13 March 2001
"Stellenbosch University's unique Engineering School Centre sets out to benefit the greater South African community."
The Minister of Transport, Dullah Omar will officially open of Engineering Centre of the University of Stellenbosch on Friday, 16 March to be held at the Civil Engineering Building in Bosman Street, Stellenbosch at 18h00.
The establishment of a unique Engineering School Centre at the Engineering Faculty of the Stellenbosch University is proof of the University's commitment to apply its capacities, expertise and resources as well as its partnerships with the business community to the benefit of the greater South African community. It is also a combined effort from the University and its partners to increase the interest, proficiency and enrolment of qualified school leavers for further education in the fields of science, engineering and technology.
The development of the facility was made possible by contributions from the SA National Roads Agency, the United States Federal Highway Administration, MTN, Lombardi Trust, the National Department of Transport, the National Research Foundation, the Civil Engineering Industry Training Board and the Faculty of Engineering.
The School Centre is a self-contained unit, consisting of an entrance foyer, TRAC (Transportation and Civil Engineering) laboratory, the MTN SUNSTEP (Stellenbosch University Schools Technology in Electronics Programme) studio, offices, storerooms and cloakrooms.
The laboratory is divided into an electronic classroom with twenty-five networked computers and a data projector, and a computer-based science laboratory with six TRAC PACs. Each TRAC PAC is a self-contained laboratory pack consisting of the apparatus and software needed to carry out 42 structured experiments illustrating how the theoretical principles taught in school are applied in engineering to solve real problems.
The MTN SUNSTEP programme is a joint venture by MTN and the Stellenbosch University to reach out to disadvantaged children and increase their science, electronics and technology awareness. Its activities focus on Grades 7 to 9 learners. Other school programmes include the Steam Cars Project, SPI Micro Chemistry, SAILI (Scientific and Industrial Leadership Initiative), the Engineering Open Day and Engineering Winter School.
These programmes all involve learners in practical hands-on activities and stimulate an interest in and increased awareness of career opportunities in technological fields. The programmes also apply technology to improve the education experience in terms of theoretical proficiency and its relation to the real world.
ISSUED BY:
Mike Mabasa
HEAD: Media Liaison and Corporate Communication
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT
TEL: 083 680 7048
FAX: 083 676 8450
Pretoria