June 2022 EDITION

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LETTER FROM THE VICE CHANCELLOR

Every year in June we dedicate the month to celebrating the youth. Yet, statistics show that our young people are in despair, and unemployment is ever on the increase with less opportunities for our youth to prosper and grow.



STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS

The University of Mpumalanga (UMP) recently hosted Sanlam as part of ongoing stakeholder engagements the institution has with its partners. Held at the Mbombela campus, the event was aimed at enhancing and strengthening the partnership between the two parties.



NURTURING FUTURE ENTREPRENEURS

The University of Mpumalanga (UMP) is grooming future entrepreneurs through the Student Entrepreneurs Society, which is based at the Siyabuswa campus. One young aspiring businesswoman is Thandeka Mahlangu, who started a dessert business, Ndeka’s Desserts in 2018, while still in matric.



GERMAN STUDENT EMBRACES STUDYING AT UMP

Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) Master of Science student, Christoph Henger, is an aspiring teacher who is currently studying Bachelor of Development Studies and Organisational Behaviour, and doing part of his research at the University of Mpumalanga (UMP).



UMP SECURES RECORD BREAKING INTERNSHIPS

The University of Mpumalanga (UMP), through its partnerships with external stakeholders and a viable student graduate programme, has made it possible for 189 students to be placed in internships.



EMERGING FRESHWATER POLLUTANTS

National Environment Month is celebrated in June, with government and industry leaders driving the way to raise awareness on environmental issues and challenges. In South Africa, there are three main environmental issues: pollution, lack of energy, and deforestation.



YOUTH MUST BE PRIORITISED

This year marks 46 years since the Soweto uprising, which saw young people take to the streets. On 16 June the country reflects on the massacre of school children during the Soweto Uprising of 1976. Today, almost five decades later, the youth face challenges of unemployment, inequality, and substance abuse, among other things.



ETHICAL LEADERSHIP NEEDED TO RESCUE MPUMALANGA MUNICIPALITIES

OPINION: The AG report 2020/21: Municipal Financial Management has found that about 35% of Mpumalanga municipalities are so broke that they may not have the ability to continue functioning in the near future. University of Mpumalanga, Senior lecturer in Communication studies, Dr Tshepang Molale says an empowered and active citizenry is needed to ensure the restoration of trust and citizen-centric accountable and ethical leadership across Mpumalanga municipalities.



4IR CAN UNLOCK EMPLOYMENT FOR GRADUATES

University of Mpumalanga ICT Lecturer from the School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences and Acting Manager for the UMP-Colab, Dudu Masuku, is confident that the unemployment figures could drop once the youth – especially graduates – start using the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies to create job opportunities for themselves.



ROBUST INTERVENTION REQUIRED TO AID SMALLHOLDER FARMERS

Vigorous agricultural research activities and policies are needed to help smallholder farmers in South Africa, said Head of School of Agriculture, Professor Funso Kutu, during a seminar recently held at the Mbombela campus.



UMP HOSTS COPAL MEETING

Universities South Africa’s Community of Practice for the Teaching and Learning of African Languages (CoPAL) has put together an elaborate plan of action aiming to realise tangible outcomes for 2022. These and more were discussed during a meeting recently held at the University of Mpumalanga’s Mbombela campus.