As a leading continuing education provider, Continuing Education at University of Pretoria (CE at UP) still strives to reach the next level of business and academic excellence in 2008. In reaching the halfway barrier of this year, in the midst of climbing rates and inflation, the importance of ongoing skills development and training should not be underemphasised. People energy management, with more emphasis on the development of positive and motivated staff in a healthy environment, generates human energy with the outcomes of precision business and customer service excellence. By stimulating human energy, organisational energy will develop and grow towards complementing and optimising the organisational outputs. Continuing education has become a guaranteed method of enhancing productivity, providing customer service excellence, empowering employees and addressing ongoing skills shortages in various industries. In supporting organisations in their budget constraints, CE at UP “takes the University to the people” when presenting customised in-house training courses to literally any company/organisation on the continent.  By incorporating the strategic vision and goals of a client, practical case studies and content are customised to suit the client’s specific needs.

Deon Herbst, CEO of CE at UP.

“During the past few years, CE at UP has experienced a tremendous growth in presenting in-house training programmes to clients. This we see as a growing facet of our business,” states Deon Herbst, CEO of CE at UP. The entity focuses on applied learning: where the employer can benefit from the application of training in the workplace, sponsored by himself and not only for personal employee development.

CE at UP hosted 31 certificate ceremonies for the year to date at which 1 555 delegates received a University of Pretoria certificate upon the successful completion of the course. The entity trains several delegates from leading companies in the private and public sector, as well as government departments.

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Dr Stephen Mühr, Head of the Department of Modern European Languages at University of Pretoria.

Language training aimed at equipping people to communicate effectively throughout the world has become an essential business tool, not only in South Africa, but across the globe. Continuing Education at University of Pretoria (CE at UP) is meeting the demand with pertinent language courses that will start in July. With 11 official languages, South Africans are increasingly embracing multilingualism and this is evident in the indigenous language courses offered by CE at UP. Courses starting in July will include Siswati, isiXhosa and Sepedi for beginners. These language courses, spanning both the Nguni and the Sotho language groups will equip non-mother tongue speakers to become conversant and will enable them to communicate on both a business and a personal level.

Some of the world’s most widely spoken languages will also be presented. With China as an emerging super power, language courses in Mandarin are becoming extremely popular. More than a billion of the world’s population speak Mandarin and CE at UP launches a course in this mega-language as from 15 July. The world’s second most widely spoken language, Spanish, used by more than 300 million people worldwide will also be presented.

Urdu, spoken by more than 250 million people, particularly in India, is also offered. Close business and cultural ties have been forged between South Africa and India in past couple of years and many parallels can be drawn between these countries with their emerging economies. Arabic (spoken by more than 200 million people) is also on the curriculum with a course starting on 17 July.

According to Dr Stephen Mühr, who heads up the Department of Modern European Languages at the University of Pretoria and also the leader of the continuing education courses in these languages, multilingualism has been written into the university’s strategic plan and presenting courses in Spanish and Portuguese will also serve as a test of whether these languages should be included in the academic offering of the university. Dr Mühr adds that the language courses offered at CE at UP have been tailored specifically with the business communicator in mind, focussing on the four most important language skills: listening, understanding, reading and writing.

Portuguese is particularly important for South Africans who wish to communicate with close neighbours Mozambique and Angola, and further a field in Europe and South America. Moreover, a course in Swahili, the official language in Kenya, Tanzania and the DRC, will equip business people and travellers in Africa to communicate effectively.

English, the third most widely spoken language in the world, has the distinction of also being the language of business across the globe. To this end CE at UP will be presenting English language courses for foreign learners to obtain the Cambridge Proficiency Certificate on basic, intermediate and advanced levels.

Language courses are just some of the offerings of CE at UP. Almost all of the academic disciplines presented at UP also offer continuous education through short courses. This institution also tailor-makes courses for in-house training and can help companies identify their training needs and suggest possible solutions through continuous education.

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The Planning Africa 2008 Conference celebrated its 3rd year in Gauteng at the Sandton Convention Centre in May. While the previous conferences were concerned with the themes of Regenerating Africa through Planning and Making Connections, the Planning Africa 2008 Conference built on the themes and progress of the previous two conferences with the theme Shaping and Future. The conference provided delegates from all over Africa and globally with the opportunity to engage with the contribution, methods and practices of the profession in shaping the future through enhanced collaboration and innovation in a rapidly changing world.

Mr Josiah Lodi, a lecturer in Integrated Development Planning (IDP), a programme that is presented by Continuing Education at University of Pretoria (CE at UP) in collaboration with the University’s Department of Town and Regional Planning, presented two papers at the conference. His paper entitled The quest for social cohesion and planning amidst the forces of modernity and tradition: the story of the Greater Sekhukhune District Municipality, was selected as the overall best paper by a young planner.

From left: Jan Bischoff, (student at the Department
of Town and Regional Planning), Thobi Selemela (BE at UP),
Lauren-Anne Ferreira (lecturer assistant of Department)
and Josiah Lodi at the  Planning Africa 2008 Conference.

The paper begins by highlighting some of the major events and issues that give an indication of the main challenges that young people are facing in the democratic South Africa. These challenges are overtly driven by a phenomenon of underlying, unspoken yet intertwined, competing and at times complementary forces of tradition and modernity: a process that is not confined to South Africa. The paper also paints pictures of stories and perceptions of how the older folk in the traditional communities perceive young people pertaining to their attitude and role/pursuit of traditional practices in the face of increasing modern oriented lifestyles. Along the same vein, the paper also explores how perceptions of social cohesion, desired by the elderly amidst forces of tradition, modernity, lifestyle, education, politics and others, may be under threat in the predominantly rural Greater Sekhukhune District Municipal area. Finally, the paper argues that since planning is concerned about the future, planning and planners need to respond to and concern themselves more with contributing to addressing the challenges faced by young people as they grapple with making sense of their lifestyles in the places they live together with the forces shaping these lifestyles.

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Overview of projects for the first semester Donations from staff members of Continuing Education at University of Pretoria (CE at UP), including stationery and kitchen appliances, were delivered to the People Upliftment Programme (POPUP) on 29 February 2008. This formed part of its first corporate social investment (CSI) project for the year. POPUP received these items with great gratitude and appreciation, which emphasised once again the need for community development and contributions.   CE at UP’s second project was also successfully finalised on 16 May 2008. An amount of R10 000 was donated to the Student Representative Council (SRC) of the University of Pretoria, which would be used to purchase corporate wear for the Council.

From left: Deon Herbst, CEO of CE at UP; Yolande van der Merwe, Chairperson of SRC and Estelle Viviers, Marketing and New Business Development Manager of CE at UP.

It was with great appreciation that CE at UP noted that with this project, it was not simply a matter the SRC receiving funds. It also has an active social responsibility drive for 2008. A new initiative that is included in its projects is the “student-fund-a-student” trust fund. With this account, the SRC takes on the societal obligation of soliciting sponsors, as well as raising funds to provide bursaries to students in their community.
  
The third project for the year involved the donation of vanity hampers for children of the Tsenang Homes of Safety on 23 June 2008. These hampers included necessities such as disposable nappies, baby lotion, powder, shampoo, wet wipes and bath towels. The Tsenang Homes of Safety admit abandoned, abused, traumatised, sick or HIV/AIDS-positive children and place them with families in places of safety. The placement of the children is monitored by the Tsenang Homes of Safety and the foster-care parents are supported with donations and services. The foster-care parents also receive training in nutrition, behavioural problems, statutory requirements, health care and HIV/AIDS management.

With its fourth CSI project for 2008, CE at UP endeavoured to contribute to a warmer winter for the homeless by delivering winter clothes and blankets to POPUP on 23 June 2008. This second contribution to POPUP illustrates CE at UP’s ongoing corporate social investment. As an entity, CE at UP realises the importance of continuing social investment throughout the year and will continue to contribute to its identified projects in the second semester.

Visit http://www.doxadeo.co.za/SMUs/POPUP/index.html for more information about POPUP.

Estelle Viviers (right) with personnel of Tsenang Homes of Safety after the delivery of vanity goods at Tsenang Homes of Safety on 23 June 2008.

Two little ones of Tsenang Homes of Safety.

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According to a report, published by the Department of Education, there has been a marked increase in South Africa’s educational profile. A significant observation is the growth in the demand for high school and higher education institutions, over the medium term. The situation is particularly acute in Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape and Gauteng.

South Africa’s university student numbers are expected to grow from 738 000 in 2005 to 820 000 by 2010, with growth in all disciplines, but particularly in the fields of science and technology and engineering.

R16 billion, made available in the national budget, will provide the resources for a significant improvement in skills throughout South Africa’s education system. Of the R16 billion, higher education will receive R13.3 billion.

Click here to view details on all courses offered on the Education and Training  portfolio. For additional information,  contact CE at UP's Customer Service Centre on +27 (0) 12 420 5015 or visit the Courses section of our website.

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Commercial Contract Research and Consulting Services at UP

Business Enterprises at University of Pretoria (Pty) Ltd (BE at UP), a company wholly owned by the University of Pretoria, provides and facilitates easy access to a multidisciplinary range of commercial contract research and consulting skills at the University.

With access to expertise and competencies from a myriad of specialised entities at the University, the company has a solid seven year track record of meeting and exceeding client expectations in various industries, both on a national and international level.

Whatever sector of industry your company is involved in, BE at UP can offer innovative and cutting edge business solutions that will add true sustainable value.

Visit our website to view our multidisciplinary service offering across various sectors of industry at www.be.up.co.za

Alternatively, please contact: Celia da Silva Marketing Manager Business Enterprises at University of Pretoria (Pty) Ltd Tel: +27 (0) 12 420 4245/7 E-mail: celia.dasilva@up.ac.z

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