Associate Professor
Department of Software Engineering
bertram.haskins@mandela.ac.za
041 504 3142
North Campus, R-Block, Room R102b
Biography / Background
Bertram Haskins is an Associate Professor at Nelson Mandela University. He holds a PhD from the former Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and a number of industry qualifications and certifications. Bertram's research focuses on applied machine learning, with the most significant applications in the health, education and security domains. He supervises a number of research-based postgraduate students focused on topics in these domains. As part of his duties, he is the current chairperson of the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Technology's ethics committee. As such, he represents the faculty on the Nelson Mandela University Research Ethics Committee: Human (REC-H).
Qualifications
Academic
2014: PhD Information Technology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
2007: M Tech Information Technology, Central University of Technology, Free State
2004: B Tech Information Technology, Free State Technikon (Cum Laude)
2003: N Dip Information Technology, Free State Technikon (Cum Laude)
Other qualifications/workshops attended
2020:
Cisco Devnet Associate v1.0. Cisco Networking Academy Online Training
Cisco Big Data and Analytics 2.01. Cisco Networking Academy Online Training
2016:
Cisco Introduction to IoT. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
2015:
Thuthuka proposal writing workshop. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Strengthening Postgraduate Supervision Module. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
2011:
Working with qualitative data workshop. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
2010:
Cisco CCNA Security. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
2008:
Health and Safety Representative Course Module 1: The Safety Act. Central University of Technology, Free State
Health and Safety Representative Course Module 2: Risk Assessment. Central University of Technology, Free State
Cisco CCNP 1: Building Scalable Internetworks. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
2006:
Assessment and learning module HOS 512: Assessment. University of the Free State
Assessment and learning module HOS 518: Teaching and Learning. University of the Free State
Cisco IT Essentials 1: PC Hardware and Software. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Cisco IT Essentials 2: Network Operating Systems. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
2005:
Cisco CCNA 3: Switching Basics and Intermediate Routing. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Cisco CCNA 4: WAN Technologies. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
2004:
Cisco Networking Academy regional instructor training. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Cisco CCNA 1: Networking Basics. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Cisco CCNA 2: Routers and Routing Basics. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
2003:
Short course on Outcome-based Education (OBE). Central University of Technology, FS
Awards and achievements
2020
Nelson Mandela University Teaching and Learning Excellence Teacher Team Award
The top innovation award in the category of High Social Impact at the United Nations
Economic Commission for Africa hosted by Zimbabwe for the Ncediso Mobile App. Role within the team: App developer.
2018
Runner-up best paper award, with student Craig Mills, at the 2018 Conference on Information Communication Technology and Society (ICTAS)
2017
Nelson Mandela University Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and IT Excellent Teacher of the Year
Nelson Mandela University Excellent Teacher of the Year.
Cisco Networking Academy Advanced Instructor Award
2015
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and IT Emerging Researcher of the Year.
2012:
South African National Research Foundation Sabbatical Grant
South African National Research Foundation Thuthuka PhD Grant (2012 – 2014)
2004:
Best B Tech Information Technology Student. Central University of Technology, FS
Best Overall B Tech Student in the Faculty of Engineering. Central University of Technology, FS
2003:
Third-year N Dip Information Technology Student Merit Award. Free State Technikon
Professional Activities
Bertram was the programme co-chair for the 2018 South African Institute of Computer Scientists and Information Technologists (SAICSIT) Conference and has served as a guest editor for a special edition of the South African Computer Journal (SACJ). He is also a professional member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).
Teaching Interests
As a fully-connected cyber-citizen, I constantly seek out new ways to incorporate technology into my teaching. Being in a technological field, with a primary focus on teaching programming and project-based subjects, it comes naturally to include technology-driven approaches into my teaching practice. Technological interventions help to streamline my teaching process, serving as struts to bridge the divide between myself and my students. I believe that the correct application of technology has a humanising effect on education. It helps to free me from the constraints of every-day administration and enables me to spend more time on the day-to-day interaction with, and education of, my students. Providing students with the correct tools to further their education requires a holistic approach. This not only includes the provision of subject knowledge but also the instillment of a need to do life-long learning. Therefore, I try to always keep the following statements in mind when dealing with my students: Leave no-one behind, challenge them, be approachable and make it memorable.
Research Interests
Machine learning is seen as a disruptive technology for the broad implications it has to change, improve or augment the status quo in so many fields. Prof Haskins' current research interests are focused on applying machine learning techniques to the fields of health, education and security based on text, image and voice-based data. His current group of postgraduate students include one doctoral and seven masters candidates.