VUT CHEMICAL ENGINEERING STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE IFAT AFRICA 2023 UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE PROGRAM
By: Qhawekazi Memani – 10 July 2023
VUT Chemical Engineering Students at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg
On 5 – 7 July 2023, the Vaal University of Technology (VUT)’s Advanced Diploma in Chemical Engineering students participated in the special University Challenge Africa (UCA) program run by IFAT Africa 2023. Hosted at Midrand, Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
The programme provided institutions with a competitive platform to showcase their solutions to environmental concerns, with winners earning recognition and awards. It also gave students and universities the opportunity to network. Moreover, universities were encouraged to display their water, sewage, and waste management research, technologies, and projects as part of the University Challenge.
Participating amongst other universities, VUT had two teams compete, with group 6 finishing fourth (4) and group 7 finishing second (2). Ontiretse Masangane, Zoumanan Meite, Simphiwe Zwane, Asataluli Matamela, Bulanga Djemima, and Thato Motloung are the students who took part in the challenge.
According to Ontiretse Masangane, one of the participants the platform allowed them to engage with enterprises and learn about how far technology has progressed in water purification and waste management, as water scarcity is a global concern. “What was even more fascinating was the information we received that was relevant to our research topics and was extremely beneficial. The highlight was the University Challenge we participated in, and we managed to scoop second and fourth place against Witwatersrand (Wits), University of Johannesburg (UJ), Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), and the University of Pretoria (UP),”he said, adding that “this serves as a warning to other institutions that VUT is rising.”
Professor Sammy Lewis Kiambi, the Head of Department (HoD):Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering said: “The Department is very proud of our students who took part in the IFAT Africa 2023 University Challenge. The students competed against various universities and even students at a higher level of study and came out victorious.
He added: “This reinforces the high quality of education offered by VUT and the Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering (CME) Department. The key to such outstanding performance hinges on the quality of both academic and non-academic staff in the department who are able to support the hardworking and dedicated students; equipping them with the necessary skills to compete in the everchanging world and providing solutions to the many challenges faced by Africa and indeed the world at large.”
The Chemical Engineering Department in collaboration with SOCHES (Society of Chemical Engineering Students) funded the trip.
ABOUT IFAT AFRICA 2023
Please follow this link for more information: https://gallagher.co.za/2023/03/27/ifat-africa-2023/