The project is based on a well-established and long-standing partnership between the two South African universities involving numerous faculties and schools, tapping into their expertise as comprehensive universities with strong links to the entire Sub-Saharan region. Carl von Ossietzky University is an internationally recognized university from the Global North with a long-standing track record in sustainability research, teaching and community engagement.

HEdIS to be established at the Department of Computing Sciences

At NMU, the Hub will be established and run at the Department of Computing Sciences, getting its full academic and infrastructural support. The HEdIS, primarily funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), will explore six major sustainability topics for research-oriented as well as practice-related teaching that have specific regard to the South African context. These include Water Management, Energy Efficiency, Waste Management, Sustainable Mobility, Education on Sustainability and Sustainability Entrepreneurship.

Prof Andrew Leitch (DVC, NMU), Prof Azwinndini Muronga (Dean, NMU), Dr Brenda Scholtz (Head of Dept. CS, NMU), Prof Ulrike Rivett (UCT), Prof Jorge Marx Gómez (Project coordinator, UOL)

NMU Department of Computing Sciences’ head Dr Brenda Scholtz described the project as an excellent opportunity for students and staff at NMU and UCT to collaborate with international and local industry partners and experienced researchers in the fields of ICT and sustainability.

“It will bring together multi-disciplinary experts in order to find solutions for addressing critical issues of education and awareness of sustainability issues (such as the shortage of energy and water) in our community and how ICT can be used to facilitate such solutions,” she said. “The exposure and knowledge gained by our students involved in this project will be immeasurable.”

Focus on development of teaching modules with regard to ICT for sustainability

Within the project runtime, teaching modules for the above-mentioned themes will be developed and each topic supplied with courses and course related offers for the students. In addition to the ultimate extension of existing study programmes at NMU and UCT for students, the project will address vocational training activities for company participants.

A number of activities are lined up and will take place over the project’s four-year timeframe, including workshops, summer schools and overall project management. German and South African researchers, as well as key business partners, will engage participants in some of these planned activities.

ICT students and other participants elected by networked industry partners will be chosen to attend the Summer schools, getting an opportunity to not only improve their competencies in the specific topic, but be afforded exposure to a global network of educators, researchers, innovators, industry experts and academics.

High potential for long-term impact

This exposure will also improve student and participants’ communication skills and enhance their understanding of different cultures. At the end of the summer schools, the students will evaluate the modules according to set criteria. The results of the evaluations will be used to further develop, improve and enhance the ICT for sustainability.

Innovative ways will be used to improve the modules so that they are coherently designed to transform the curriculum and develop graduates as holistic and responsible citizens so as to meet South Africa’s millennium development goals and the goals of the National Development Plan (NDP).

All attendees of the launch event.

The HEdIS is funded by the DAAD for a period of four years, 2017 to 2021, with the help of some German and South African industry partners, which include Stadt Oldenburg, Volkswagen, ThePeakLab, BKB Limited, eWaste Technologies Africa, Rand Merchant Bank Ltd and SYSPRO.