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Access Programmes FACULTY OF ENGINEERING Engineering into the future! All great achievements have humble beginnings – the sturdy oak tree from an acorn; the mighty river from slender streams high in the mountains. So it is with the new multi-million Rand UNITE Engineering Centre, steadily rising in the former Science car park on the Howard College campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). A dream to address the spatial and learning needs of a rapidly evolving access programme has ignited the passion and commitment necessary to launch this ambitious building project. The venture is also testimony to the power of teamwork. The new UNITE Engineering Centre encapsulates a symphony of synergies involving UNITE, the Faculty of Engineering, UKZN’s Campus Management Division, the University’s Environmental Committee, and the Department of Higher Education and Training. Each entity has played a vital role in unlocking the potential for ‘vision to become reality’. The Centre, with its iconic architectural designs, environmentally-friendly features, and state-of-the-art audiovisual technology, will seamlessly accommodate the much expanded access programme within the restructured engineering curriculum. An enhanced theme of integrating learning with leisure spaces will, apart from ergonomically efficient teaching and tutorial rooms, include a nature observation deck for quiet reflection, yet with full wireless internet connectivity. The main objectives are to dynamically improve teaching and learning experiences with optimal utilisation of technology, as well as creative use of space. In addition, multipurpose rooms will serve to narrow the divide between industry partners, academics, and the community by providing appropriate facilities for seminars, conferences, and outreach activities. It is also intended that the Centre should become a confluence for diverse academic interaction between engineering and the broader University community to foster the skills needed by graduate engineers to operate in civil society and technology-rich environments. This is in line with international best practice and progressive educational trends. The new Centre will allow UNITE to increase its intake from the current 75 students to approximately 150, as well as enable it to service important learning needs within the mainstream. Independent drivein access, sufficient parking spaces and stateof-the-art security measures further complement the appeal of the Centre. A grand opening is envisaged for September 2011. Rudi Kimmie The UNITE Programme The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Intensive Tuition for Engineers (UNITE) Programme is an alternate access initiative linked to the Faculty of Engineering. Established as a partnership between the corporate sector and the former University of Natal more than 20 years ago, UNITE has facilitated the engineering study successes of hundreds of learners from formerly disadvantaged backgrounds by providing intensive tuition in the engineering sciences, comprehensive life skills training, and bursary assistance through its support from South African corporations. Many UNITE alumni have achieved notable career successes and can today be found in prominent positions throughout the engineering sector. These range from executive management positions in major South African corporations to senior academics at tertiary institutions, whilst some have ventured into engineering consulting. For further information about UNITE, kindly contact the Director, Noel Powell, by email at powelln@ukzn.ac.za or by telephone on +27 (0) 260 2662. The new UNITE Engineering Centre begins to take shape on the Howard College campus. 6 UKZN Foundation www.ukzn.ac.za/ukznf
COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES Africa Centre Ms Xolile Kineri (left), an Educator, and Ms Ncengani Mthethwa (right), the Africa Centre’s Community Engagement Officer, at the recording studio in Newlands West. Jiving with Science Jiving with Science is a new public engagement initiative of the Africa Centre for Health and Population Studies. The Africa Centre, a joint project of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) of South Africa, is an international HIV research facility with an HIV testing, treatment and care programme run jointly with the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Department of Health. Funded largely by the Wellcome Trust in the United Kingdom, it is based in northern KZN where the HIV epidemic is one of the most severe in the world with nearly one in two adults aged 35- 40 being infected. Jiving with Science aims to foster community discussion about scientific research and to bring evidence-based HIV health-promoting messages to everyday spaces such as public transportation, leisure areas, and shopping precincts. It involves developing, distributing and evaluating three CDs over two years. Each CD contains a radio-style information interview, interspersed with popular music, targeted HIV health promotion messages, and calls to action. Two of the three CDs are now complete and are being distributed free-of-charge to key stakeholders in the local community, including taxi drivers, shebeen owners and hair salon operators. Taxis are the main mode of transport in the Africa Centre research area, with almost two-thirds of the population (an estimated 50 000 to 60 000) using a taxi on at least a weekly basis. Most taxis have a CD player, although many operators have few CDs to play. Thus, the primary target audience in this initiative are the users of local mini-bus taxis. The project was launched in February at the Mtubatuba Taxi Association. The event was well-attended with close to 200 taxi drivers present. At the launch drivers received two CDs together with an HIV fact sheet, a Jiving with Science t-shirt, and a meal. Once the Africa Centre has received feedback from the drivers on commuter responses to the first two CDs, a third disc will be designed and distributed. The Africa Centre anticipates that these informative CDs will improve public understanding of HIV transmission and prevention strategies. Furthermore, through this project the Centre has engaged new sectors in the community who are now actively participating in its research and efforts to prevent HIV transmission. The project has also enabled the Africa Centre to engage partners in the music industry who, in line with social responsibility agendas, have waived the production rights on select popular music tracks. In exchange the Centre has provided them with an opportunity to advertise and have their music heard in this largely inaccessible rural setting. DJ Tira, who is the owner of the famous Afrotainment studios and is originally from Hlabisa in northern KZN, has taken a special interest in this project. He has donated six Afrotainment songs and also plays the part of the main actor in the dialogue. Another important contributor is Malcolm Nhleko of Maltre Productions, who recorded the CD dialogue at his studio in Newlands West. Other partners in the music industry who have provided the project with songs include Sheer Sound, EMI, Gallo, Abafana Bokuthula and Debrah Gumede. Currently, the Centre is compiling the music for the third CD and is looking for hip songs to include. Adapted from an article originally published in UKZN Online Volume 5 Issue 6. For further information about Jiving with Science or the Africa Centre, kindly contact Astrid Treffry-Goatley by email at atreffrygoatley@africacentre.ac.za or Mduduzi Mahlinza at mmahlinza@africacentre.ac.za. www.ukzn.ac.za/ukznf UKZN Foundation 7
Page 2 and 3: Brief welcome... Dear Friends Welco
Page 4 and 5: Brief Interview UNIVERSITY COUNCIL
Page 8 and 9: Foreign Internship UNIVERSITY OF KW
Page 10 and 11: Recent Awards, Acknowledgements and
Page 12: New Pharmaeconomics Programme FACUL

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