CUT recently rolled out the red carpet to eight best performing academics and their families at the annual Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Awards in recognition of their hard work, dedication, commitment and contribution to the university in their respective fields .   

The recipients were presented with awards from four categories; namely, Early Career Teaching and Learning, Curriculum Development, Research and Innovation, as well as Community Engagement. These awards are offered annually to recognise exceptional performance for sustained and outstanding achievements in research and innovation, teaching, curriculum innovation and community engagement activities that are aligned to Vision 2020. Ms Noluntu Mpekoa, Information Technology Lecturer, became the first recipient of the day when she received the Early Career Teaching Award. She and other seven winners received merit certificates; CUT branded gold medals, and R30 000 cheques for their research projects.  The palpably ecstatic lecturer said that she was passionate about her work and students, as she constantly tried her best with them. “When I go to class, I always want to bring a positive atmosphere to my students and have patiently and passionately instilled the troubleshooting skills in them through my teachings to prepare them for any challenge they might face in the industry,” she said. 

When addressing the recipients, Prof. Henk de Jager, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academics and Research  commended partners and families for the undying support and important role they had played in the success of the winners. He said, “our mandate as a university of technology continues to inspire innovations in areas of teaching and learning so that we develop world class graduates and demand driven academic programmes that are unique in South Africa.” Upon receiving the award, Dr Mohamed Mostafa, a Civil Engineering Senior Lecturer, thanked the university for recognizing his research efforts in a project that took him three years to win the Early Career Research Award. Its focus was on non-conventional materials that are used to build roads. Other recipients were:

• Ms LM Coughlan, Junior Lecturer, Hotel School - Early Career Teaching Award,
• Mr W Viljoen, Lecturer, Teacher Education- Advanced Career Teaching Award,
• Dr F Emuze, Head of Department, Built Environment - The international association of University Presidents (IAUP) Excellence Award for Curriculum Innovation,
• Prof DY Dzansi, Head of Department, Business Support Studies - Established Career Research Award,
• Mr G Booysen, Director, Centre for Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing (CRPM) - Innovation Award,
• Mr P Makhoahle, Lecturer, Biomedical Technology - Community Engagement Award.

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From left: Prof. Dzansi, Ms Coughlan, Mr Makhoahle, Dr Emuze, Ms Mpekoa, Dr Mostafa, Mr Booysen and Mr Viljoen.