CPUT launches award for achievers to study further
AFTER Zamavangeli Mdletshe’s academic funding was no longer available, she thought she would have to put her academic plans on hold, but the newly established Vice-Chancellor’s Prestigious Achiever Award is ensuring she’ll reach her goals.
Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) Mechanical Engineering student and doctoral candidate Mdletshe has become the first recipient of the award, which was recently launched at CPUT to give deserving students the chance to excel in their fields.
The award will financially support Mdletshe while she completes her doctoral studies, and she said she feels overwhelmed to have been selected.
“A third degree is something… I never thought I would achieve one. I’m very happy I got the award. It’s motivation for others not to lose focus on what they want and work towards, what they want to achieve. I would like to go into policy-making and regulations in the future,” said Mdletshe.
Her research topic was developing and testing a renewable energy-based thermal desalination system. She was identified by her supervisor, Dr Velaphi Msomi, who encouraged her to do her Master’s and later her doctorate.
Msomi said Mdletshe was shocked when he asked her to consider doing her Master’s, but she got funding from the National Research Fund in 2016 and completed her Master’s in 14 months, graduating cum laude.
“I asked her mother to give her another three years to complete her doctorate degree, and she agreed,” said Msomi.
Vice-chancellor Dr Chris Nhlapo said the purpose of the award was to financially support CPUT students who have achieved excellent results and can contribute to society by furthering their studies.
“This award is a way of ensuring that dean and vice-chancellor medallists remain connected to CPUT and come back to study further with us, later becoming professors,” he said.