Decorated professor retires from CPUT after 36 years of service
DEPUTY vice-chancellor of teaching and learning at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), Professor Anthony Staak, has retired from the institution after 36 years.
Staak’s academic career spans from the time he was a top learner at South Peninsula High School, to later being awarded both the coveted Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships.
It was this academic prowess that first caught the attention of former Peninsula Technikon rector Professor Brian Figaji, who head-hunted him while Staak was completing the Rhodes scholarship at Oxford.
“I am particularly proud because I actually recruited Staak. I called his mother and then contacted him in England. I told him him, ‘You have a job when you get home’, and many years later this is the result,” said Figaji at a farewell dinner hosted for Staak recently.
Figaji also praised Staak for being selfless in his academic achievements because, despite his earlier undergrad and postgrad qualifications in engineering, he opted to do a master’s in economics to expand his world view.
Staak later made another unconventional career choice when he was awarded the Fulbright scholarship and opted to do a master’s in the then relatively unknown area of technology transfer at MIT.
CPUT vice-chancellor Dr Chris Nhlapo said Staak’s legacy was imprinted into the DNA of CPUT, and his foresight into intellectual property and policy meant the former Peninsula Technikon was ahead of its time.
“Professor Staak understands exactly what we are trying to achieve here at CPUT, which is reviving the dream of being the MIT of Africa, and of course he speaks from experience, having been a student there. Thank you very much, Professor Staak, it is indeed sad to have someone of your stature leaving the team,” he said.
In his farewell speech Staak had the crowd in stitches, recalling how memo pads and typewriters were preferred to the first generation of computers in the 1980s. He also reflected on Peninsula Technikon’s role in the anti-apartheid Struggle of the time.
“We refused to implement the quota system and accepted students from across the country and neighbouring states as well. In fact we battled to keep the police off our campus,” Staak said.
He joined Peninsula Technikon as the head of the electrical engineering department in 1982 and later became the dean in 1998.
He said he was always very proud to be part of the engineering faculty, which spearheaded much of the innovation taking place at the institution, including early internet and unique laboratory-style learning spaces.
“It was also quite unique at the time to have laboratories as classrooms because the norm at the time was office space, classroom space and laboratory space. We did everything in the labs.”
Staak is looking forward to indulging his passion for running and enjoying time with his three grandchildren.
Lauren Kansley is CPUT’s spokesperson.