By: Dr N Z Nkomo and Dr P K Nziu – 08 April 2024

As part of community engagement, a delegation comprising of nine departmental staff members from the Vaal University of Technology (VUT)’s department of Industrial Engineering, Operations Management and Mechanical Engineering (IEOMME) visited Lekoa Shandu Secondary School on the 28^th of February 2024.

The primary purpose of the visit was to provide mentorship to the science club and assist them with the upcoming science fair competition projects. The club welcomed the VUT delegation to the school and made a formal request for assistance and guidance in preparation for the competitions that are lined up.

Before opening the floor for the delegation to motivate the Club members, Head of Department, Prof Thomas Tengen thanked the science club for the invitation and accepted to participate in their science fair activities. What followed was an opportunity for members of the science club to share their project ideas and ask questions to the experts.

After fruitful preliminary deliberations, it was agreed that the club members prepare individual or group ideas and submit to them their patron who will then send to the department for allocation of mentors to assist with project refinement and development of concepts.

The department’s organising committee of the event comprised of Prof T Tengen, Dr P Nziu, Mr J Sivambu and chaired by Dr N Z Nkomo. The other departmental staff members who participated in the engagement were Dr I Ibrahim, Miss C Sigonde, Mr J Mbatha, Mr D Sozinando and Mr T Matyatya.