FEBE PG Welcome Letter 2026

Dear Postgraduate Student,

Congratulations on your acceptance into the postgraduate programme of your choice within the Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment (FEBE) at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).

My name is Prof. Veruscha Fester, and I serve as the Assistant Dean: Research, Technology Innovation & Partnerships within the Faculty. I am delighted to welcome you to this new chapter of your academic and professional journey.

Our Vision

To be a leading faculty of engineering and the built environment that advances knowledge through science, technology, and innovation for the benefit of society.

Our Mission

To be a self-sustaining, responsive, and relevant faculty—environmentally conscious and renowned for innovation in teaching, research, and technology development—while producing graduates who make meaningful contributions to society.

Your Postgraduate Journey

Our role is to guide and support you in becoming a researcher with a thorough understanding of the systematic and rigorous process of discovery and independent review. By the time you complete your degree, you should have developed essential graduate attributes that will prepare you for leadership in your field.

Graduate Attributes

Knowledge

You will develop:

• A broad, well - informed, and up - to - date understanding of your field.

• Expert, specialized, and in - depth knowledge in your specific area of research.

• Insight into the interconnectedness of your research with related disciplines.

• A strong sense of ethical awareness in research and professional conduct.

• (For doctoral candidates) The ability to make an original contribution to your field of study. Skills

You will gain expertise in:

• Evaluating, selecting, and applying appropriate research approaches, methodologies, and processes.

• Independent reflection and autonomy in conducting research.

• Effective communication of research findings.

• Critical and analytical thinking to solve complex problems.

Programme Duration

• The minimum completion time for a Master’s degree (full - time) is one year.

• The minimum completion time for a Doctoral degree (full - time) is two years

Maximizing Your Experience

Your postgraduate studies will be both challenging and rewarding . Take full advantage of the resources, opportunities, and mentorship available to you. Do not hesitate to seek guidance or assistance when needed. Engage actively in research discussions, challenge yourself, and continually assess your growth against the graduate attributes outlined above.

We look forward to seeing you thrive in this academic journey!

Kind regards / Ozithobileyo / Vriendelike groete

Prof Veruscha Fester

APPENDIX A IMPORTANT DATES and CONTACT DETAILS

Table A1: Faculty Research Ethics (FREC) and Higher Degrees Committee (FHDC) Meeting Dates

Table A2: Important contact details

IT Related CTS

Research Coordinator

Faculty Manager: Mr Niven Cloete, CloeteN@cput.ac.za

Faculty officer (acting): Mr Badroen Cassiem, CassiemB@cput.ac.za; 021- 959 5819

Assistant Faculty Officer: Ms Natally Booysen, booysenn@cput.ac.za; 021 - 959 4433

Chemical Engineering: Ms Tumeka Silo, silot@cput.ac.za; 021 959 6572

Civil Engineering and Geomatics: Ms Wendy Stoffels, stoffelsw@cput.ac.za; 021 953 8729

Clothing and Textile Technology: Mr Ngqamane Madonsela, madonselan@cput.ac.za; 021 - 959 6207

Construction Management and Quantity Surveying: Mr Ngqamane Madonsela, madonselan@cput.ac.za; 021 - 959 6207

Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering: Ms Evette Festus, FestusE@cput.ac.za; 021 959 5852

Industrial and Systems Engineering: Mr Ngqamane Madonsela, madonselan@cput.ac.za; 021 - 959 6207

Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering: Ms Natally Booysen, booysenn@cput.ac.za; 021 - 959 4433

Helpdesk: ctsservicedesk@cput.ac.za

Connectivity and data: ctsservicedesk@cput.ac.za

Password/login: ctsservicedesk@cput.ac.za

Blackboard: ctsservicedesk@cput.ac.za

Departments Chemical Engineering : Prof M Chowdhury ; chowdhurym@cput.ac.za

Civil Engineering and Geomatics : Prof P Kumar ; kumarp@cput.ac.za

Clothing and Textile Technology: Dr L Maduna; madunale@cput.ac.za

Construction Management and Quantity Surveying : Dr D Tshobotlwane; tshobotlwaned@cput.ac.za

Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering : Prof A Raji rajia@cput.ac.za

Industrial and Systems Engineering : Dr L Valentine; valentinel@cput.ac.za

Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering: Prof G Oliver ; oliverg@cput.ac.za

Ethics application forms Research Integrity Unit

F HDC /FREC submissions and Faculty Workshops

1 st year PG Student Support group

Asst. Dean RTIP Office

https://www.cput.ac.za/research - technology - and - innovation/directorate/research_integrity

Ms Elizma Alberts : vanwyke@cput.ac.za

Ms Ndumi Mangqwengqwe : mangqwengqwen@cput.ac.za

Asst. Dean RTIP Office Whatsapp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CjpxIJgC3Ap271G92I1vxc

Anxiety Student Counselling

HDC Digital

Marketing, events and postgraduate recordkeeping

Bursaries

Research and development support matters, including training, editing and software access

https://www.cput.ac.za/students/life/counselling Student - Counselling@cput.ac.za

CPGS Dr Thandazile Mhlongo ; mhlongot@cput.ac.za

CPGS Ms Phaphama Mhlekwa ; MhlekwaP@cput.ac.za

CPGS Ms Mtembukazi Sibindlana; sibindlanam@cput.ac.za

CPGS Mr Selema Molopa ; MolopaS@cput.ac.za

APPENDIX B IMPORTANT INFORMATION

B1: Student login and password (if you are new to CPUT)

After you have successfully registered for the 2024 academic year, you need to login and change your standard issued password. The standard issued 1st year student password is the first 3 letters of your surname (1st letter is a capital letter) and the last 5 digits of your SA Identity Document number OR Passport number [NON-SA citizens only]

Example: John Smith-7902125129088 Password= Smi29088 Your Username or Login name is your Student number (e.g. 210210210). (NOTE!! This password is valid for ONE login and must be changed when you first login on a CPUT lab machine). If you have any challenges with the above, please contact CTS helpdesk: Password/login: ctsservicedesk@cput.ac.za

B2: Accessing your student email

Every student that registers at CPUT is provided access to a CPUT email address. The email address may be accessed via the following link: https://www.cput.ac.za/mycput

The email address provided to all students is set in this format “studentnumber@mycput.ac.za”; for example 21212121@mycput.ac.za.

This is your official email address. All official communication from CPUT and the faculty will be sent only to this email address No personal email addressed will be used for communication. Please check this email address frequently for communications and updates.

B3: HDC Digital: The postgraduate degree management system

The registration of your topic, the approval of ethics and proposals, your quarterly progress reports and your progress on your thesis are all managed on this platform.

You are required to activate your account once, at registration, to allow for the HoDs to see the class and appoint your supervisor. This is the official management system and all progress evaluations for bursary applications and performance against the progression rules are based only on what is submitted on HDC Digital. You can find instructions on how to log in on https://www.cput.ac.za/research-technology-andinnovation/postgraduate/digital

B

4: Accessing your OneDrive cloud storage

OneDrive is a free cloud storage facility available to all CPUT students. This is a very useful tool; it is safe to store all your academic work and is accessible from anywhere as well as from any device that you have logged onto. You can access your OneDrive in the same way that you access your CPUT email (https://www.cput.ac.za/mycput).

Supervisors may also share work with you using OneDrive. That is why it is important to constantly check your CPUT email to determine if any work has been shared with you. Sharing work and files is done by using your student number, making it important to keep an eye on your official CPUT student email.

B5: Obtaining a student card

Student cards will be issued if you have successfully registered for the 2026 academic year. Student cards will only be printed on campus from 1 February 2026. Students will need to bring a copy of their proof of registration in printed form to the relevant office on the Bellville campus.

B6: Multi-modal delivery of the curriculum

The institution’s highest academic structure, i.e. Senate, has approved a multi-modal delivery of the curriculum for AY2025, which includes a combination of remote (online) and on-campus activities. The HODs and your supervisor will inform you of the orientation and commencement of laboratory activities.

Tutorials on Blackboard are provided at https://www.cput.ac.za/services/fundani

(i) Blackboard Student guide.

(ii) How to log into Blackboard orientation video.

(iii) Two videos on how to check announcements and how to submit an assignment

B7. Student services online (SOS)

Please be informed that the Student Online Services (SOS) system gives you access to all your student data, progress marks, registration and financial information, at any time and from anywhere. Please use this facility to update your personal information. You can access this service on the CPUT website at: https://www.cput.ac.za/students/about/sos. Update any changes to personal information and contact details when it changes.

B8. Residence access

If you have been accepted into a CPUT residence for 2026, then you can engage the residence department for access in time for the commencement of classes.

B9. Health and Safety

We want to assure you that the safety of our staff and students is very important. Please note that you will need to attend a health and safety training session before you can access any laboratory. Your department will inform you of safety training. It is important that you adhere to all the safety regulations related to your work to keep yourself and those sharing a laboratory with you. If anything happens to you and there is no record that you attended safety training, or you attended safety training but there is evidence that you did not adhere to it, the University will not be liable.

B10. Quick links to PG Resource website links

You can find some links to websites with important information on the FEBE Research page: https://www.cput.ac.za/academic/faculties/engineering/research/resources-for-postgraduate-students