Tshwane University of Technology : Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment

Prof Ben van Wyk ready for challenges ahead	Friday, February 03 2012
Professor Ben van Wyk, the newly appointed Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment says there are many challenges facing the Faculty, and he regards them as opportunities for making a difference.
*TEBOGO TABANE*



3D exhibition showcases students’ work	Thursday, December 01 2011
The Department of Mechanical Engineering opened its second annual exhibition to showcase the project work of Three-dimensional Design students to industry members and other stakeholders in the foyer of Building 21, Pretoria Campus, on 29 November.
*Ntokozo Mahlangu*



University signs an MoU with five Chinese universities	Thursday, November 24 2011
Christmas came early for the University this year; this was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with five universities from Taiwan in the Pretoria Campus Council Chambers on Friday, 11 November. During the event, up to 22 scholarships were also awarded to TUT.
*Ntokozo Mahlangu*



A hi Fambeni is the central exhibition at COP17	Monday, November 21 2011
In Tsonga A hi Fambeni meaning Lets Go! This is precisely what TUT and RETECZA (Resource Driven Technology Centre), based at the Soshanguve Campus, will be doing when they head for the COP17 conference in Durban next month, where the hydrogen bicycle will be showcased and exhibited at the conference. What is even more exciting was an announcement by the Department of Science and Technology at a press briefing in Newtown Johannesburg last week that the hydrogen bike developed by RETECZA and commissioned by Hydrogen South Africa (HYSA), will be the central exhibit at the DST stand at COP17.




Architecture HoD retires after 29 years	Monday, November 21 2011
After 29 years of service, Errol Pieters, Head of the Department of Architecture, will retire from the University in December, leaving behind his “family of 350,” as he fondly refers to the staff and students of the Department. In an interview with e-TUTor, he highlighted some of the many successes of the Department, which he and his team have helped shape into one of the foremost architectural training facilities in the country and beyond its borders
*GERRIT BESTER*



Four F’SATI students receive international qualification	Wednesday, October 26 2011
It was history in the making for the French-South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI) at the University when the Institute awarded its first MSc degrees in Electrical and Electronic Systems accredited by the Conférence des Grandes Ecoles (CGE) at a certificate ceremony held on 12 October 2011. The MSc qualification is conferred by the Ecole Supérieure d'Ingénieurs en Electrotechnique et Electronique (ESIEE) in France.
*Ntokozo Mahlangu*



TUT dominates mini-baja competition	Tuesday, October 25 2011
TUT was crowned the champions of the Sasol Mini-Baja SAE 2011 challenge, which ended at Gerotek, west of Pretoria, on Saturday, 15 October. The two teams from TUT finished first and third overall. The teams, comprising seven students from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, were also first and second respectively in the four-hour-long off-road endurance race, winning by 14 laps. The team from TUKS took second place overall.
*WILLA DE RUYTER*



Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment honours outstanding students	Friday, October 14 2011
On 14 October, the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment hosted its 2011 Colour Awards function to honour students for their outstanding work in 2010.
*Ntokozo Mahlangu*



Green building takes shape	Wednesday, September 14 2011
TUT’s first green building, the new Architectural Wing, situated south of Building 2 at the Pretoria Campus is taking shape rapidly. According to Johan Wheeler from C-PRO Construction, they are currently focusing on the two studio wings to enable the client to take partial occupation early in the new year.
*Zelda Janse Van Rensburg*



Structured master’s gives Building Sciences new momentum	Wednesday, September 14 2011
The Department of Building Sciences in the Faculty of Engineering has taken a huge stride in addressing the current shortage of master’s students by introducing a structured master’s degree, in addition to the master’s research option, in this highly specialized field.
*Zelda Janse van Rensburg*



Architecture students go on excursion to Mpumalanga	Thursday, September 08 2011
Six students from the Department of Architecture recently accompanied Prof Gerald Steyn and Pieter Greyvensteyn, a senior lecturer, on a four-day field trip to the Waterval Boven area in Mpumalanga. The purpose of the excursion was to visit some of the largest and most distinctive of the thousands of circular stone-walled ruins and stone terraces that cover the land from Machadodorp to Polokwane and from Lydenburg to Carolina.
*Nthokozo Mahlangu*



Mechanical engineering students come second in Juckyard competition	Wednesday, July 27 2011
Mechanical engineering students participated in this year’s Cyber Juckyard competition, and came second, beating eight other institutions. The competition took place on 4 to 6 July at Fourways, Johannesburg.
*Ntokozo Mahlangu*



Every beginning has an end	Wednesday, July 27 2011
Vincent Baron, the Scientific Attaché from the French Embassy, is returning to France after the completion of his four-year term in South Africa. At a farewell lunch at Denisburg on 22 July, Vincent said “Even though I only spent four years in South Africa, it was a memorable period which I enjoyed very much. I am sad to leave”.
*Zelda Janse Van Rensburg*



Help is sometimes just a call away	Wednesday, June 29 2011
When the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment needed titanium parts for research purposes, Isaac Tlhabadira, Acting Associate Dean of the Faculty, simply phoned Nick Massyn, Facility Manager at Denel Saab Aerostructures, to enquire if it is possible to assist the Faculty with a donation of such parts. Nick subsequently consulted with his management team and the request was granted on 11 May
*Zelda Janse van Rensburg*



Networking creates opportunities in different ways	Wednesday, June 29 2011
Lerato Tshabalala and Dr Peter Olubambi, a technologist and researcher at the Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, respectively, believe in exposing their students to as many opportunities as possible. On 9 June 2011 a group of students who recently attended a course in Metallography in Johannesburg, visited the LAB Africa Expo at the Coca-Cola Dome in Northgate, Randburg.
*Zelda Janse van Rensburg*



Khotla promotes Botho	Tuesday, June 21 2011
Prof Gerald Steyn, Research Professor at the Department of Architecture, recently invited Setswana-speaking students studying at the Department to contribute to his research on Tswana spatial patterns.
*Zelda Janse van Rensburg*



Prof leads international development of electronic chip technology	Wednesday, June 15 2011
Professor Lukas Snyman from the Laboratory for Innovative Electronic Systems at the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, has taken an international lead in the establishment of a new generation of Photonic Microsystems into CMOS integrated circuitry, that will change the face of credit and other user cards. CMOS is a technology for constructing integrated circuits. Several products are currently under development at TUT’s Innovation Laboratory in association with undergraduate and post graduate students.
*Zelda Janse Van Rensburg*



Student contends for Gauteng Sports Woman of the Year	Monday, June 13 2011
Lejeanne Marais (21), a B Tech: Architecture student and South African Senior Ladies’ figure skating champion, is a finalist for this year’s Gauteng Sports Women of the Year. Lebogang Maile, MEC for the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, will officially announce the nominees at a function to be hosted in Braamfontein, Johannesburg at 18:00 tonight, 8 June.
*Sibusiso Khasa*



And the winner is...	Monday, May 23 2011
“Nothing beats teamwork. On 14 May, this fact was once again proved to be true by staff members and students from the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment,” says Zelda J van Rensburg, Faculty Marketer and Open Day coordinator for the Faculty.
*WILLA DE RUYTER*



A Journey of discovery for learners	Wednesday, May 04 2011
The faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment once again offered maths and science learners from various high schools an opportunity to showcase their science projects during the annual Competition Day held at the Rugby field on 15 April.
*Ntokozo Mahlangu*



Comsol Workshop	Wednesday, May 04 2011
According to Christiaan Hattingh, a simulation engineer at South African company MTC, simulation is the imitation of some real thing, state of affairs, or a process.
*Zelda van Rensburg and Mario Smit*



Department of Architecture awards best performing students	Wednesday, May 04 2011
Students from the Department of Architecture at the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment were rewarded for academic excellence during an award ceremony on Tuesday, 19 April.
*Ntokozo Mahlangu*



Hard work pays off for Civil Engineering students	Thursday, April 14 2011
The faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment awarded their best performing and excelling Civil Engineering students in an award ceremony that took place on 25 March. Students from level one to four were awarded trophies, certificates and merit tokens for hard work and dedication.
*Ntokozo Mahlangu*



Hard work pays off for engineering students	Monday, March 28 2011
Eskom has offered a large number of bursaries to learners of the Tshwane University of Technology, based on their outstanding performance in Electrical Engineering. Sipho Themba, Work Integrated Learning (WILL) coordinator at the Department, played an instrumental role in soliciting the bursaries.
*Zelda Janse Van Rensburg*



Paving the way for increased access to engineering	Monday, March 28 2011
Prof Ben van Wyk, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, and Isaac Tlhabadira, the Faculty’s Associate Dean, met with representatives from Further Education and Training (FET) sector on 14 March to discuss ways on how FET students can get increased access to Universities of Technology in future.
*Zelda Janse Van Rensburg*



Bright sparks get a taste of campus life	Monday, March 28 2011
Engineering education has become of the utmost importance to meet the need for technology innovation in South Africa and the demands of the country’s developing economy.
*Zelda Janse Van Rensburg*



Lecturers taught to get on-line	Monday, March 28 2011
Students and technology have become almost inseparable, and to relate to them in their world, it is important for lecturers to make optimal use of the technology at their disposal. For the past three Fridays, lecturers at the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment had an opportunity to attend a series of workshops to familiarise themselves with the use of the on-line student communication channel, MyTUTor.
*Zelda Janse Van Rensburg*



Deputy Minister suggests improvements to hydrogen bike	Thursday, February 24 2011
Derek Hanekom, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, visited the Soshanguve Campus on Friday, 4 February, to view the A hi Fambeni (Let’s Go) hydrogen bicycle. The bicycle was launched last year in August by Naledi Pandor, Minister of Science and Technology.
*by Sibusiso Khasa*



National engineering bursary programme launched	Thursday, February 24 2011
A national bursary programme to the value of R8 million over three years, was launched at the Soshanguve South Campus yesterday, 21 February. A total of ten students from the Department of Civil Engineering were the first to receive bursaries from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs’ (CoGTA) bursary programme, aimed at training more civil engineers in an effort to combat the current insufficient service delivery in the country.
*Ntokozo Mahlangu*



NRF awards millions to TUT researcher	Thursday, February 24 2011
The National Research Foundation (NRF) recently made the biggest award ever to TUT in support of research within the National Nanotechnology Equipment Programme, when Dr Peter Olubambi from the Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment received R 6 876 000.
*Amanda van Rensburg*



Learning is not a spectator sport – lecturer	Thursday, February 24 2011
Chris van Zyl, a lecturer at the Department of Civil Engineering, does not believe in sharing knowledge in the classroom for students to absorb passively. This week (23 February) he challenged his S1 Applied Mechanics students to build a dragline, not only to encourage team work, but also to for students to experience concepts like the centre of gravity, resultants of forces and moments.
*Zelda Janse van Rensburg*



Engineering welcomes 1 200 first-year students	Monday, January 17 2011
“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end,” a wisdom by a Roman philosopher, rang true for 1 200 first-year students of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment this morning, Monday 17 January 2011. The students, accompanied by their parents, attended the Faculty’s welcoming for first-year students at the Theunis Bester Hall on the Pretoria Campus.
*Zelda Janse van Rensburg*



Industrial design pioneers exhibit their work	Thursday, December 02 2010
The first group of about 45 Industrial Engineering students enrolled at TUT since 2007 presented their inaugural 3D-Design exhibition on Tuesday, 30 November. The purpose of exhibition was to celebrate the completion of the first three year cycle of the course and to introduce the profession to the TUT community and other stakeholders.
*Zelda Janse Van Rensburg*



Prof Mbarawa appointed Minister of Communications, Science and Technology	Monday, November 29 2010
Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Prof Makame Mbarawa, was on Wednesday, 23 November, appointed as the new Minister of Communications, Science and Technology in Tanzania. The appointment was announced by Tanzanian President, Dr Jakaya Kikwete.
*MOATLHODI DILOTSOTLHE*



Architecture expertise travels to Namibia	Friday, November 12 2010
The expertise of TUT’s Department of Architecture is widely recognised beyond South African borders. However, this recognition was taken one step further when the Namibian Polytechnic adopted the complete Architectural course and core syllabus for a new architectural course that kicked-off at the beginning of 2010.
*WILLA DE RUYTER*



Learning while playing Lego League	Friday, November 05 2010
Lego is great fun when it comes to learning! The annual FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Competition, which has grown into a global event since its inception 11 years ago, also recognises the important role that Lego can play in the development of skills; more specifically those skills needed to pursue a career in engineering. According to Johannes de Vries from the French South African Institute of Technology at TUT and national convener of the competition, it also aims at stimulating more interest in Science, Engineering and Technology among learners.
*Zelda van Rensburg and Willa de Ruyter*



Creativity at its best at SAIChE workshop	Friday, October 29 2010
The FNB Auditorium of TUT was filled with creative minds during the South African Institution of Chemical Engineering (SAIChE) Gauteng branch’s annual workshop held on 19 October.
*Zelda Janse Van Rensburg*



Girl-power topples male domination	Friday, October 22 2010
An all-girls team from TUT made it against all odds to be proclaimed the overall winner of the 15th Sasol Baja SAE challenge. The race took place on 15 and 16 October at the Gerotek Testing facilities, just outside Pretoria. The two slightly built engineering students, Katlego Nkoana and Maureen Ramaube, who rode Car No.1 which was richly decorated with ladybirds and aptly called “Lady Bug”, triumphed in a male dominated challenge to obtain position two in the four-hour endurance race. It was the first time in fifteen years of the Baja that the event was won by an all-girls team.
*Pro Motor*



Prestigious scholarship awarded to two from TUT	Thursday, October 14 2010
Two students from TUT, Emmanuel Kalunga (Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment) and Patrick Mukala (Information and Communication Technology), are the beneficiaries of the prestigious Mandela Rhodes Scholarship for the 2011 academic year.
*AMANDA BENEKE*



Let there be light!	Tuesday, September 21 2010
Titus Mhalanga and Phehello Masoang 2nd year 3D Design students received a special award for their creativity and material. They impressed the panel of judges from Eskom who visited the Regional exhibition at the Department of Architecture. Both received R 1000 each for the Design a light efficient and aesthetic table lamp competition presented by Eskom on 18 August.
*Zelda van Rensburg*



Seminar highlights careers in construction	Tuesday, September 21 2010
The Council for the Built Environment (CBE) presented a seminar on Friday, 17 September, to inform learners on possible career opportunities in the built environment. The built environment industry is generally regarded as an engine for growth and wealth creation that can go a long way in making South Africa a winning nation. The seminar formed part of the National Built Environment Week, which celebrates the successes of the industry as well as promoting the exciting future envisaged for the industry.
*Rebone Matlhoko*



No Research no University!	Tuesday, September 14 2010
“Without research we cannot be a university, we would be merely a school at most,” said Professor Lourens van Staden, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching, Learning and Technology, in his welcome speech during the recent the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment’s annual Research Day.
*Phaphama Tshisikhawe*



Water guns demonstrate application of hydraulics	Thursday, September 09 2010
We empower people is TUT’s slogan, and aligned to this, our mission is to help bring the real world into the classroom by providing engineering students with practical hands-on experience through projects similar to those in industry.” This is according to Chris van Zyl, lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, who recently accompanied S3 students to the soccer field to test water guns they designed to demonstrate the practical application of hydraulics.
*Phaphama Tshisikhawe*



Lego League sparks interest in science and technology	Wednesday, September 08 2010
The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment hosted the First Lego League (FLL) season launch at the Pretoria Campus on Saturday, 28 August. Close to 100 learners from as far as Tzaneen and Nelspruit, accompanied by their parents and teachers, attended the launch.
*Rebone Matlhoko*



Journal paper is among top 10 internationally	Wednesday, September 01 2010
A journal paper published by researchers from the Department of Electrical Engineering, under the leadership of Professor Adisa Jimoh, Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering, has been cited by the Institution of Engineering Technology (IET) Inspec and IEEExplore Digital Library as one of the top 10 most accessed articles internationally in June 2010. The article was published on the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s power application in the United Kingdom.
*Phaphama Tshisikhawe*



Architecture students make CaesarStone competition finals	Tuesday, August 24 2010
Anthony Karam and Coen Meintjies, third-year Architecture students at the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, were finalists in the third CaesarStone Design Award Competition.
*Rebone Matlhoko*



TUT wins gold at Sasol	Monday, August 23 2010
TUT won first prize in the category: Universities of Technology, at the 10th Annual SASOL Techno X Science exhibition held in Sasolburg from 15 to 20 August 2010.
*Mario Smit*



Chemical grouting the answer to water leakages	Friday, August 13 2010
Thousands of litres of water are wasted yearly as a result of leakages. Gregory Day, owner of an American-based consulting firm, said chemical grout might be the solution to curb the problem. He was speaking at a seminar hosted by the Department of Civil Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment on Friday, 13 August.
*Rebone Matlhoko*



Engineering staff make a difference for 67 minutes	Monday, July 19 2010
The staff members of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment traded in their overalls and tool kits for gloves and mops in the spirit of the Nelson Mandela Day. The team volunteered their services and 67 minutes of their time to the Pretoria West Hospital on 15 July. Under the leadership of Isaac Tlhabadira, Acting Associate Dean, the engineering staff proved to be versatile in other environments.
*Rebone Matlhoko*



Student secures Fulbright Scholarship	Friday, July 16 2010
Following a number of interviews and written tests, Taile Yvonne Leswifi had it in her bag! The Engineering student secured a Fulbright Scholarship for her doctoral studies at Michigan Technological University (MTU), Houston City.
*Rebone Matlhoko*



F’SATI recognises graduates	Tuesday, July 13 2010
The French South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI), a national asset situated at TUT, awarded MSc certificates to ten successful students. These certificates form part of the dual degree qualification awarded by TUT, Esiee Paris and Esiee Amies. The students completed nine subjects together with a full dissertation as part of the M Tech.
*Rebone Matlhoko*



Users must help protect water resources	Thursday, June 03 2010
“If pollutants are not traded among upstream-downstream users within a catchment, the marginal cost of improving raw water quality through treatment might exceed the marginal benefit of such an improvement for some users,” says Bloodless Dzwairo, a Civil Engineering D Tech student. She presented her research on Modelling raw water quality variability in order to predict cost of water treatment at Building 2 on 27 May.
*Phatisa Ntlonze*



It’s civil to be a civil engineer	Wednesday, May 12 2010
The Department of Civil Engineering is committed to maintain academic excellence,” said Prof Julius Ndambuki, Head of Department of Civil Engineering, during the Department’s inaugural award ceremony held at the Prestige Auditorium recently.
*Phatisa Ntlonze*



Competition grooms tomorrow’s experts	Wednesday, April 21 2010
About 39 winners walked away with different prizes during the annual Engineering and the Built Environment day teazer competition that was recently held at the Pretoria Campus rugby field. A total of 13 high schools with 274 learners and 15 teachers took part in the competition which was divided into ten categories.
*Phatisa Ntlonze*



TUT’s Cyber Junkyard team ready for challenge	Wednesday, April 21 2010
The Department of Megatronics has embarked on a project that will have them on everyone’s lips. To many the existence of this department is not known, but just like the World Cup fever they have arrived and TUT will proudly feel their presence
*Rebone Matlhoko*



School of Architecture honours students	Tuesday, March 30 2010
A total of 54 Architecture students were awarded for their outstanding academic performance at the annual School of Architecture awards ceremony which took place in the Prestige Auditorium on Tuesday, 23 March.
*Phaphama Tshisikhawe*



Prof compares architecture in SA and India	Friday, March 26 2010
“There are many similarities between South Africa and Chandigarh city in India.” This was one of the findings shared by Prof Gerald Steyn during a public lecture entitled Chandigarh – the bigger picture, on 16 March. Prof Steyn visited India to explore the architecture and study buildings designed by the famous architect, Le Corbusier. The purpose of the presentation was to review Le Corbusier’s role and legacy in the development of architecture in India.
*Phatisa Ntlonze*



National Electronics Week a first for SA	Friday, March 26 2010
The Technology Station in Electronics (TSE) exhibited at the National Electronics Week held at the Sandton Convention Centre from 9 to 10 March. The event was considered to be a first for South Africa.
*Zelda van Rensburg/Gerrit Bester*



Farewell to a great man – Professor Otieno	Tuesday, March 23 2010
Staff members, friends and students came in numbers to bid farewell to one of TUT’s supreme leaders, Professor Fred Otieno, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, at a lavish function which took place at Dénisburg, Pretoria Campus, on Friday, 19 March.
*Phaphama Tshisikhawe*



Employability improvement programme launched yesterday	Tuesday, March 09 2010
“Statistics report that the number of unemployed people in South Africa stands at 4.165 million – terrifying indeed,” said Isaac Tlhabadira of the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing, who addressed students of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment attending the launch of the Fourth Employability Improvement Training Project at the Pretoria Campus, yesterday
*Phaphama Tshisikhawe*



Recruitment off with a bang	Tuesday, March 02 2010
Whilst first-year students are still trying to find their feet, recruitment of new students for 2011 is already in full swing. Faculty marketers and TUT's recruitment team are taking part in this year’s Perfect Life SA school's career days which kicked off at the Hatfield Christian School on 3 February.
*Mario Smit*



Postgraduate students honoured for published papers in journals	Tuesday, March 02 2010
“Success through perseverance” – three postgraduate students of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment have proved that hard work never kills anyone – it only makes you prosper. They were honoured at an award function for successfully publishing eleven papers in journals, on Wednesday 24 February.
*Phaphama Tshisikhawe*



Learning made easier for Telecommunications students	Monday, February 01 2010
The Department of Telecommunications recently extended its hand by supplying students on their first day with a complete parcel of necessities needed to master Telecommunications II.
*Phaphama Tshisikhawe*



Fun Day for foundation students	Friday, January 29 2010
The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment extended programme students had a morning of fun, laughter and excitement during a Fun Day which took place at the soccer field on Friday, 29 January 2010.
*Phaphama Tshisikhawe*



Engineering Dean wants all his staff to live Faculty’s vision	Thursday, January 21 2010
The new year’s resolution of the leadership of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment is for every staff member of the Faculty to live its vision. On Monday, 25 January 2010, all academic and support staff will join in a two-day-long workshop, called Pamoja (togetherness), to give effect to the Faculty’s vision of being a leading faculty at the cutting edge of innovation that provides relevant quality-driven professional career education of an international standard.
*GERRIT BESTER*



Jobs galore at job fest	Friday, November 27 2009
It was jobs galore at the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering and the Build Environment’ first ever Job Fest hosted at the Pretoria Campus recently.
*Zelda Janse Van Rensburg*



Students’ lights shine brightly in magazine	Thursday, November 19 2009
Students enrolled for the new Three-Dimensional Design programme offered by the Department of Mechanical Engineering are flying the Department’s flag high. Three of its shining stars are semi-finalists in the House and Leisure Green Designers at Woolworths competition.
*Gerrit Bester*



From cleaner to prosperous businessman	Monday, November 09 2009
From a cleaner to prosperous businessman. This is the story of the 35-year-old Edward Moshole, a former cleaner at Enterprise Food, whose life changed completely through the development of cleaning products by the University’s Technology Station in Chemicals (TSC) at the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Ga-Rankuwa Campus.
*Matlhodi Chauke*



ABSA donates generously to Engineering Stepping Initiative	Friday, November 06 2009
ABSA has reaffirmed its partnership with the University by donating R90 000 towards the Engineering Stepping Initiative run by the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Nelspruit Campus.
*Gerrit Bester*



Architecture students show what they are made of	Thursday, October 22 2009
Franco Enrico, an Architecture student, and his lecturer, Peet Wolmarans, will be jetting off to Israel, home of Caesarstone, after scooping the first prize in the second Caesarstone Design Award competition at a recent event in the Hyatt Hotel in Johannesburg.
*Phaphama Tshisikhawe*



Engineering names its top achievers	Friday, October 16 2009
The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment awarded 38 top National Diploma students and 24 B Tech top achievers at its Academic Colours Awards on Friday, 16 October.
*Andries Maake and Zelda Janse van Rensburg*



Two students receive Mandela Rhodes Scholarships	Friday, October 09 2009
Yannick Kala Konga, a B Tech: Electrical Engineering student, and Comfort Bathabile Ndala, a B Tech: Operations Management student, have been awarded scholarships for 2010 by the Mandela Rhodes Scholarships Programme. They intend to study M Tech: Electrical Engineering and M Tech: Operations Management, respectively.
*Gilbert Mokwatedi*



Yannick, Best Electrical Engineering student in SA	Thursday, October 08 2009
The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment boasts the achievement of Yannick Kala-Konga, a B Tech: Electrical Engineering student, who was named winner of the Eskom Excellence awards, where he competed with students from other universities of technology. He is now referred to as South Africa’s “student guru” in Electrical Engineering/Telecommunications.
*Phaphama Tshisikhawe*



Students strut their machinery in the Junk Yard Challenge	Wednesday, October 07 2009
The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment brought together its students to participate in a Junk Yard Challenge that took place at the Pretoria Campus swimming pool before last term’s recess.
*Andries Maake and Phaphama Tshisikhawe*



ECSA accreditation visit outcome	Monday, September 07 2009
The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment was recently visited by a panel from the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), who also gave feedback on the outcome of their investigations that took place from 1 September to Friday, 4 September 2009.
*Phaphama Tshisikhawe*



FIRST LEGO league to launch	Saturday, August 29 2009
The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment will host the launch of the FIRST LEGO League Robotics Competition 2009 for learners at the Prestige Auditorium, Pretoria Campus, on Saturday, 29 August.
*Phaphama Tshisikhawe*



What is Brazilia’s recipe for academic success	Wednesday, August 05 2009
Academic collaboration and partnerships with higher education institutions across the globe play a vital role in increasing the academic reputation of universities and universities of technology.
*Willa de Ruyter*



Engineering students strut their stuff at WorldSkills Competition	Wednesday, July 01 2009
Four students of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment were among a group of students that represented TUT in the WorldSkills competition held at the Pretoria Campus on 11 and 12 June. Leroy Justin Smith and Wessel du Plessis entered the Mechatronics category, while Buks Coetzee and Bathabile Motsepe represented the institution in the Robotics category. Students from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University also took part in the competition.
*Phaphama Tshisikhawe*



The "revelation machine"	Thursday, June 18 2009
The "revelation machine" is a vehicle designed and built by students at TUT’s Department of Mechanical Engineering. In October last year it did TUT proud when it won the endurance category in the South African national Baja race. It took six months of designing, three months of manufacturing, 18 hours of testing and 4 185 hours of hard work for a wonderful four-hour race.
*Phaphama Tshisikhawe*



Building Sciences visited by accreditation team	Thursday, June 11 2009
The Department of Building Sciences was recently visited by a panel from the South African Council for Quantity Surveying Professionals (SACQSP). They were accompanied by an observer group consisting of members of the South African Construction Management Council, South African Construction Project Management Council, Chartered Institute of Building, and the Association of Schools of Construction of South Africa.
*Phaphama Tshisikhawe*



Future engineers will benefit from donation	Tuesday, May 26 2009
The training of Electrical Engineering students in the field of Process Instrumentation will be taken to a new level with the donation of Siemens LOGO training equipment to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, yesterday, Wednesday, 29 April. In future, students will be trained on the equipment, which is said already to have more than a million installations residentially, commercially and industrially, among others.
*Gerrit Bester*



Week of Bounty	Tuesday, May 26 2009
The Engineering Foundation Unit has partnered TUT's neighbouring communities of Danville and Booysens to participate in the Week of Bounty from Sunday, 24 May to 31 May 2009. This annual initiative encourages people to donate unused goods from their homes and businesses to assist and uplift needy people in this area.
*Phaphama Tshisikhawe*



It’s adapt or die in Germany, says lecturer	Tuesday, May 26 2009
Braam Visser (34), a lecturer at the Department of Electrical Engineering, is the first staff member to participate in the Nuffic capacity building programme. Braam left South Africa on 1 February for the University of Aachen in Germany, where he has already started with his doctorate.
*Zelda van Rensburg*



Once again engineering competition did not disappoint	Wednesday, May 20 2009
Learners from John Vorster Technical High School each took home a Lexmark 3 in 1 printer after being placed first in the Electrical Engineering competition to design and build a microbug that was organised and sponsored by the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment. The prizes were sponsored by Pinnacle Micro-computers.
*Phaphama Tshisikhawe*



Schools to show who’s best in engineering	Friday, May 15 2009
Fifteen schools in Pretoria will once again take on each other in a competition organised and sponsored by the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, to be held on the TUT rugby field, Pretoria Campus, from 08:00 to 12:00 on Friday, 15 May 2009.
*Phaphama Tshisikhawe*



Prof Snyman and students stimulate local electronics industry	Friday, April 24 2009
The Department of Electrical Engineering takes pride in the development of new electronic devices in their new Laboratory for Innovative Electronic Systems. These products can prevent power cuts, tighten security, provide clean water, supplement Eskom power with solar energy, and can do smart sensing and processing by means of optics on chip.
*Phaphama Tshisikhawe*