by Mosima Rafapa 

Two final-year Bachelor of Architecture students from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), Damian Ciaglia and Dineo Mogane, have won the national Saint-Gobain Architecture Student Contest and will represent South Africa on the international stage in Nord-Isère, France, from 16 to 18 June 2025.

Two final-year Bachelor of Architecture students, Damian Ciaglia and Dineo Mogane.  

Their project, Re:Light, guided by senior lecturer Petrus Greyvensteyn and colleagues Nadia Lloyd-Lister and Navare Ebersohn, reimagines sustainable design by integrating light, timber and local heritage to create a vibrant community hub. The design includes a new residential area near Les Grands Ateliers and the renovation of an old school building in Chimilin into a multi-use space for local associations and organisations.

This marks the third consecutive year TUT students will represent South Africa at this prestigious competition, which challenges students worldwide to design projects promoting sustainability for both people and the planet.

During the national stage, which took place in April, the brilliant students faced off against competitors from Durban University of Technology and Nelson Mandela University.  

Each year, Saint-Gobain chooses a country that faces an architectural challenge and partners with the local municipality in creating a project to tackle social and cultural issues.

According to Greyvensteyn, the competition brief is divided into two parts, with the first part focusing on renovating the school building to create a multi-purpose space for the community and attract tourists to the area. The second part of the project is in an adjacent village on a university campus.

“The new buildings are envisioned to complement the existing laboratory for construction and include new laboratories, a residence for visiting staff and students, as well as a master plan for a prototype village where the experimental constructions will be tested. The brief stipulated that the architectural language on both sides should share the same conceptual underpinning. Dineo and Damian’s design employed materiality and local culture to achieve this,” said Greyvensteyn.

According to Mogane and Ciaglia, “Re: Light is more than a design — it is a framework for community memory, sustainable growth and cultural continuity. It invites the people of Nord-Isère to see themselves — and their future — in a new light.”  

TUT’s involvement in the competition

TUT first participated in the competition in 2018 and since then, fourth-year students have regarded the Saint-Gobain project as their first and most significant project of the year. 

This year, 13 groups of students from the Architecture Department participated, with the top two advancing to the national competition. Another pair, Marubini Mundalamo and Divine Ngulube, secured third place. 

“At Saint-Gobain Africa, we are committed to investing in young talent across the continent. The Architecture Student Contest offers future professionals hands-on experience through real-world briefs, fostering sustainable thinking and innovation. It not only connects students to a global network of peers and experts but also helps pave the way for them to 'Make it in Africa to Build Africa', equipping them with the tools and confidence to shape a more inclusive, sustainable built environment,” said Samukelisiwe Machi, Saint-Gobain Solutions Academy Manager.

We wish Ciaglia and Mogane every success in the international competition.

HoD of Architecture and Industrial Design department, Dr Tariené Gaum, with students Damian Ciaglia and Dineo Mogane, part-time lecturer Nadia Lloyd-Lister and senior lecturer Petrus Greyvensteyn.

by Lerato Motsisi

The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) constantly looks for opportunities to offer short learning programmes (SLPs) that could have a positive societal impact. It is to this end that the University partners with external organisations, foundations and companies that could contribute to the development and implementation of such programmes. The Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment engaged with the Blueprint SA Group, as well as the Ronnie Mamoepa Foundation in exploring opportunities for collaboration in the development of an SLP focused on stakeholder management and social facilitation.

Departments from the Faculty of Humanities, attending the workshop included Applied Languages, Public Management, Journalism and Integrated Communication and from the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, the Departments of Building Sciences and Geomatics attended. 

This initiative underscores the reality that social facilitation and stakeholder engagement are inherently multidisciplinary fields that demand the focused attention of institutions of higher learning. Universities have a responsibility to equip students with academic knowledge as well as to provide practical, solutions-oriented programmes that address top-priority societal challenges. By training change agents in effective, empathetic community engagement, institutions assist in making it easier for society to understand, accept and embrace transformation. In doing so, they not only ensure the success of these interventions but also affirm their role as drivers of sustainable social change.

In his opening address, Prof Mashupye Maserumule, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, highlighted the critical importance of strategic partnerships in ensuring the relevance of TUT’s academic offerings. He emphasised the key-role of collaboration with external stakeholders in developing programmes that respond to societal needs while preparing future-ready graduates capable of making meaningful contributions to their communities and professions. He said: “The University can be a social facilitator in itself, offering a programme that helps close the gap between business, government institutions and the community.” He described the workshop as a valuable platform for deepening collaboration with partners such as the Blueprint SA Group and the Ronnie Mamoepa Foundation and for positioning TUT as a national leader in impactful, community-centred education.

In conclusion, Prof Maserumule reiterated the workshop’s purpose of fostering an interactive dialogue on ways to support these partnerships and co-create educational solutions that strengthen the relationship between diverse sectors and the communities they serve.

As the first formal engagement between TUT and the Blueprint SA Group, the workshop addressed a proposal to address what was identified as a critical gap in higher education: the need for a programme on stakeholder management and social facilitation. The initiative reflects a growing recognition that effective communication and stakeholder engagement are essential skills in today’s complex social and institutional environments.

Playing a key-role, Groovin Nchabeleng, Chairperson of Blueprint and a member of the Ronnie Mamoepa Foundation, initiated the dialogue. The Foundation has a long-standing relationship with TUT’s Faculty of Humanities, particularly through its memorial lectures and related activities to honour the legacy of the late Ronnie Mamoepa - an influential and astute communicator. 

The Blueprint SA Group, one of South Africa’s largest 100% Black-owned marketing and communication agencies, was central to the success of the workshop, sharing their vision and experience to guide the proposed Short Learning Programme (SLP). Introducing the agency’s background, Nchabeleng, emphasised the company’s strong track record in delivering work that connects local insights with national impact.

Based on Blueprint’s background, expertise, and strategic vision for ways to support TUT in developing and implementing the proposed Short Learning Programme (SLP), Nchabeleng views this collaboration as a unique opportunity for meaningful contribution to education and social development by empowering individuals with the skills to navigate complex stakeholder environments. The agency expressed its commitment to working alongside TUT in co-creating a curriculum that not only bridges academic knowledge and practical experience but also strengthens relationships between institutions and the communities they serve.

“We have done exceedingly well in building a reputation for delivering meaningful work, linking local insights with national impact. Practitioners in marketing and communication continuously face challenges in recruiting graduates who specialise in stakeholder management and social facilitation. Our team is here to share relevant case studies to help deepen understanding of these concepts, and to work with TUT in bridging this gap through the development of a targeted Short Learning Programme,” Nchabeleng said.

During his presentation, he delved into a detailed case study showcasing real-world applications of stakeholder engagement and social facilitation, providing a practical demonstration of how these tools can be used to foster cooperation, address resistance to change and improve project outcomes, thus reinforcing the need for formal academic training in this space.

According to Nchabeleng, Blueprint would like to form a long-term partnership with TUT to co-develop and offer the SLP aimed at building a talent pipeline equipped to meet the growing demand for professionals in stakeholder engagement.

Following the presentation, a robust and interactive discussion ensued, focusing on how higher education institutions like TUT can respond to this educational gap by offering short, practical programmes that equip students and professionals with the necessary skills to engage stakeholders effectively and facilitate meaningful societal change. 

According to representatives from the two TUT Faculties, the engagement and workshop is a step towards positioning TUT as a leader in community-centred education and professional development, with programmes that are both academically rigorous and socially relevant.

Following the success of the inaugural session, a follow-up workshop is scheduled for the end of June, which will map the way forward and begin the process of programme development.

Stakeholders and TUT staff members attending the inaugural workshop to explore opportunities for collaboration in the development of an SLP focused on stakeholder management and social facilitation.

Emerging voices step into the light at the 2025 Rostrum Roulette Festival

The Tshwane University of Technology’s Department of Performing Arts will proudly present the Rostrum Roulette Directing Festival and Applied Theatre from 11 to 14 June 2025. This longstanding tradition shines a spotlight on the bold, creative visions of student directors and will be held on the Arts Campus from 10:00 – 16:00 daily. 

By Mosima Rafapa

A group of female engineering students from the Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) recently toured Eskom’s Kusile Power Station in Mpumalanga. The visit, organised for 75 first-year students pursuing Higher Certificates and Diplomas in Electrical Engineering at the eMalahleni Campus, aims to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application. 

By Reatlegile Ratlagane

Driven by a passion for teaching and learning, Tshwane University of Technology’s Head of Public Sector Finance, Sipho Maluleke, is on a mission to produce industry-ready graduates. His leadership combines academic excellence with a commitment to helping students develop strong interpersonal skills and early exposure to the world of economics and finance.

By Mosima Rafapa

The Tshwane University of Technology’s Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) recently hosted a programme alignment workshop to expand the impact of the Gibela Research Chair in Manufacturing and Skills Development. Located in the Department of Industrial Engineering, the Chair is now set to broaden its reach by integrating additional TUT entities into its collaborative framework.

by Reatlegile Ratlagane

In an important step towards shaping the future of ethical governance and financial leadership, the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), in collaboration with the Southern African Institute of Government Auditors (SAIGA), has officially launched the very first SAIGA student chapter, Re a Thusana, within the Faculty of Economics and Finance on 30 May 2025.

by Phaphama Tshisikhawe

The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) sparked innovation and artistic passion during its celebration of World Intellectual Property (IP) Day 2025 on 29 May. Themed IP and Music: Feel the Beat of IP, the event highlighted the powerful role of intellectual property in nurturing creativity, especially within the music industry.

In a celebration of academic excellence and transformative partnership, the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) hosted a prestigious bursary ceremony, during which Stud Game Breeders® awarded bursaries worth R900 000 to students in the Department of Nature Conservation. The event marked another significant milestone in an enduring relationship that continues to change lives and build a sustainable future for South Africa’s wildlife industry

With people analytics emerging as a vital discipline for modern HR professionals, the niche group The Living Wage, Executive Remuneration, Human Resource (HR) Data Analytics and Human Resource Outcomes hosted an MS Teams webinar titled People Analytics in Human Resource Management Practitioners on 29 May 2025. The session attracted an impressive audience of 123 participants, signalling a growing interest in data-informed human resource practices in South Africa and beyond.

– Echoes of Ubuntu ignites the Breytenbach Theatre

The Tshwane University of Technology’s Breytenbach Theatre will come alive with the powerful sights and sounds of Africa from 18 – 21 June 2025, as it hosts Echoes of Ubuntu: Rhythm of African Unity, a vibrant multidisciplinary stage production that promises to stir hearts and inspire minds through the spirit of Ubuntu. The production is staged by staff and students of the Faculty of Arts and Design’s Department of Performing Arts.

The Department of Management Sciences and Entrepreneurship at the Tshwane University of Technology hosted a successful Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Readiness Workshop for final-year students on 16 May 2025 at the Prestige Auditorium. Organised by lecturer, Landiwe Manana, the event Themed “Navigating the World of Work” (#NWW), aimed at equipping students with essential skills and knowledge required to transition smoothly into the workplace.