Diversity Month at NMMU

About 8% of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s 27 000-plus students come from outside South Africa’s borders or, to be more specific, from 64 countries around the globe.

This makes us one of the most internationalized universities in the country, and certainly a top candidate for celebrating diversity. And that’s what we do every August at NMMU. We celebrate our wonderful differences with an equally diverse selection of events.

Of course, those differences range far beyond our own Rainbow nation collective through to the differences we have across our continent and across the world and goes far beyond colour. It also includes our differences in gender, age, size, culture, religion, ideas …

In fact, respect for diversity is one of NMMU’s six values, and possibly the university’s leading “unsold” selling point.

Ask any NMMU student what makes this university special and there’s a good change they will mention the mix of students and the value that this adds to their lives.

Or to quote Vice-Chancellor’s Scholar Kirsty-Lee Fouche: “I love working with people, meeting new ones and being exposed to others from all walks of life. I think it’s very important to embrace our differences and respect other cultures, beliefs, values and ideas.”

And this month, August, is when we celebrate those differences and appreciate how every individual is unique. Diversity at NMMU is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing these differences.

August allows us to really explore these differences in a safe, positive and nurturing environment.

That’s why there are debates on stereotyping, food tasting sessions, photographic competitions, discussions, music concerts and even Russian language lessons …

It was Martin Luther King who said “we fear each other because we do not know each other”. So take advantage of this opportunity at NMMU or wherever you happen to live or work to put that fear aside and get to know someone of a different culture and colour to you.

Your life will be enriched.

Check out NMMU’s programme on http://ow.ly/zULsB and get involved.

Slipping into slippers ... at work

Putting your feet up at work

There’s something so comforting about slipping into a pair of slippers – down-time, home-time, relaxation, no-fuss, no-bother, no-worry about what we look like, cup of tea, feet-up, couch-time, fire-side comforts …

Not so when we are at work.

We simply don’t associate the comfort of our slippers with the heady, fast-paced world of work, do we?

How liberating then to swop our stilettoes for slippers for a day as part of the annual Reach for a Dream Slipper Day fundraising campaign at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) today, 1 August.

As one of NMMU’s values is Ubuntu, which recognises our compassion for others, we are encouraged to support such initiatives.

And so our department (Marketing and Corporate Relations), bought our R10 stickers to help this fabulous charity organisation top last year’s figure of R2.3m for funds raised and to enjoy the luxury of padded pantoffels in the office for a day.

Slowing the pace with slippers ...

What a small price to pay for the privilege of stepping into down-time, home-time, relaxation etc., a good few hours before official slipper-time begins at the weekend.

How liberating to sit behind a desk wearing my faithful foot servants and then schlep down the passage to put the kettle on for an accompanying cuppa. (Slippers imply a slowing of pace, hence we schlep as oppose to walk). And how gratifying to know that the out-of-kilter comfort experienced today will give youngsters with terminal illnesses the opportunity to experience something special to them …

Of course, it’s all a little easier when your colleagues are cosseted in their slippers too. Brave is the lecturer who steps boldly into a lecture hall wearing his Superman slippers …

Mind you, he or she will be in good company, not just today, but any day for it is not unknown for members of Generation Y (our students) to pop into a shop, visit friends or even casually trawl the malls in their favourite footwear – slippers. (Not to mention pyjamas pants …)

For slippers are no longer the sole preserve of grandmothers … they’ve come out of the closet (literally and figuratively) in recent years as witnessed by the support the annual Slipper Day charity drive receives.

And they’re also no longer “Grannified”, dull affairs … They’re of every colour for every taste, but comfort remains the core.

It was something that Derek “the slipper man” appreciated. According to reports, he wore his faithful footwear for 23 consecutive years … at home and at work, in fact everywhere …

Nah, evenings, weekends and once a year at work is time enough for me and my slippers! And you?

Slipper talk at NMMU - living our value of ubuntu.

Facing your future ... NMMU Careers Fair

NMMU's Graduate & Student Placement team

“If I get a job, I will start working, but if I get a bursary, I will continue studying.”

This was the most popular refrain coming from final-year undergraduate students at this week’s two-day Careers Fair at the Heinz Betz Hall on university’s North Campus.

Whatever comes up first – a job or financial support to study further – will be the route they follow.

More than 2000 students, most of whom are in their final year of studies, visited the annual event (there are separate fairs for Law, Accounting and IT) attended by 42 companies on the first day, and as many again are hoped to attend today’s final session.

So if my powers of deduction are right – it’s all a question of money.

Whatever brings in the mula – a job or a bursary - will take first prize.

NMMU is working hard to grow its postgraduate numbers, and knows that to help the graph continue along its upward trend, it needs to invest money in its honours, masters and doctoral programmes (so watch this space … we hope there’s good news coming!)

In the meantime, let’s step back inside the hall where NMMU students are checking out the future job market.

What do they have to say about going forward (apart from highlighting the crucial role that financial security plays in their lives)?

That:

·         This is a great initiative

·         My interactions with a couple of companies has been good

·         I am hoping to get onto a graduate placement programme

·         There are companies I didn’t even know existed

·         This is just to get a feel of what is on offer (from a op-‘n-wakker first-year)

And what do the company representatives have to say about NMMU students?

That:

·         The response has been good, particularly on the first day

·         The layout of the hall is better for interaction (than UJ)

·         The students have impressed us

·         The opportunity to learn from students is always good

·         There will always be arrogant freeloaders whose only mission is to pick up freebies

·         The organization of the event has been excellent

And what do we – from a marketing and public relations perspective – say of the event?

That:

·         There was a good vibe

·         The students were interacting positively

·         Some students made us very proud (so courteous; clever and interested)

·         Others made us cringe by how little they knew

·         And that some made us angry because of their arrogant and unacceptable behaviour

We also learnt that many of the representatives at the Fair were former NMMU students, thrilled to be back on campus and proud of what their university is achieving.

“It’s been awesome. The interest has been good and we have been treated so well,” says Sibusiso Thungo, of the South African Revenue Service.

“We’ll be back. Your NMMU students – especially those with commerce degrees – who are already with us, are doing so well with us. They’re an asset.”

Now isn’t that good to hear?

Please look out for future programme-specific fairs for Accounting, Law and IT students at NMMU.

See our Facebook page NNMU4U for more photographs from today's fair.

Project Sangena ... it's about relationships

SRC's Rowan Sampson chats to matrics in Mount Ayliff during Project Sangena 

Are there any questions? Does anyone want to know more? Dozens upon dozens of hands shoot into the cold Transkei morning air. The response from the hundreds of learners is overwhelming.

Not so in another school hall far away. The same information is shared but the feedback is subdued – just a brave hand here and there.

The difference?

Age and approach.

A visit to rural Eastern Cape by a dedicated team of Student Representative Council members to share the benefits of studying at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University with prospective students highlights the importance of the messenger and how the message is packaged.

Project Sangena is a perfect case in point.

This marketing initiative empowers young, vibrant committed students from NMMU to share a story of hope with learners from mainly disadvantaged backgrounds.

SRC president Luzuko Ntshongwana shares with learners from Gugwini Junior Secondary School 

The NMMU team – eight SRC members – each speaks isiXhosa, appreciates the challenges of the youngsters and is personally committed to their university.

In short, they understand and relate to their audience. It is something the middle-age woman in the school hall had not been able to do.

During the winter recess, these young university ambassadors visited five districts in former Transkei making contact with hundreds upon hundreds of learners, mainly at exhibitions, during presentations to them about NMMU. (They visited the districts of Comfimvaba, Qumbu and Tsolo, Mount Frere and Mount Ayliff, Lusikisili and Libode and Port St Johns).

“The response was overwhelming. We ran out of application forms and interest cards,” enthuses SRC Sport Officer Siphile Hlwatika.

The smartly-attired team, led by SRC President Luzuko Ntshongwana, was humbled too.

Many of the learners had only basic facilities and yet, amidst the poverty and apathy, gems emerged.

“There was one learner with 90s for maths and science who had no idea how she was going to study further. I am hoping our visit changed that and she will join us,” says Hlwatika.

Project Sangena is sponsored by NMMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Derrick Swartz who appreciates the importance of sharing the university’s message of hope, particularly with those who are marginalized geographically, technologically and by the poverty of their circumstances.

Similarly, NMMU’s small student recruitment team appreciates that it cannot market NMMU alone. Instead, it embraces the willingness of the SRC team to reach new learners and happily trains and empowers them with knowledge of the 450 programmes and other opportunities offered by NMMU.

It’s a joint effort.

Yes, it’s all about relationships.

Well done to Mr Ntshongwana and his team for taking responsibility and flying the Madibaz flag throughout Transkei.

NMMU's SRC with learners from the Lusikisiki District 

SRC Sport Office Siphile Hlwatika interacts with learners during Project Sangena

NMMU's SRC (from left) Gcobisa Magalela, Siviwe Mpinga, Siyamdumisa, Luzuko Ntshongwana and Siphile Hlwatika with Ms N P Koto of the Department of Education

Academic Week - but it's not for boffins

Academic Week is underway at NMMU

When we hear the word academic, many of us go cold or switch off completely as we simply do not identify with what we perceive to be endless reams of knowledge.

We tend to want to leave the word - and the work that goes with it - to the rocket scientists who wear red gowns during graduation.

But since we work and study at a university that word, regardless of where you practice your trade or sit during lectures, is not going to go away. It’s what we do – we teach, learn and research. We are the academy and our job is to produce, share and instill knowledge.

And so enter the university’s Academic Week.

You will be relieved to learn that it’s not aimed at the fellows in their red or even black graduation gowns, but rather at those who are hoping to acquire one of the gowns …

Yes, it’s aimed at our students.

It’s aimed at showing students that getting a degree and even becoming an academic is none too difficult if you go about it properly. (I am surmising, possibly rather naively, that if you have been accepted into a university then you have the academic potential to obtain your diploma or degree – but let’s not get into the discussion on preparedness for university).

You simply need some guidelines on how to get there – and that’s what Academic Week is doing.

It is providing our students with the tools and knowledge to help them start working timeously on their studies and to do so honestly.

Quizzes, time management seminars, online interactions, talks about taking co-responsibility for your learning, exposure to the university’s e-learning and Moodle are all part of the week-long campaign. Students are also being encouraged to recognise those who made a difference in their learning journey. This has been put together by the team at Student Academic Development.

The week is not for the boffins. It’s not for the boffins because the so-called boffins learnt the importance of being organized, managing their time, knowing how to access relevant information quickly and working hard on their studies long before they reached university.

They know, like American statesman and four-star army General Colin Powell, that “there are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure”.

So let’s embrace the word academic and accept that there’s no instant gratification when it comes to studying. You have to put in the hard yards – ask any boffin.

The full programme is included below, but for further assistance contact sarie.snyders@nmmu.ac.za

Integrity - are you living the value?

It’s only a lie if you’re found out.

That’s as I was told many, many years ago by a woman who despaired at the lack of values within the community she served.

“They continue to do wrong until they are found out. There’s no conscience about it being morally bad. For many, it’s only a lie if they are caught.”

Having been raised in a house where right from wrong was inculcated from an early age, this was difficult to get my head around … didn’t everyone know that it was wrong to tell lies, that you were never to take anything that didn’t belong to you and that you never hit other people (though brothers and sisters were fair play).

And you never, never ever tried to copy another person’s work because that was also the same as stealing.

But with age and wisdom (yes, there are some advantages to getting older), I now know that not everyone is blessed with parents or caring others who instill sound values in their offspring. What was commonplace for me is not necessarily the norm elsewhere.

Thankfully, these values – the positive guidelines that underpin all that we do in our everyday lives – can still be learnt and instilled within us.

We’ve seen them in action at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, where we have six values (ubuntu, respect for the natural environment, respect for diversity, excellence, taking responsibility and integrity).

It’s the latter that particularly jumps to mind because our George Campus is “walking the talk” – they are practicing the value of integrity.

Not one of their 1000-odd students writing an even larger number of examinations was caught cheating thanks, in part, to a dedicated academic integrity campaign.

(I am assuming, however, that the good news does not stretch to our main Port Elizabeth campuses because we haven’t been forwarded such information).

The George students all behaved honourably, doing the right thing by resisting any opportunity to cheat.

So well done George students for flying the flag of integrity – and doing the right thing, even when no-one was watching.

Because yes, it’s a lie even when you’re not found out.

Apply to NMMU - now!

You can apply to join Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in 2015 via the following ways:

If you have access to the internet:
You can apply online
You can download an application form
You can send an e-mail to admissions@nmmu.ac.za

If you do not have access to the internet or e-mail, you can phone NMMU’s Contact Centre on 041 504 1111 and ask them to post you the information you need.

But please do it soonest because the university’s initial closing date for applications for next year is 1 August (just nine days away).

So there you have it … the basic facts, the hard-sell up front and not hidden half way down or at the bottom of this blog.

In Journalism 101 you quickly learn to share the most important information at the top of your story because readers have neither the time nor inclination to go looking for the real story. It’s got to be right there in the headline and opening paragraph to lure them in.

Okay, so it’s a little different with a blog which introduces ideas or concepts or news in a different format with the final line intended to have as much clout as the opening paragraph.

Right now, however, the university is at pains to get prospective students to NMMU for next year, to get their applications in by 1 August. (We’ve seen far too many students disappointed because they missed the application deadline).

Apart from having to pay an inflated application fee after this date, it also means your chances of getting into a particular programme are reduced. Numbers for some programmes are capped so it’s important to be an early bird and give yourself the best possible opportunity for studying at the university next year.

At the risk of repeating myself, NMMU received more than 24 000 applications in 2013. Fewer than 6 000 of these applications were accepted to study this year.

So this is another call to action – to gather all the relevant information – and get your application in. Please ensure that your application is complete because a missing document will just move you to the back of the queue again.

You will need the following:

· A certified copy of your ID

· A certified copy of your final Grade 11 report

· Your most recent Grade 12 report (no March results) or if you have already passed the matriculation examination, a certified copy of your matriculation certificate or results as well as certified copies of diploma/degree certificates and academic records for postgraduate applications.

It costs R260 to apply before 1 August. Thereafter, there is only a short window period to apply for undergraduate studies in 2015 and it will cost you R360.

We’re placing reminders in newspapers, on social media, on billboards, calling schools and basically spreading the message. We’d appreciate it if you shared the message too because we’d hate students with the potential to succeed academically to lose out on the opportunity to study at tertiary level.

Please forgive today’s unconventional blog – but sometimes you simply have to say it like it is. So I am saying it like it is - get off your umtarara (the catch-phrase of NMMU’s Beyond the Classroom students) and take responsibility for your future.



Apply now!