Community Interaction « Informasietegnologie

Community Interaction

New online platform for SU Social Impact

Monday, June 4th, 2018

Would you like to get involved in Social Impact opportunities at Stellenbosch University, or simply see what existing initiatives are underway?

The Social Impact platform showcases existing initiatives and helps identify new collaboration opportunities for those who want to get involved.

It is a means to support and enhance the work of staff and in a meaningful way also serves as a social learning space to inspire and model good practice for social impact within the SU.

The platform has various search filters, a news archive and also visually illustrates the number of initiatives in different faculties. Staff members can indicate how their work contributes to the university’s seven development themes of education for all; employment and inclusive economic development; environment and sustainability; food security and health; resources and infrastructure; safety, security and good governance; and social and gender justice. These development themes link directly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Staff members are invited to register their initiatives on this platform.

Visit www.sun.ac.za/si for more information.

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IT staff open their pockets for VWS

Thursday, March 12th, 2015

vws Over the past week a relentless wildfire has been tearing through the Jonkershoek Valley in Stellenbosch. At least 3000 hectares of veld has been burnt down and 450 fire fighters battled to keep the fire under control.

During the recent wildfire in the Cape Point area, we’ve seen the circumstances under which these fire fighters work and many of them are VWS (Volunteer Wildfire Services) volunteers. Therefore they are dependent on donations to be able to do their job and need funds to effectively fight fires with helicopters, buy equipment and also basic items like medical supplies, eye drops, food and water.

IT staff wanted to help and started collecting money on Wednesday morning. At the end of the day the total stood at R4450-00 and food supplies were also collected and delivered at MFM. The money collected was paid into VWS’s account via a registered VWS-project at Givengain and will be used as needed by the organisation.

We challenge other SU departments and divisions to do the same. Have a look on the Volunteer Wildfire Services website for more information on how to help and on their Facebook for the latest news on the fire.

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Tune in to Bits & Bytes

Friday, November 7th, 2014

radio2 This September Bits & Bytes celebrated one year on air. Initially Bits & Bytes started out as a newsletter to staff, but over time we realised we have too many interesting things to share, we just can’t keep it to ourselves anymore. But what more could we do?

The answer was obvious. With an audience of 30 000 listeners between the ages of 14 and 28, we knew MFM would be the perfect match. And so Bits & Bytes, the radio version was born. For the past year and a bit we had a weekly slot during the AM-PM-show at 11:45 on Tuesday mornings.

Initially Tian Petersen was the IT voice, but we decided to add some spice and Marc-Allen Johnson joined later.

Bits & Bytes on air isn’t another institutional mouthpiece to promote IT, but became a platform to discuss all kinds of technological developments, gadgets – some weird and some even handy. With each programme we try to combine news relevant to students and staff, as well as interesting developments on the technological front, in an informal style.

We do realise not everyone will be able to listen to the show due to limited access, therefore we have an alternative so you won’t miss out on anything. You can now also listen to the broadcasts online by browsing to WWW.SUN.AC.ZA/BB.

There you will find all 34 broadcasts Tian and Marc-Allen has done. Just click on the mp3 link. These clips are hosted within the SU network and won’t rocket your internet costs – so you can listen with ease. You’ll also find all previous versions of the Bits & Bytes newsletter.

If you do want to listen to the direct broadcast, tune in every second Tuesday at 11:45 on the AM to PM Show on MFM with Eduard and our two resident IT gurus, Tian and Marc-Allen. Click HERE to listen to MFM live.

You’re also welcome to send comments and questions during the show via Twitter and if there’s enough time Tian will address them. Tweet us at @ITStellenUni!

Tags: Bits & Bytes, mfm
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IT takes the cake at Wellness Sport Day

Friday, November 7th, 2014

On 24 October 43 IT staff tackled the 31 degree heat with big bravado for the SU Wellness Sport Day. And it’s a good thing the results were good otherwise there would’ve been a few red faces at the end of the day.

Lack of team spirit and enthusiasm were nowhere to be seen. The sheer volume of cheers emanating from the IT camp was solid proof that IT were no doubt the loudest team. The fact that everyone was wearing bright lime green t-shirts with the philosophical words “Keep calm and call IT”, didn’t make them any less noticeable.

Teams attended each other’s events and loudly announced their support throughout. The effect of team spirit was especially visible during the tug-of-war competition. Few things will encourage a guy as much as his own designated cheerleaders.

Between events energy had to be sustained and boerewors rolls, sodas and chocolate cake did the trick.

For the second year IT managed to enter a team for each Sport Day activity (see the names of participants below) and also won the volleyball, hockey and tug-of-war. We also walked away (with even more bravado) with the overall prize for the day.

“I’m so proud of all the participants and would like to thank all the organisers at IT and also Maureen Kennedy from SU Wellness” – Petro Uys

Mini sokkerspan: Lynton Speelman, Gerrie Jacobs, Philip Greeff, Arrie Martin, Jerome Swart, Lucio Southon, Randall Christians, Andre Adams

Stap: Ciska Marais, Lee-Anne Pharoa, Marita de Koker, Shaamela Martheze

Vlugbal: Marius Bruwer, Mariana Fourie, Elmar Matthee, Camen Petersen, Donelda Petersen, Charnelle Davidse

“Pool noodle” Hokkie: Joe Smit, Cheslon Faroa, Quinton Luiters, Pablo Korkie, Albert Meyer, Mandy Wanza

Raakrugby: Millicent Pieters, Hendrik Adams, Zanfrick Witbooi, Quintus Roos, Johan Loubser, Nico Goosen, Jodi Layman

Netbal (shoot outs): Marie Daniels, Marlé Botha, Petro Uys, Jemaine Wales, Tondani Mooketsi, Anthea Davids

Toutrek: Francois de Koker, Warren Koopman, Johan Brand, Mario Randelhoff, Tommy Abrahams, Kagiso Shakoane

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Students win at tech fest

Thursday, October 24th, 2013

A Tech Fest with a number of prizes, some big discounts and the opportunity to try out the latest technology and to play with it, was held in the Neelsie on Tuesday 22 October.

The Tech Fest is an initiative of the Student Technology Programme (STP), whose objective it is to offer affordable tablets and laptops for purchase to all students of public universities across South Africa.

Students and staff had the opportunity to get some valuable information on the technology on offer via STP and could also try out some of the products.

The Maties Dance Society entertained the crowd over lunchtime and the names of the winners of the October Tech Fest competition were drawn. Watch video here.