November 2021 EDITION


LETTER FROM THE VICE CHANCELLOR

It gives me great pleasure to present to the UMP Community, the members of the 2021/2022 Student Representative Council (SRC) and Campus Representative Councils (CRCs). This announcement follows the CRC election that was successfully held on 05 November 2021, followed by the SRC Office Bearers' Elective Meeting which took place on Saturday, 20 November 2021.



UMP PARTNERS WITH GERMAN UNIVERSITY TO BOLSTER TOURISM STUDIES

The University of Mpumalanga (UMP) has signed an MoU with the Germany-based Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University Loerrach (DHBW-Loerrach) during a visit by the delegation from DHBW-Loerrach to the UMP Mbombela Campus on 3 November 2021. The areas of collaboration between the two institutions include Student and Staff Exchange, Tourism Management Curriculum Development, Joint Internationalisation Projects on Sustainable Tourism and Joint Virtual Lectures.



UMP KICK-STARTS 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE WITH PRAYER SESSION

As the country and the world hosts different events to commemorate the annual international campaign: 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the Gender Forum of the University of Mpumalanga (UMP) kick-started the awareness month with a candle-lighting prayer session to remember those who have fallen and those that are still captured by Gender–based Violence (GBV).



EXPERT OPINION: WILL PUNISHING PARENTS FOR CHILDREN'S BAD BEHAVIOUR IMPROVE MODELLING?

The Chinese Legislative Body is discussing the possible passing of the Family Education Promotion Law, which, amongst others, suggests punishing parents for their children's bad behaviour, including detaining them in police cells for up to five days. University of Mpumalanga Professor of Education, Sechaba Mahlomaholo, explains this law in the South African context and what it will require for it to work in the country.



STUDENTS HONOURED AT THE CO-CURRICULAR AWARDS

The University of Mpumalanga honoured students at the Co-Curricular Awards ceremony recently held at the Mbombela Campus. The awards aim to recognise and reward students for excellent performance in Co-Curricular activities during an academic year. Entrepreneur and founder of Startup Circles, Mr Sandras Phiri, delivered the keynote address.



CLOSING THE GAP IN AGRICULTURAL TRAINING

Agriculture is a growing industry and is tipped to be a solution for job creation, but according to Statistics South Africa 2021, there’s a high rate of unemployment in this sector, particularly for new graduates.



UMP STUDENT SHINES AT THE EDHE INTERVARSITY FINALS

Her experience as a domestic worker inspired UMP student, Pearl Ngobeni, to start her own cleaning company, Sibambisene Cleaning Service, which she presented at the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) Intervarsity finals under the innovative business idea category.



RESEARCH FINDS THAT RURAL AREAS ARE BATTLING WITH STROKE

A research study by University of Mpumalanga Psychology Lecturer, Dr Rudzani Mhlari has found that lack of knowledge, proper health facilities in rural areas, and religious affiliation played a role in how stroke survivors and their families navigate their decision making pathways. The research also found that living in a rural area in a developing country like South Africa has a serious effect on stroke in that there are no sufficient or appropriate medical resources for dealing with this kind of illness.



FROM NATURE CONVERSATION TO COMPUTER WIZ

When there were no job opportunities after graduating in Nature Conversation, UMP alumnus and Mpumalanga born Bongani Sibuyi turned to his first love: computers. The 24-year-old started fixing computers and today he runs a successful IT company, Relevant Technologies, which has made it to the Top 50 of the SAB Tholoana Foundation Programme.



‘START NURTURING YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS’

University of Mpumalanga (UMP) learners that attended the Student Entrepreneurship Week 2021 (SEW21) were encouraged to start investing in entrepreneurial skills and a positive mindset, both of which will aid them in developing their own businesses should they not be able to secure employment after graduation.