Gratia June 2014

Academic Programmes
American Council in
Education at CUT
On 5 May, a group of seven delegates from American Council on Education (ACE) Fellows paid a
courtesy visit to CUT as part of their countrywide tour as ACE Fellows and the future Higher Education
Leaders. The main purpose of their tour in institutions around the world is to gain experience on matters
pertaining to higher education management and administration. During their visit, they met with several
departments namely; Engineering, Sustainability, Human Resources and the Centre for Rapid Prototyping
and Manufacturing (CPRM) for possible future collaboration.
L-R: Dr Julia Myers Ross-Special Assistant to the Provost for Inter-Institutional Research Initiatives,
Professor and Director -Prof Jeff Ramsdell: Appalachian Energy Center at
Appalachian State University, Prof. Vermaak-CUT Engineering, Dr Cynthia McGowan-Interim Provost and
Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr Charles W. Richardson, Jr.- Marketing Professor at Clark Atlanta
University, Mr Joel L. Frater, Ed.D- Assistant Provost for Diversity at the College at Brockport, State
University of New York, and Dr Makarand (Mark) Hastak- Professor and Head of the Division of Construction
Engineering and Management as well as Professor of Civil Engineering at Purdue University.
DAAD
VISITS CUT
The DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch
Dienst-German Academic Exchange Service) is one of
the world’s largest funding organisation and the most
respected intermediary organisations in the field of
international academic cooperation. The organisation
supports the international exchange of students
and scholars and its activities go far beyond simply
awarding grants and scholarships.
The DAAD representatives visited CUT to provide
them with valued information and advice in supporting
the international exchange of students as well as
establishing common research interests with rising
academics and institutions in Germany.
The DAAD’s programmes have the strategic goal of
supporting outstanding and talented young students
and academics in South Africa as well as encouraging
them to travel to Germany for study and research
visits. Its aim is to qualify young researchers and
professionals with a spirit of tolerance and openness
at the best institutions around the world while
promoting the internationality and appeal of Germany’s
institutions of higher education. With the aid of the
German language, literature and culture, students can
gain a better perspective of the German identity and
the research world. These skills are however not a
necessity for attaining a scholarship. The DAAD sees
the potential of developing countries in establishing
effective universities and common research interests
with rising academics and institutions.
The DAAD’s five strategic goals:
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L-R: Dr M Mostafa -Research Manager & FRC Chair
(Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
- CUT), Ms Kerynn Dahl – Communication Officer
(DAAD),Prof. LOK Lategan – Dean: Research and
Innovation (CUT), Ms P Wittke, Director (DAAD), Dr
M Mhlolo – Research Manager & FRC Chair (Faculty of
Humanities – CUT) and Ms Refiloe Masiba – Academic
Exchange/Study Abroad Coordinator, International
Office (CUT).
There are 15 international regional branch offices
which exist to provide information and advice on
study and research opportunities, as well as available
grants, tailored to students and academics within
their region.
The organisation itself does not offer programs of
study or courses, but awards competitive, meritbased
grants for use toward study and/or research in
Germany at any of the accredited German institutions
of higher education. It also offers a wide range of
funding opportunities for individuals and institutions
in higher education.
In 2011, it funded more than 70,000 German and
international scholars worldwide and more than
112,660 in 2013. The funding offers range from a year
abroad for undergraduates to doctoral programmes,
from internships to visiting lectureships, and fro
• to encourage outstanding young students and academics from abroad to
come to Germany for study and research visits and, if possible, to maintain
contact with them as partners lifelong;
• to qualify young German researchers and professionals at the very best
institutions around the world in a spirit of tolerance and openness;
• to promote the internationality and appeal of Germany’s institutions of
higher education;
• to support German language, literature and cultural studies at foreign
universities;
•to assist developing countries in the southern hemisphere and reforming
countries in the former Eastern Bloc in the establishment of effective higher
education systems.
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