim of this intervention strategy is to assist these learners to improve their grades in the fields of STEM; thus, contributing to the provincial matric performance over the years. 

Ms Priscilla Mdlalose, Acting CEO for CBE mentioned that she is happy to be part of the public–private partnership (PPP) that is working together in realising the future of children from a previously disadvantaged background in the scarce skills. She further said that she is excited to see that CUT is manufacturing products that were only done by overseas companies in the past. “Let us work together towards building an innovative generation and grow our own timber. We can only do that if we are creative and innovative and encourage our children to be innovators and job creators and make a greater impact on the economy,” she concluded. Professor Yali Woyessa, Acting Dean of Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology commended CBE for the contribution made by investing in the lives of students. “I would like to thank CBE for coming on board and partnering with CUT to help realise the dream and brighten the future of our children. Other sponsors include the Interstate bus services for transportation of learners from Thaba-Nchu, Botshabelo and Bloemfontein areas to and from CUT campus. 

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From left: Ms Geralda Winkler, Acting Chief Executive Officer and  Ms Priscilla Mdlalose, Acting Chief Executive Officer for Council for Built Environment (CBE) at the ceremony.