September 2021 EDITION


LETTER FROM THE VICE CHANCELLOR

I am certain that South Africa is one of the countries in the world with the richest diversity of both culture and heritage. I am also sure that our university can lay claim to the same. Reading through our stories this month, I am sure you will agree. 



FACULTY OF EDUCATION: ENSURING THE LONGEVITY OF AFRICAN LANGUAGES, CULTURE AND HERITAGE

University of Mpumalanga Dean of Education Faculty, Professor Hilda Israel, says the faculty is making great headway to ensure the longevity of African languages, culture and heritage through its comprehensive teaching and learning methodologies.



UMP’S TFOKOMALA HOTEL DOING ITS BIT TO UNLOCK TOURISM

Born in the midst of COVID-19 and the lockdown in 2020, Tfokomala Hotel and Conference Centre, aims to unlock tourism and alleviate poverty in local communities.



BRINGING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES CLOSER TO STUDENTS

With unemployment at an all-time high globally, the University of Mpumalanga chose the perfect time to hold a virtual Career Expo to equip soon to be graduates with the necessary tools and expose them to relevant information about future jobs requirements, available internship programmes and bursaries.



STUDY FINDS THAT DESPITE ADAPTIVE MEASURES, NATURE TOURISM IS SUFFERING DEVASTATING COVID-19 CONSEQUENCES

A study by University of Mpumalanga Tourism lecturer Dr Julia Giddy and Professor Jayne Rogerson from the University of Johannesburg, which examines enterprise adaption in a nature tourism destination in South Africa that relies greatly on of high-end international tourism, has found that the tourism industry has suffered severely and has battled to survive since the global pandemic. It also found that South Africa’s tourism-dependent areas have been mostly exposed to the negative impacts of COVID-19.



LANGUAGE PLAYS CRITICAL ROLE IN SOCIAL JUSTICE AND DECOLONISATION

University of Mpumalanga lecturer in Cultural and Heritage Studies, Msakha Mona, has a particular penchant for languages. Currently pursuing his PhD research in Education with the focus on social justice in the curriculum through decoloniality, Mona has experience in Curriculum Design, Teaching, Research, and Events Management.



UMP INTRODUCES BACHELOR OF ARTS HONOURS IN SISWATI

From 2022, the University of Mpumalanga will introduce a new postgraduate programme in the Faculty of Economics, Development and Business Science under the school of Social Sciences: a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Siswati. The one year, full time programme requires students to possess 120 credits with an NQF exit level 8 qualification.



WANDILE SHABANGU READY TO LEAD NEW CONVOCATION COMMITTEE

Newly elected president of the Executive Committee of the Convocation, Wandile Shabangu, is ready to resume his duties, which are mainly to facilitate liaison between the university and its former students and academic employees, create networks and canvas support for strategic objectives of the university.



SCHOOL OF COMPUTING AND MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES WELCOMES BACHELOR OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMME

The University of Mpumalanga has introduced a new undergraduate qualification: Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology (BICT), which sets to address the trending needs of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry. Graduates will be empowered with appropriate competencies and knowledge that is deliberately aligned to solving ICT business-related problems.



AGRO-PROCESSING WORKSHOP EXPOSES STUDENTS TO THE LABOUR MARKET

The University of Mpumalanga, in partnership with The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and the Agro-processing Unit in the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development held its first Student Exposure Workshop early in September.