CPUT has finger on pulse of infection rate
A WEEK ago the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) was lauded by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Dr Blade Nzimande for its proactiveness in dealing with Covid-19 on its campuses.
As the largest university in the Western Cape, with a staff and student complement of over 40000 staff and students, we have always been focused on the health and safety of our university community.
Considering that the Western Cape is firmly in the grip of a third wave CPUT’s numbers remain relatively low. The institution currently has 13 active cases with only one of that being a residence student.
That particular student has been referred to a Western Cape Health Isolation Centre and is not recovering on campus. We are transparent about our infection rates and they are updated in real time and available on a dashboard on the CPUT website.
We are aware that students at other higher education institutions are agitating for in-person assessments to be scrapped and for online exams to be adopted.
At CPUT, we have not had the same pressures since the majority of learning has migrated online, as has the accompanying assessments. Where necessary, the assessments which require lab work or practicals, are done on a rotational basis so that social distancing is respected. CPUT is also investing in practical solutions to make online assessments more user-friendly while still maintaining the integrity of the course offering.
A dedicated Covid-19 task team meets twice a week and consists of individuals from every department and unit at the institution, from the vice-chancellor’s office to security. This focus has seen CPUT named as a low-risk institution for the potential of spreading the virus because the correct protocols are being implemented.
CPUT is also one of the first universities in the country to have an accredited Vaccination Centre on its campus, which is servicing our own staff and students and also the broader community.
While the Covid-19 outlook may be bleak at the moment, I am confident that our university is doing its bit to bring down infections and put lives first.