What do you do for fun?: "I climb mountains"

Guest blooger Roslyn Baatjies

I imagine that the answer to this question: ‘’So, prof what do you do for fun?’’, to NMMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Derrick Swartz would be, ‘’I climb mountains’’.

I thought about that this morning when the man himself spoke about his planned climb of Mount Fuji in Japan next month to raise funds for bursaries for our financially needy students.  He mentioned that he recently did mountaineering in Norway and that he was invited to climb Kilimanjaro with another group. Unfortunately the latter clashed with his university commitments.

As part of Prof Swartz's personal commitment to the University's 10-year celebrations, he will be climbing Mount Fuji in Japan on 7 August to raise funds for academically-deserving but financially-needy students at NMMU.

The poster for the VC's #climb4nmmu

The #climb4nmmu campaign will also give Prof Swartz the opportunity to highlight the extent of the need for financial support for such students especially within the Eastern Cape, which is recognised as the poorest province.

Prof Swartz's 3,7km climb will be symbolic of the challenges many students face in order to get a tertiary qualification such as perseverance, taking responsibility and integrity. There are 10 base camps leading up to the peak, one for each year of NMMU's first decade.

All funds will go to the University's Bursary Legacy Campaign run by the NMMU Trust. Their Ignite a Candle campaign is already supporting worthy students.

The University is hoping to raise at least R500 000 to support a further students for the duration of their degrees or diplomas.

"I studied at university because of the bursary support I received from people I never knew personally. My bursary was a gift from the past to the present.”

"I strongly believe that this is our generation's responsibility too. We can give back in thousands of different ways. The #climb4nmmu campaign is just one way,’’ says Prof Swartz.

The VC, Prof. Swartz during fitness test.

The VC addressing the media this morning.

Everyday mountains have a way of humbling us. It has a way of connecting us to ourselves, nature and to others, by simply being out there. Embracing adventure means knowing it’s not always going to turn out exactly the way we want it or expect it to and so are the mountains, just like life. 

So in the same way the daily challenges give our needy students a new perspective, we bid that our vice-chancellor will embrace this adventure and not only raise funds, but come back to NMMU with new ideas to challenge us and the status quo.

The University has created a dedicated website in support of the #climb4nmmu campaign. Go to http://trust.nmmu.ac.za/VC-s-Climb-Campaign

From statues to random acts of kindness

Guest blogger Bev Erickson

Our country is really experiencing a lot of turmoil with what’s happening around the issue of statues and their colonial connections. Everyone has their own opinion on this and I’m certainly not going to go into it here, but it certainly got me thinking about things and about students in particular.

Having worked in the higher education environment for many years – I’ve been exposed to students, lots of students (I guess that’s what keeps me young!). According to our old friend the dictionary “A student is a person who is studying at a university or other place of higher education” and the origin of the word is from Latin - student- 'applying oneself to', from the verb studere, related to studium 'painstaking application'. It’s this painstaking application by our NMMU students that I’m referring to here.

We see it all the time – our students who painstakingly study hard to achieve great results and in the process, not only bring honour to themselves and their families, but to our university family too. Others painstakingly apply themselves to complete their studies and achieve great heights in their chosen sport or other extra-mural activities – and we have lots of them too who fly the fly very high.

Then there are those who are painstakingly apply themselves to helping others. There are so many examples of this taking place at NMMU every day – I think of our Human Resource Management students’ “Pay it Forward” project which they run each year, the Beyond the Classroom students who do so much good for others, the Enactus Society putting service first and now the Random Acts of Kindness group, started by first-year Computing Science students who filmed a video and have started a Facebook page as “a platform for everyone to post and share their random acts of kindness - spreading the love for one another.”

Check out why NMMU students make us proud - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruDlOPx9OzY

So these things got me thinking. Are our students different? Are they special? Do they care more than others?

My answer is YES, I think they are special. We so often see our value of ubuntu being demonstrated and lived by our students and it is so heart-warming and uplifting. Many a time I walk away from a student interaction and think that our future is bright.

So with faeces being flung at statues, riders being flung from horses, our namesake’s likeness in front of the Union Building under threat of being toppled – what I see at NMMU is upliftment, kindness and the building of a great future.

NMMU students – you make me proud!

Lights, action … & proud to be a NMMU ambassador

Guest blogger Khanyisa Melwa

Those who have known me since my teenage years will remember my longing to become an actor (I did drama from the age of 12). However, owing to many reasons, one of which was financial constraints, I was not able to pursue this career.

But alas, this was no hindrance for me; I enrolled at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University to study towards a BA degree, which I then changed at the end of my first year to pursue a Diploma in Public Relations Management. I am currently in my third year of Public Relations, completing my in-service training and I couldn’t be happier.

“Happy” would be an understatement to describe how I felt when I received an e-mail informing me that I had been selected as one of 20 NMMU ambassadors “actors” for a Vision2020 promotional video. Elated I was, I thought “yes, my dreams of becoming an actor are finally coming true!”

Fast-forward a few weeks later … there I was being pampered with manicures and flying in private jets. I was living the life, I tell you! All lies of course, but I did have a good time on set.

It began with a session of being “prettied up” (this is code for applying make-up). Something I haven’t done since my theatre days, and naturally, nostalgia took over. I was also charged with the challenge of being as natural as possible and not sounding so rehearsed, like the drama king that I am.

After the make-up session, it was show-time!

Yours truly doing his thing

I walked onto the set and boy, was this not theatre?! The only piece of equipment I recognised was the lapel mike they strapped to my clothes. Everything else was foreign to me. I was then shown where to stand, and again, nature took its course and I was now overcome with anxiety and nerves. A feeling every thespian, or rather actor/performer feels before a performance. There I was lights, camera, teleprompter and action!

“Uniquely, our university carries the name of one of the world’s most iconic leaders, Nelson Mandela, whose ideals have inspired NMMU’s values, curriculum and mission.” That was my line.

After about three takes of saying this piece of prose, a few slip-ups here and there and it finally hit me.

After all the theatrics, it was then that I began to heed the significance of being a part of a new generation university that looks to produce students who are well-rounded and capable of success anywhere in the world.

The promotional video is part of our bid to celebrate 10 years as a university but also to forward to achieving Vision2020. One of the objectives of our strategic plan to be a great university is that of “improving business processes, systems and infrastructure to promote a vibrant staff and student life”.

We need only look at the newly erected Business School on Second Avenue Campus, the Engineering Building on North Campus and the Human Movement Science building on South Campus, to name a few, to find evidence of this.

After another reading of prose, my fifteen minutes of fame was officially over. I was now not only an NMMU student and staff member, but an NMMU ambassador too. A title I so proudly carry.

NMMU Media Honours student Jonathan Fryer on set for the new Vision2020 video

NMMU lecturer Kathija Adam

A sea of blue - celebrating 10 years

Guest blogger Bev Erickson

To say we were blown away is an understatement! NMMU staff certainly celebrated in style yesterday by wearing their 10-year T-shirts to work and taking photos of themselves.

Forming a ten with their staff, showing ten fingers, jumping in the air and smiling from ear to ear were the order of the day as the photos below will attest.

In recognition of NMMU’s 10th birthday celebrations, staff were asked to don their new NMMU 10th anniversary T-shirts on “T-shirt Tuesday” as we named it – and to capture the moment by taking photographs to be used on the university’s communication channels.

The last ten years has been an interesting journey at NMMU – for some it’s been challenging, for others, all part of a day’s work, but there’s no denying that a great deal has been achieved.

The team from Graduate and Student Placement

While giving some input into a yet-to-be-released celebratory publication commemorating NMMU’s first decade, it struck me just how much we have achieved in this short period of time. From our ground-breaking blended learning initiatives through to extensive community interaction, our comprehensive university is positively impacting on thousands of lives within and beyond the classroom.

We have pretty much cemented our name in the South African higher education landscape, and even internationally to a certain extent. We have empowered students, seen them graduate, built state-of the-art buildings, formed research chairs and worked with industry. We’ve established a set of values to live by, increased our research outputs and continue to work towards our vision of being “a dynamic African university recognised for its leadership in generating cutting-edge knowledge for a sustainable future”.

Science Faculty staff are all fingers!

Colleagues on the 17th floor of the tower block

We’ve had fun together – remember the 2010 Soccer World Cup? And we’ve cried together - saying farewell to our namesake. But all in all, we have stood together in building our new university.

Yes, I know many of you are thinking “what a load of nonsense, she doesn’t work where I work!” – but take a moment to reflect and I have no doubt that you will be proud of what we have done.

So wear that T-shirt with pride and continue to turn dreams into reality.

Faculty of  Engineering, the Built Environment and IT

View the T-Shirt Tuesday photos

Farewell Jacques!

RIP Jacques Wessels - a special NMMU employee

At 6am this morning I received a WhatsApp informing me of the passing of a very special colleague, Jacques Wessels – a special person indeed! Deputy Director of Facilities Planning in the department of ICT Services, former Chairperson of NMMU’s NTEU branch and National President of the same union. But most of all – one helluva guy.

Jacques had fought a long and arduous battle with the dreaded cancer but until very recently, you would never have even known that. When someone passes away, there is always a flood of niceties and condolence messages of how great the person was. In this case – they are 100% deserved.

Guest blogger Bev Erickson

I got to know Jacques back in the day – not quite of the rinderpest era – but a long time ago. He had a work ethic of note, superior intelligence and was so very eloquent (best I make sure there are no spelling errors in this blog as he would not approve!)

To quote his special friend and colleague Grant Abbott, “Jacques was a giant of a man who never shied away from confronting every issue he faced head-on. He put others first before himself even to the very end”.

His ICT colleagues will testify to his dedication and commitment to his work and his NTEU colleagues, to his other work – helping and protecting staff members as National President of the union. There were many hours, days and weeks spent in meetings, negotiating with management about conditions of service, salaries etc. – Jacques always remained a gentleman and earned the absolute respect of the management team

Those damn printers! Sorry Jacques – but I just had to raise it.

A few years back an “imaging landscape” was proposed for NMMU and Jacques was the head honcho of this project. “We need to save the university money by installing shared printers in departments instead of individual ones”. I have cursed you every day since Jacques – every time that printer doesn’t spit out my work – even after five trips to the printing room. But he knew it was the right thing to do. Maybe I’ll look at that printer with a little more respect from now on.

I remember when he was struggling with his health and he built a bar in his home - all by himself. I watched the progress on Facebook and told him that I’d be joining him for a tequila at that bar when it was finished. He finished the bar. I never got to drink the tequila with him. Tonight I drink that tequila – to you my friend – the great man you were – to your wife Heloise, your daughter Inge, your family, your friends, your colleagues and everyone whose life you touched.

The footprints you have left in our hearts will never be washed away.

Rest in peace Jacques – you deserve to be free now.

Lessons learnt while at NMMU

Guest blogger ... NMMU Psychology alumnus Curwyn Mapaling

The Top Seven Things I Wish I Had Known Earlier in Life

1. Set a goal and don’t stop working on it until you reach it. 

You have within you the intrinsic potential to achieve all that you set out to do. Nothing is impossible as long as one works hard to achieve it. I was unsuccessful the first time I applied for two of the awards that I received in 2014, namely the Abe Bailey Travel Bursary and the Golden Key Community Service Scholarship Award. This happened despite having worked on my CV, motivational letters and going for mock interviews. The experience at the time was both heartbreaking and disappointing, but just because it didn’t work out the way I wanted it too, doesn’t mean it didn’t work out exactly how it was intended to. I had the choice then to just give up or try again. I tried again and applied what I learned from the process. When I was later awarded both I was delighted that I didn’t give up on these dreams when I was unsuccessful the first time. This also motivated me to apply for the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship which I was awarded later that year. What are some of the dreams that you might have given up on? What is stopping you from trying again?

2. Get off your Umtarara! 

Get involved in something...anything...but just do something. Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try. Do not conform to the culture of learned helplessness whereby people wait around doing nothing, waiting for things to be handed to them. 

3. Find a Mentor 

Someone, anyone who believes in you and is willing to walk the road with you as you try to achieve your dreams. No one does it alone. Not someone who will just be there, but someone who will be honest with you and tell you the hard truths that you need to hear in order to be your best. Talk to that person, visit with that person, don't be afraid to ask them the things you need to know or are confused about or afraid of. 

4. Don't be offended or over sensitive when people give you honest advice.

It isn't always easy to hear criticism, but just because someone challenges you doesn't mean they are against you, they are trying to help you be better!

5. Use your talents, whatever they are

I’ve been involved with certain groups and organisations and the reason my involvements worked for me was because they were things I enjoyed and loved to be a part of. It is easy to be committed to something you enjoy doing because it doesn't feel like work. 

6. Giving back to those in your community gives so much more back to you

A little involvement changes everything. All our little bits of goodness and kindness put together can overwhelm the world with much needed positivity and progression. 

7. There are many different types of leaders

Not all leaders are the loud person in front of a crowd. Personally, I struggled to see how I could have any type of leadership impact as that just wasn't me. I then learned about servant leadership. A servant leader doesn’t focus on being the best in the world but rather being the best for the world. I would like to encourage you all to explore the many different types of leadership and to find the one that works for you and is best suited for who you are. Find a leadership style that allows you to remain true to who you are and what you believe in. 

In closing, a quote from GT Ferreira, “Everything will be ok in the end. If it’s not ok, it’s not the end yet.” 

• Curwyn is currently doing his Masters in Clinical Psychology and Community Counselling at Stellenbosch University.  He completed his Bachelor of Psychology (Counselling) at NMMU last year.

Triple the joy

Only the cream-of-the-academic-cream is awarded the prestigious Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. These are the youngsters who not only get straight A’s for their final matric marks, but are among the top academic achievers in the country. An average of 85% should do it.

An average of 85.1% did it for Deon Beauzec – just.

Yes, that’s how clever the 25 Vice-Chancellor’s Scholars are …

But few are likely to be as kind as Deon who has opted to share his R82 742-a-year bursary with his sibling, Michael, especially since the twin brothers and their parents do not have the means to fund their studies.

Michael and Deon Boezec

Deon’s windfall will now cover both boys’ tuition as they tackle a three-year BSc Chemistry degree.

Besides, Michael’s average mark for matric was none too shabby either at 83.5%.

And, according to Deon, his brother might have beaten him. It’s as they have done throughout their school careers – shared academic awards or taken it in turns to outdo the other.

“Not for one moment did I think about keeping it for myself. We have never competed. We just try to support one another,” says Deon.

This is also why the boys forewent their favourite past-time of soccer in 2014 so that they could concentrate on their studies as they were both hoping to find spots at a medical school.

Sadly, for them, they were not accepted.

Fortunately for us, both boys can pursue a degree and then be first in the queue for the new general medical practitioner degree that NMMU hopes to begin in 2018. (The university has already introduced a number of medically-related programmes as part of its ‘bottom-up’ approach to establishing a fully-fledged Medical School by 2020 – but more of this in subsequent blogs).

“We’d like to study medicine here. After we heard about the approach, we’re keen on enrolling for medicine here.”

That approach is one of building a medical school that responds to the real needs of South Africa, particularly within the public health domain.

And both boys are set on serving society.

It’s just who they are.

Like their sisters, Bianca, who is a teacher at an underprivileged township school, and Simone, who works as a radiographer in a state hospital, they are intent on helping others.

“It’s not something that can be taught. It’s just been a way of life for us,” says Michael.

So not only are these boys brainy. They’re kind too. And they’re committed to being part of the solution when it comes to health care in South Africa.

That's triple the joy for us!

The difference is in the 'umph!'

Guest blogger ...
Student intern Khanyisa Melwa

As the beginning of the academic year draws near, I’d like to extend my heartiest welcome to both the first year and senior students of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMM). Do you guys have the “umph” to make this a great year?

I’m sure words like “assignment” and “test” have become something of a distant memory to most of you, but don’t fret, academia is near!

You will have seen or heard that we, as a university, are celebrating our 10th year. Our 10th year as a new generation university since the coming together of three separate institutions, namely: The University of Port Elizabeth, PE Technikon and Vista University. With this in mind, it is important that we take stock of what it means to be an NMMU student in 2015.

Being a part of a comprehensive university such as NMMU is a privilege, one we should never take for granted. Here, we are afforded the opportunity to make a difference in society with courses that meet both immediate industry and societal needs.

As our namesake once said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.

How are you going to use your qualification to change the world?

Ponder on this.

Suffice to say that without goals, one is merely day-dreaming; wandering aimlessly in a fast-paced world of #Hashtags and selfies. I urge you to draw up a list of goals at the beginning of this academic year and be resolute in achieving these.

In the same breath, it would be incorrect in both logic and principle to speak about goals without any mention of excellence, as it is one of our institutional values. It only makes sense that we continually endeavour to live out each of our values – respect for diversity, excellence, Ubuntu, integrity, respect for the environment and taking responsibility.

A key NMMU value

It is also imperative that we strive for excellence in everything that we do; because that’s what gives us the competitive edge. That’s the difference between being good and being great, and fortunately, mediocrity is not in our DNA as Madibaz. That would be an indictment of Nelson Mandela’s character, the man whose name we so proudly carry.

So remember this fellow Madibaz, the difference between “try” and “triumph” is that little “umph”.

What it means to be 10

Always reason to celebrate ... 

That’s us. We’re 10. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) is a decade old!

And like most ten-year-olds we’re on the cusp of something bigger as we enter our tweens, and then fully-fledged adulthood as a university deserving of recognition.

But for now we’re ten. We’ve survived the knocks, bumps and bruises of childhood. We’ve scraped our knees a few times and even suffered a bloody nose for a serious lapse in behaviour. However, for the most part, we’ve relished our childhood and learnt to handle ourselves without too much help.

We’ve won a few prizes along the way, established some life-long friendships, built some pretty imposing sandcastles (have you seen all our new buildings?) and, for the most part, we’re appreciative of what we’ve received.

We’re pretty independent by now; we can stand on our own two feet and hold our head high.

But we’re only ten. And when you’re ten, parties and celebrations are still big on the lifestyle agenda. We like it when we can get together with friends to recognise special occasions.

That is why NMMU is lining up as many as ten different occasions for celebration – starting on Tuesday 10 February.

On that day staff and students are being invited to take stock, and come up with a personal list of 10 things they would like to achieve during NMMU’s big birthday year. (You can find a branded A4 sheet for this on the following link )

The list is aimed at motivating staff and students for an exciting year ahead and for giving everyone direction. The ten goals can be personal, institutional or a combination of both.

So what are your ten goals for 2015?

We’d like to celebrate our first decade on the 10th day of every month (well, at least the ones that fall in the week and outside of university holidays) and are seeking celebratory ideas – things that bring folk together and involve our values of respect for the natural environment, integrity, excellence, respect for diversity and Ubuntu.

In the interim, however, apart from your list of goals for 2015 with everything from “walking three times a week” to “starting to study again”, we’re bringing on a little music.

AlgoaFM – one of those with whom we have built a friendship – will be bringing their festive sounds to the Kraal on South Campus from 10am on Tuesday, 10 February. During their outside broadcast they will also witness the symbolic release of balloons by members of our Student Representative Council (SRC) to celebrate our first ten years.

Well, we’re ten, aren’t we? And we still like balloons too.

Happy birthday NMMU!

'Will the last person leaving the building please switch off the lights …'

Beacon of shame

This headline, along with “… and please release the dolphins” was a key catch-line in Port Elizabeth in the early 1980s as motor company after motor company chose to disinvest its interests in the country as a result of Apartheid.

The impact on the local economy and thousands of lives because of huge job losses was massive and subsequently there was a mass exodus of people leaving the city.

But, as ever in times of crisis, folk tried to make light of the situation and hence the “switch of the lights” catch-phrase was born.

Thirty-plus years later, the metro, and indeed, the entire country are facing another crisis – and that tongue-in-cheek catch-phrase of yesteryear is just as applicable.

In fact, it’s no longer tongue-in-cheek. It’s real.

There’s a national shortage of electricity, and right now, we are euphemistically enjoying load-shedding (Eskom just switches off our power with increasing abandon).

Without going into to the reasons why we’re facing a crisis (because that depends on who you listen to: our president – “it’s Apartheid”, or Eskom boss – “poor planning”), let’s just agree that a shortage of electricity is something that affects us all.


That ‘80s catch-phrase “will the last person leaving the building please switch off the lights” hit me hard this week when confronted with a photograph of the university’s focal 18-storey tower block in shining Blackpool-lights glory at 4am (see above).

Not just one or two lights that someone had inadvertently failed to switch off before leaving their offices at the end of a long working day, mind you, but the full 18 floors.

And since Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s North and South campuses are in the midst of a 720-hectare nature reserve there are no other man-made distractions – it’s just a sole tower block beaming out like a misplaced lighthouse in the midst of a national electricity crisis.

Not a good advert for us! And certainly no good for our already-depleted electricity supply.

I’d like to think that all the present load shedding tripped some switch that caused all the lights to accidentally come on, but I’m probably being naïve. But I’d really like to think the best of the staff members who work there. I cannot believe they’d deliberately all forget to turn off their office lights when leaving the building … (Though I am told that the light switch set-up in our main building means one switch is responsible for several offices which complicates matters).

Whatever the reason, we certainly don’t want a repeat paparazzi experience (but what was the photographer doing up at 4am, anyway?) with NMMU being branded as the bad guys in wasting the country’s precious resources.

The irony, of course, is that much of our research is aimed at conserving resources and seeking alternatives to the present Eskom energy crisis. We even have respect for the natural environment and taking responsibility as two of our values.

So, let’s heed the call of the early 80s … “will the last person leaving the building please switch off the lights”. Oh, you needn’t worry about the dolphins. Thankfully, they were released from Bayworld’s oceanarium a good few years ago.

In the pink …

AB de Villiers is in the pink. Picture: Reuters

Think pink and it’s likely that you’ll have all things feminine on your mind. Masculine pursuits like rugby and cricket are unlikely to feature in your colour-association mind game …

That is only, of course, if you missed Proteas’ captain A B de Villiers’ swashbuckling performance against the West Indies at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday when record after record tumbled (the fastest 50 and 100 in the One-Day International version of the game) with his historic knock of 147.

The affable AB was wearing pink. In fact, the entire team was donned in pretty rose pink as part of an annual awareness day for breast cancer, sponsored by Momentum and Bidvest.

“We love playing in pink,” De Villiers was reported to share before the game. “We haven’t lost while wearing pink.”

May that trend continue (especially as you head to Port Elizabeth this Sunday and off to the Cricket World Cup Down Under soon afterwards).

More especially, however, may the trend of raising awareness of breast cancer and other causes via this unlikely male medium continue.

A new flash of pink posters at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) assures me that is it for they are advertising the forthcoming Varsity Cup rugby. For the uninitiated (all newcomers to NMMU), Varsity Cup is a rugby competition between the country’s top rugby-playing universities. It is now into its seventh year and has been hugely successful, not least for the great student vibe it creates on campuses around the country.

But back to the pink.

The Varsity Cup rugby campaign starts on 9 February

This time the burly boytjies of the 15-man game at university level have embraced pink to create awareness against women abuse. This is in line with one of Varsity Cup’s catch phrases – “Keep the aggro on the field”.

Only the Man of the Match from the previous match is afforded the honour of wearing pink. And believe you me, that sole pair of pink shorts certainly stands out on the playing field.

So it’s kudos to the sportsmen who wear pink. Your gesture is appreciated.

Now roll on Sunday at St George’s Park where the Proteas play the Windies again (sans their pink), and Monday 16 February at our own NMMU Stadium when the Madibaz rugby team will play their first home game of the Varsity Cup contest against Central University of Technology (CUT).

We trust one of the latter team players will be wearing a pair of pink shorts after their first match against North West University (Pukke) on Monday 9 February (the game is being televised at 16.45pm).

We will, pun intended, be in the pink should that happen!

Pink shorts are worn by the Man of the Match from the previous game.

Be the change you want to see …

Sister Ethel with a young recipient from the Christmas party 

“I may be only one person. But I am one person who can make a difference.”

This phrase, painted on a wall of the Missionvale Care Centre in the impoverished shack lands of Missionvale in Port Elizabeth, is one I will never forget.

In fact, it‘s one I cling to in difficult circumstances and one my colleagues, family and friends are probably tired of hearing about from me. And that’s ok, because it’s not going to stop me - or others at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University – from spouting the truth.

We all have the ability to change things – if we are simply committed enough.

A message of encouragement to us all from the Missionvale Care Centre

That change is up to you, and of course, it starts with yourself. Understanding, reflecting, dissecting and getting to know who you really are and what you want to be and what you want to see change (for the better).

Day 3 of the annual Missional Care Centre Christmas party for the children of Missionvale

There are few better examples of being the change you want to see in the world than Port Elizabeth’s own Sister Ethel Normoyle.

Almost 27 years ago Sister Ethel began a journey into the informal shack lands of Missionvale that would begin to change the welfare of an entire community.

She had neither money nor supplies to reach out to the forgotten masses of this deprived community. But she had faith and determination (and nursing know-how).

This week I had the privilege of spending time in the company of the people of Missionvale as they celebrated an early Christmas thanks to the ongoing efforts of Sister Ethel. (For three mornings the Missionvale Care Centre hosted the annual Christmas party for the community’s children.)

And this party, during which 3 000 children each received a gift and some sweets, is but one aspect of what one’s woman’s commitment to change can bring.

Today, Missionvale has its own primary school, clinic, clothing warehouse, child development programme, 291 community gardens, community health practitioners, nutrition unit, church and community hall, crafter’s unit, adult development programme, eye clinic, doctor’s service and a team of volunteers from around the globe.

Not bad for a tiny Irish nun with faith.

As much as Sister Ethel will shy from the limelight, she is the one person who made a difference for Missionvale. She inspired others to the same deep compassion she has for the people of Missionvale.

She practiced the change she wanted to see in the world.

What about you?

What change do you want to see in the world?

At NMMU, we encourage you to take responsibility and do what you know will add value, not just for yourself, but for others. 

The volunteers and staff of the Missionvale Care Centre

'An amazing generosity of spirit'

The NMMU Alumni team lead by example when it comes to supporting its students

Calling all naysayers, prophets of doom and down-in-the-mouth pessimists out there ...

There is hope. There is a better future. There is light at the end of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University kindness tunnel.

Anyone fortunate enough to have attended the Alumni Thanksgiving breakfast would have surely recognised this too as speaker after speaker shared inspiring snippets as to how they had been helped or are helping dozens of students achieve their dreams of obtaining a university education.

Or to use the Vice-Chancellor’s response: “What an amazing generosity of spirit” within the room.

(Incidentally, that room is the South Campus boma that was moved from Bird Street Campus many moons ago to its present location below the university’s many cricket fields).

There was the Alumni Student Association, whose past and present chairmen and women shared the story behind the alumni bag. At R25 for a shopping bag, you are contributing to students whose journey to graduation is full of financial challenges. (The Vice-Chancellor however bought one for R2600 during an impromptu auction).

A little can go a long way in helping students achieve their study dreams

And then there was the story of lecturer Paul Tai-Hing’s initiative – to put theory into practice. It’s an approach that benefits both his students and so many others.

His business management students run their own student businesses with the profits ploughed straight back into the community for education purposes.

In less than two years, his students’ entrepreneurial enthusiasm has raised R384 500 from the sale of a recipe book.

As a result, the students have been able to:

· Restore classrooms at Lwandlekhazi High School in New Brighton

· Contribute R80 000 towards disadvantaged students at NMMU in the form of food parcels, transport costs and study fees

· Buy stationery for Missionvale Primary School learners

· Buy toys for children at Missionvale Care Centre run by Sister Ethel Normoyle and donate R30 000 for general expenses

· Donate R85 000 to the Masenyusane Development Corporation, an organisation that helps the poorest schools in the metro

· R25 000 to the Laphumilanga Orphanage in Zwide

· Sponsorship for 10 matric students to attend the Accounting Winter School at NMMU

· Building of a toilet block, valued at R74 000, at Ben Sinuka Primary School in New Brighton

· Donate computer cabling, valued at R10 000, to Kwezi Lomso High School in Zwide

· Donate R9 500 for security gates at Kwa-Ford Primary School in New Brighton and

But students also gave of their time in the form of:

· 983 hours of one-on-one English tutoring

· 148 weeks of food parcels to families in need

Just as the boss man was moved to be the highest bidder of the bag, so those attending were inspired to do their bit. I am so grateful that generosity rubs off to the benefit of others.

So join the goodwill drive at NMMU, and buy your alumni bursary fund bag for just R25.

To learn more contact paul.geswindt@nmmu.ac.za, call 041 5044371 or e-mail shop@nmmu.ac.za

NMMU Alumni (from left) office bearers Vernon Naidoo, Randall Jonas, Renita Affat of the NMMU Trust and Vice Chancellor Prof Derrick Swartz

NMMU lecturer Paul Tai-Hing (centre) is joined by Vernon Naidoo (left) and Randall Jonas

Living his Legacy

By Bev Erickson

As we celebrate the life of  Tata Madiba, our namesake,  on the first anniversary of his passing – it got me reflecting on the legacy he left behind, and the great leader he was.

I recently had the privilege of listening to the former private secretary of Madiba, Zelda la Grange. Her 60 minute presentation had everyone hanging on her lips as she told humorous and touching stories of her time with Nelson Mandela. She was just so “real” in her approach – nothing pretentious or fake about her – I guess like the man she called boss for more than half of her life.

The story I found particularly fascinating was his attention to detail and what a stickler he was for honesty and integrity. She spoke of a foreign visit when he was given the most beautiful hotel suite – complete with designer bottles of shampoo, body wash and fragrances in the bathroom. Late that evening, Zelda was summoned to his room and asked to fire the entire security team. Madiba had noticed that one of these little bottles had gone missing and would not rest until he had found the perpetrator. As the peacemaker, Zelda lined the entire team up in his room and the perpetrator was identified.  He took note of the little things and he had zero tolerance for dishonesty.

The interesting part of the presentation was the question time afterwards. And of course there were many! She handled them diplomatically and knew where the line was that she wouldn't overstep illustrating her own integrity. 

What a wonderful relationship these two totally different people had. A true testimony to both of them.

Then, last Sunday – I watched Long Walk to Freedom on TV with my husband and 17 year old daughter. I was reluctant to watch the movie as how could anyone even begin to portray such a colossus of a person? But Idris Elba did a pretty good job! It was wonderful to watch the life of Nelson Mandela played out in chronological order – giving a perspective of what he did and achieved in his life time.

Something else that opened my eyes were the comments by my 17 year old on the atrocities of our past and how foreign they were to her. “Did that really happen?”, “Didn't you know it was wrong?” 

But despite the wrong-doings, our beloved Madiba showed compassion and love for his country.

Tata – we will never forget you.

Living his Legacy 1918 - 2013

Excellence is for us all

NMMU's Marketing and Corporate Relations team subscribes to excellence 

Excellence. It’s a scary word, is excellence. Well, for this typical “above average” student it is. That’s because it denotes special achievement, outstanding capabilities, top of the class …

It is something with which I had never been familiar nor thought possible until I came to Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. I had happily accepted that my EQ (emotional quotient) was far higher than my IQ (intelligence quotient) and that excellence was an elitist privilege reserved for the brainy few. (And certainly not for the likes of me).

NMMU changed all that.

I now know that excellence has nothing to do with brains, and everything to do with attitude and habit.

Excellence is one of the university’s six values.

And, as I now understand it, excellence is about striving and working to be the best that you can be or your team can be. It’s not just about being the best.

It’s about getting the best out of yourself, regardless of the quotients of emotional and intelligence with which you are blessed. It’s about attaining top standards; standards to which others aspire; it’s about inspiring others to follow your shining example.

NMMU's MCR team won the most awards at their annual Excellence Awards conference for higher education

Or to quote Aristotle, it’s about: “What we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit”. In other words, if the will to win, the desire to succeed and the urge to reach your full potential are key – then unlock the door to personal excellence.

That’s what NMMU inspires us to do – and certainly the team within Marketing and Corporate Relations has personally inspired me to strive for excellence.

What joy then to be named the top institution in higher education and training when it comes to marketing, communication and branding.

The inaugural Severus Cerff Award for Consistent Excellence went to NMMU’s Marketing and Corporate Relations (MCR) Department for winning the most excellence (eight) and merit (nine) awards in 2014. We have bragging rights for a year! (But we won’t be doing that since bragging is not an excellent or responsible thing to do.)

We’ve benchmarked ourselves against other universities and come out on top thanks to our commitment to excellence and professionalism.

We may not have the biggest budget or the largest marketing or communications team, but we possibly have the most creative, hardest-working group of individuals who understand the need to be excellent in what they do – and are excellent in the service they provide in promoting and positioning NMMU.

Well done team MCR!

For the curious, the awards were for following:

Merit

Social media – Micro Blogging for its NMMU4U Twitter handle

Electronic media – Live streaming of graduation 2014

Printed publications (external) – Reasons to be Proud

Integrated campaigns (events) – Graduation 2014

Printed publications (external) – Undergrad guide & Z-card

Social media – Social networks Facebook

Printed publications (internal) – talk@nmmu

Electronic media (Mobile Apps) – My NMMU

Electronic media (Mobi Sites) – NMMU Mobisite



Excellence (above 80%)

Integrated campaigns (branding) – Where dreamers become doers (NMMU’s national branding) campaign

Printed publications (internal) – Student Diary 2014

Advertising (broadcast) – TV and radio see http://ow.ly/EoxeA

Audiovisual (video) – values ambassadors see http://ow.ly/EoxxM

Printed publications (external) – In Touch

Integrated campaigns (student recruitment) – Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship Programme

Integrated campaigns (marketing) – Undergrad Closing Date campaign

Advertising (outdoor advertising) – Billboards: schools, airports

Bianca inspires us to give of ourselves

Guest blogger Ros Baatjies

I’ve never met Bianca-Anne Harper Agherdien. Like the rest of Nelson Mandela Bay who make it their business to keep abreast of what is happening in the region, I knew that she was Miss Port Elizabeth 2010. I also knew that she was a Pharmacy student at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University at the time of winning the title.

She often smiled at me from the photographs of mutual Facebook friends. She also often smiled from the pages of the daily newspaper. And wasn’t that smile just bright and beautiful.

People might ask why there was so much hype about her motor vehicle accident, the appeal to donate blood and her passing last week.

Bianca was the sweetheart of the city.

Goodwill did not end when her reign as Miss PE ended. It went far beyond that. She lived an inspiring life. Trying to live an inspiring life puts the focus on others and that is what she did as a young woman in her twenties.

NMMU alumnus & Miss PE 2010 Bianca Harper Agherdien leaves us an inspiring legacy.

She gave herself away so that God could use her. I am sure that many citizens of the beautiful Bay can share stories of how she touched their lives.

Bob Marley once said: “The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively”.

But let us spare a thought for her husband, Anver, her parents, Denzyl and Patty, and her brother, Charles. Judging by their Facebook appeals for blood donations, they would have done anything for her to survive. Their love for her was obvious in the words of the stories in the newspapers.

She, no doubt, inspired them to do their best and focus on the needs of others rather than their own needs. And the legacy she left is one of giving of yourself until it hurts.

Perhaps your name is not Bianca-Anne and you were never a beauty queen, but you do your bit for the community, the sick, elderly and the disadvantaged. You may not have featured in newspapers, but you feed the homeless every week. People might not know your name; yet you are famous in the area where you serve soup and bread at community clinics.

Keep on doing it, because your greatness is in your ability to affect those around you positively.

I’ve never met Bianca-Anne Harper Agherdien, but her short life has inspired me to be better, do better and do more to make this life better for others. 

VC’s Cultural Evening – feast of the senses

NMMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Derrick Swartz is joined by Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching  and Learning Prof Denise Zinn (left) and Lorraine Lawrence

“If it is true that a nation’s character is defined by the stories it tells about itself to the world, then ours surely could not have found more eloquent and amazingly talented voices than in the stunning performances of Gcina Mhlope, Steve Newton, Mahesh Narotam, and our awesome students. Such a rare feast of all the senses!”

That’s as Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University boss man Prof Derrick Swartz captured the essence of the annual Vice-Chancellor’s Cultural Evening – and we couldn’t have put it better ourselves.

An evening that traditionally celebrates the arts in its many forms, this year told a wonderful story of ourselves – as a hurt, confused, diverse, enthusiastic, talented, vibrant and ever-hopeful people.

That hope, “that hope in our eyes”, was captured in the opening poem by Gcina Hlope, who was every bit the dynamic storyteller as I’d hoped she’d be.

The audience immediately warmed to her, with her easy interaction and ability to pin-point home truths.

And there were more home truths and opportunities to reflect on all that makes us who we are, with the poetry, acting, singing, music and performances that followed.

I particularly like the “potato vendor” student and her humourous monologue on living the values (it’s just her pursuit of excellence in dusting her potatoes that attracts customers not the witch doctor’s muti), along with the sultry sounds of our jazz musicians.

At one stage, the entire well-heeled audience was on its feet dancing to Miriam Makeba’s click song … yes, it’s the kind of event that makes you want to celebrate. And yes, the VC’s Cultural Evening is a highlight for the 150 people in attendance.

This year the event was hosted at the Boardwalk Conference Centre and as plush as it is, there are many who prefer the artistic haunts of the city’s historic heart – the gallery or the athenaeum. Hopefully, with the refurbishment of Eendrag on the university’s Bird Street Campus, we can match the artistic performances with a more suitable backdrop and take this special evening back to Central. But that’s just me …

While this blog is unable to share the auditory benefits of the 5 November event (we are working on this and other additions), here are a few visuals of those who were fortunate to attend.

Melvin Syce and Willeen Syce

Lungsie Mhlantla and Kaya Mhlantla

Naydene de Lange, Willeen Syce and Melvin Syce 

Loshni Govender

David Blignaut, Hilda Israel and Nicole Ho Chong 

Silas Nkanunu, Sonja Tifloen, Mandla Madwara and Mzi Mangcotywa

Michael Barry, Merilyn Barry, Jacqui Lück and Gerhard Lück

Evatt Knoesen, Ilze Olckers and Adv Shauib Rahim 

Yanga Lusasa and Zizipho Matandabuzo