On the 22nd of February 2017, the Vaal University of Technology Southern Gauteng Science and Technology Park (VUT SGSTP) attended the CSIR International Convention Centre for the feedback session for BTech students participating in the Skills for Green Jobs (S4GJ) project.
Growing technology for future energy demands
Mr Robert Malatsi: project manager; Mr Hanyani Makhuvele: btech student in Mechnical engineering; Mr Kabelo Mamadisa: btech student in Mechnical engineering; Mr Tshepo Mahanuke: Reverse Engineering Specialist; Mr Heinrich van der Merwe: Operations Manager; Mr Robert MacPherson: Mechanical Technician; Ms Vhukhudo Matidza: btech student in Mechnical engineering and Ms Tintswalo Mabuza: Mechanical Technician
On the 22nd of February 2017, the Vaal University of Technology Southern Gauteng Science and Technology Park (VUT SGSTP) attended the CSIR International Convention Centre for the feedback session for BTech students participating in the Skills for Green Jobs (S4GJ) project.
This project came about when VUT and VUT Science Park, in collaboration with Pegasus Consulting and Danone SA, worked on a Skills for Green Jobs project to reduce the energy demands of Danone SA’s milk processing plant. In March 2016, a group of identified professionals from VUT and Pegasus went to Germany on an energy saving fact-finding mission. The candidates selected had to identify potential experts to transfer skills and technology to the project and implement or extend training programmes for BTech and MTech students.
The findings gathered on the tour were shared at the feedback session held at the VUT Science Park for staff, public partners and funders on 21 April.
This platform served to make industry, academics and organisations aware of the expertise and skills that the students have gained through their projects. It also served as a platform for the S4GJ team to give progress on the project and afford the S4GJ students the opportunity to present their work and stand a chance to acquire further training in Germany.
Opening and welcome messages were given by Mr Ashley Bhugwandin: Manager of the Technology Localisation Implementation Unit, followed by Mrs Adrie El Mohamadi: Technology Advisor in Organisation Development and Project Leader in S4GJ Project who shared the S4GJ capacity-building background and also gave an explanation of the overall scoring criteria for grading participants.
The VUT SGSTP team: Mr Heinrich van der Merwe: Operations Manager, Mr Tshepo Mahanuke: Reverse Engineering Specialist, Ms Tintswalo Mabuza: Mechanical Technician and Mr Robert MacPherson: Mechanical Technician shared with the audience the future plans for the knowledge acquired through this project and the integration of this knowhow into the VUT Science Park operational function.
The students had the opportunity to present their individual assignments on the components that make up the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system after the VUT SGSTP team had shared their future plans. The three students, who were busy with their BTechs in Mechanical Engineering last year, presented in this order: Mr Kabelo Mamadisa, whose presentation focused on the dual fuel engine in a CHP system and its importance for economic viability, showed exceptional enthusiasm. He was followed by Ms Vhukhudo Matidza, whose presentation focused on the design and modelling of heat exchangers, was described as technically capable and inquisitive. Last, but not least, was Mr Hanyani Makhuvele presenting on waste heat recovery and heat exchange design; he was found to be well prepared and able to analyse complex technical situations.
After their presentations, a mid-morning refreshment was served while final scores were tallied. Students were a bundle of nerves as they awaited the announcement of the “two best students” to travel to Germany in May. To everyone’s surprise all the students who presented were announced winners of the trip because of their hard work and very close scores.
Following the moment of excitement and gratitude, students were awarded participation and recognition certificates.