Thank you for your interest in our BAS programme. Please note that applications are not currently open. Kindly check back later for updates. Alternatively, you can email Mr Basson at jpbasson@mandela.ac.za to be added to our contact list. We will notify you as soon as the BAS application period opens.

A highlight in its annual calendar, Nelson Mandela University kicked off its autumn graduation season with two sessions at its George Campus, in the Western Cape, on Friday (05 April 2024).

Reasons to be Proud #R2bP: The research project of Professor Magda Minguzzi, "Investigation in the Indigenous Architecture in Baviaanskloof", from Nelson Mandela University’s School of Architecture, in collaboration with the First Nations Chiefs of Mandela Bay, and coordinated by Chief Margaret Coetzee, is the only one selected from Southern Africa to be published as part of the International Union of Architects-UIA Guidebook for the 2030 Agenda.

Reasons to be Proud #R2bP: Nelson Mandela University’s doctoral student in Architecture student Kawthar Jeewa was invited to recently present her research at the weeklong “Decolonial Practices” workshop, organised by the School of Architecture of Nantes (ENSA-Nantes) at its Pierrefonds Campus in Mauritius.

Nelson Mandela University’s engagement institute, eNtsa, marked a significant milestone in the Eastern Cape’s automotive component and marine manufacturing industries, with the launch of its new engagement and innovation facility.

Nelson Mandela University's team from Development Studies and the Centre for Community Technologies published their Report "Social Ownership Models in the Energy Transition" on 8 March.

The transition to renewable energy can and must benefit all regardless of their financial status and allow the installation of clean energy systems in homes across SA.

Whether it is Threads or X, Insta or Facebook, TikTok or YouTube, Nelson Mandela University students and graduates are tapping into social media to carve their niche as influencers in a digital world.

Mandela University’s School of the Built Environment and Civil Engineering recently launched the first Airport planning and design module in South Africa.

Attention all thrill-seekers and adventure enthusiasts: Mandela Architecture recently turned up the excitement meter with an electrifying "Amazing Race" activity that had first-year students buzzing with excitement!

Nelson Mandela University is proud to announce the appointment of Mr. Andrew Palfrman as the new Director of the School of Architecture, effective from January 1st, 2024.

Bringing over two decades of experience in academia and professional practice, Mr. Palfrman has been instrumental in shaping architectural education and practice within the institution and beyond. His professional journey spans a rich tapestry of roles and achievements that underscore his commitment to education, innovation, and architectural excellence.

A team from eNtsa in the Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology has designed and built a remote-controlled marine glider to provide a research platform able to gather data to a depth of 200m below the surface.

 

 

The collaboration between the Khoikhoi and San people and Mandela University's School of Architecture, lead by Professor Magda Minguzzi, has been mentioned in articles published in two national Khoikhoi and San newspapers, namely "First Nation News" and "Inheemse Spoor" (Indigenous Track).

East London’s Port Rex Technical High School came to Gqeberha to defend their solar boat race title and returned home with not one but two prizes.

Urban or rural poorer communities should not sit and wait for government assistance but rather should be empowered to build their own homes.

Nelson Mandela University is conferring an Honorary Doctorate in Information Technology on tech expert, Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho, in recognition of her impactful contribution to technology ecosystems and policy development across Africa. 

Reasons to be Proud #R2bP: Three Nelson Mandela University Information Technology students won the Engineering Council of South Africa’s (ECSA) first ICT University Hackerthon, beating UJ, WSU and TUT to the first place.

From selling sweets at high school, to owning a driving school with a fleet of cars, Mandela University student Munei Budeli’s entrepreneurial flair is steering him on the road to success.

Academics at Nelson Mandela University have launched a novel Grade R Cybersafety Project, to create awareness among young children about cyberbullying, inappropriate content and “stranger danger”.

Reasons to be Proud: #R2bP - Nelson Mandela University third-year Architecture students Theo Magwira and Zac Setzkorn won the overall and best presentation prize of the national Ceasarstone student designer competition.

The South African government recently published a revised critical skills list. This register of 142 occupations includes those skills the government considers to be critically needed in the country and fundamental to stimulate economic growth and development.

Reasons to be Proud #R2bP: Nelson Mandela University’s School of Architecture has reason to smile after winning three of the five categories of the City Centre Sustainable Housing Design Competition. The competition was run by the CIB, International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction.

Reasons to be Proud #R2bP: Mandela University students Storm Abbott and Dylan Minnaar received two top national awards at the recent Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) Awards Gala evening.

“The running cost of an electric taxi is 70% lower than a diesel one, so there is incentive to the owner and the driver who will have more money at the end of the day. As diesel prices go up, fares don’t have to go up if the taxis are electric,” said GoMetro Chief Executive Officer, Justin Coetzee at the e-Mobility Summit, hosted at Nelson Mandela University last week.

Reasons to be Proud #R2bP - The research chair for Human Settlements at Nelson Mandela University, Professor Sijekula Mbanga, was honoured with an international award from the United States-based National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) for his outstanding contribution to the international understanding and exchange of global experience in the housing and community development field.

Reasons to be Proud #R2bP: Mandela University’s Lodewikus Vorster, a master’s student in chemistry and researcher at the engineering innovation hub eNtsa, recently won the IOM3 (Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining) Young Persons' Lecture Competition South Africa. He will now represent the country at the worldwide competition final next month.   

Reasons to be Proud R2bP:  Extremely well-trained and rehearsed Chinese teams earned the gold and silver medals with Russian teams taking the next three places after Mandela University’s team of four.

The ceremony formed part of the annual Milde McWilliams Memorial Lecture, hosted by the University’s School of Architecture, with Carin Smuts as the speaker this year.  

Four Mandela University second-year students in Architectural Technology won third place in the York Timbers, national Timber Design competition, designing a Biodiversity Skills Centre to complement the Lapalala Wilderness School in Limpopo,

Award-winning South African architect Carin Smuts is the keynote speaker and laurate of the 2023 Milde McWilliams public memorial lecture on 19 September at Nelson Mandela University.

Mandela University’s eNtsa recently proved their WeldCore® (friction hydro pillar weld) process as a successful repair procedure at the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom.

Madibaz breaststroke exponent Dylan Botha, who is fascinated by the subtle complexities of the stroke, will put his technique to the test at the University Sports South Africa gala this weekend.

The School of Architecture warmly invites you to join us for the esteemed Milde McWilliams Memorial Lecture. Your presence at this event would be an honor.

The School of Architecture warmly invites you to join us for the esteemed Milde McWilliams Memorial Lecture. Your presence at this event would be an honor.

It was an all over celebration for learners, educators and principals, sponsors, and University staff, when STEM (Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics) in ACTION, on Missionvale Campus invited their stakeholders to a recent event, showcasing their activities.

Professor Marshall Sheldon, Chemical Engineer and Executive Dean of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology (EBET) at Nelson Mandela University, is used to the surprise on people’s faces when they realise “Marshall” is a woman.

A trio of Madibaz student-athletes are closing in on their best condition as they prepare to test themselves against their international peers at the World University Games in a fortnight’s time.

National key role-players in South Africa’s electromobility sector will descend on Nelson Mandela University this week, in celebration of 10 years of the uYilo e-Mobility Programme, hosted within the institutional engagement entity, eNtsa.

Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Mandela University’s Professor Noluxolo Gcaza, 32, from the School of ICT has been announced as one of the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans for 2023.

The School of the Built Environment and Civil Engineering invites staff in the school to attend a get together with the board of the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction at Kings Beach Lifesaving Club, Humewood on Tuesday, 27th June 2023 at 18:00. 

The School of the Built Environment and Civil Engineering and International Council for Research and Innovation in Building Construction invites you to the Gender equality in the construction industry. For more information click here

The School of the Built Environment and Civil Engineering and International Council for Research and Innovation in Building Construction invites you to the launch of the CIB NMU Student Chapter. Click here for more information. 

In a major boost for automotive industry research, innovation and development, Nelson Mandela University this week launched a new AIDC-EC Chair in Automotive Engineering.

Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Nelson Mandela University PhD in Architecture student Kawthar Jeewa has been selected as one of 50 participants at the first Biennale College Architettura (BCA) 2023 in Venice, Italy.

If you want to know the future, look at the past, is an age-old phrase which according to Nelson Mandela University (NMU) researchers has never been more relevant for Gqeberha after maritime decisionmakers descended on Gqeberha recently for the African Maritime Leadership Conference.

“Time is not on our side. Our learners urgently need access to online education and all the incredible e-resources that should be rolled out to every single school in the country", says Professor Darelle van Greunen, Director of the Centre for Community Technologies (CCT) at Nelson Mandela University.  

Mandela University’s engineering engagement institute, eNtsa, has reached an early milestone in the expansion of their facilities to support local companies in manufacturing.

 

Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Architecture graduate Luzuko Funda won the annual national Corobrik Student Architecture Awards, the fourth winner from Mandela University over the past five years keeping the tradition strong.

Fourth win in five years for the Department of Architecture! Luzuko Funda is the 36th recipient of the prestigious national Corobrik Architectural Student of the Year for his treatise presented in 2022. Luzuko marks the fourth win in five years for Nelson Mandela University's Department of Architecture. 

Fourth win in five years for the Department of Architecture! Luzuko Funda is the 36th recipient of the prestigious national Corobrik Architectural Student of the Year for his treatise presented in 2022. Luzuko marks the fourth win in five years for Nelson Mandela University's Department of Architecture. 

In May 2023, Nelson Mandela University’s internationally renowned engineering innovation hub, eNtsa, turns 21. Its director, Professor Danie Hattingh, had the vision to launch it and to continuously reimagine it.

With South Africans spending an average of 10 hours and 46 minutes daily online, compared to the world average of six hours and 48 minutes according to the latest statistics from Hootsuite, this may well be the case.

Spurred on by a desire to better manage and cope with a debilitating auto-immune disease, Eldridge van der Westhuizen (46) will receive his PhD in Information Technology this month for his thesis on apomediation.

Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Emeritus professor in the School of Information Technology at Nelson Mandela University, Prof Rossouw von Solms, has been ranked by Research.com as the 4^th best scientist in South Africa for 2022 in the field of Computer Science.

Nelson Mandela University (NMU), in collaboration with the Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Merseta), recently held the inaugural NMU Solar Boat Competition, in Gqeberha. 

A team of matric boys from Port Rex Technical High School in East London sailed home with R10,000 in cash and a pirate’s chest of other treasure, during the weekend’s inaugural Nelson Mandela University Solar Boat Competition in Gqeberha on Saturday, 4 March.  

Dr Ngcali Tile’s journey from a rural village childhood to pioneering nanotechnology research has been a challenging one – but his determination to succeed in this cutting-edge field is rooted in an appreciation of life beyond electronics. 

Nelson Mandela University’s School of Engineering recently supported ocean research with airborne drones and a kite borne surveillance system to study marine mammals up close - not possible from the research ship.

A group of women academics with a passion for technology have joined hands to raise awareness about the dangers of being exposed to pornography inappropriately, especially for young children.

Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Mandela University’s Centre for Community Technologies (CCT) has won the @OutSystems Innovation Award for Social Impact with their C-Vive application.

Mandela University’s Mechatronics department - in collaboration with Siemens South Africa - recently assisted two TVET colleges with 20 commissioned stations for the training of educators and students to learn industrial control programming principles.

Nelson Mandela University has appointed Prof Marshall Sheldon as the new Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology from 1 October.

Mandela Uni’s Mechatronics department recently assisted three lecturers from the Takoradi Technical University in Ghana with a train-the-trainer course enabling them to educate the youth in Ghana on cutting edge, real-world, Siemens industrial technology.

Time is not on our side. For every year we do not achieve e-readiness in our schools, our learners fall behind. They don’t have access to online education lessons and all the incredible online resources that can be rolled out to every single school in the country once they are ICT-ready.

Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Distinguished Professor in Information Technology and Director of the Centre for Community Technologies Professor Darelle van Greunen and Economics’ Professor Syden Mishi respectively have both won awards at the prestigious NRF Awards Ceremony.

Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Nelson Mandela University’s uYilo e-Mobility Programme’s Edem Foli has been nominated as a Woman in Transport by Smarter Mobility Africa. This campaign profiles women in South Africa who have made a difference in the transport sector.

 

Nelson Mandela University’s Advanced Mechatronic Training Centre (AMTC) recently sponsored the revamping of a life-size fibre-glass rhino and its trolley for the One Land Love It (OLLI) conservation and education non-profit company.

Nelson Mandela University’s School of Engineering recently supported ocean research with airborne drones and a kite borne surveillance system to study marine mammals up close - not possible from the research ship.

Two Nelson Mandela University graduates intend using their new innovative agriculture skills in the rural Eastern Cape communities where they grew up, to assist with food security in a resourcescarce region.

A delegation from the University of Sussex, which is in South Africa to continue talks around a national programme of collaboration around research, capacity building and joint Masters and PhDs programmes, visited Nelson Mandela University to explore areas of mutual interest.

Developing students and building research opportunities for staff and students are the result of a successful Erasmus Plus project that Nelson Mandela University’s Marine Engineering Department has been involved in together with five other higher education institutions.

eSchools are the future – but what’s needed for tech-readiness in government schools is lacking in most provinces. A Nelson Mandela University academic and her team are tackling the problem head-on.

Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Seven local Nelson Mandela University students have been awarded the opportunity to attend the Technische Universitat Braunschweig (TU Braunschweig) International Summer School for German Language and Culture.

Cybersecurity researcher Professor Kerry-Lynn Thomson in the School of ICT at Mandela University, shared groundbreaking findings at her inaugural lecture Cybersecurity – Reducing the Attack Surface, held at the University last year.

Being diagnosed with cancer or the Big C, as it is referred to, often feels as if the rug is pulled from under you. But taking the prevalence of cancer into account, NTT Data’s mobile application, C-Vive, can help to increase the awareness of cancer, even before a diagnosis.

The Marine Robotics Unit has designed a prototype surface autonomous vessel that is currently being tested for operational conditions.

Kahl Kritzinger is the first Mechatronics graduate to also obtain an MSc in Computer Science at Nelson Mandela University, and cum laude to boot!

After escaping captivity and fleeing a village in the Democratic Republic of Congo, walking 6000km to South Africa and starting school at the age of 10 - Popina Khumanda graduated with a Diploma in IT at Nelson Mandela University’s Autumn Graduation. 

Nelson Mandela University advanced engineering design group students have developed an early-detection device to help with the prevention of unnecessary blood loss during surgeries and other medical procedures.

A total of 25 students will be the first graduates to be awarded the Higher Certificate in Renewable Energy at Nelson Mandela University’s Autumn Graduation. Another 40 students have registered for 2022.

 

Software Engineer at Property24 Cape Town Okuhle Ngada addressed the problem of online misinformation, commonly referred to as ‘fake news’ by using technological approaches, such as machine learning and deep learning technology. 

Under the umbrella of celebrating excellence, Nelson Mandela University recognised its top academic, professional, administrative and service staff in the categories of research, teaching, engagement, creative outputs and institutional support on 23 November.

An extremely successful Construction Management 50th Anniversary Conference was hosted by the Department on 15^th and 16^th November 2021. Titled ‘The Next 50 years’, the conference comprised both a Scientific Day and an Industry Day to cater to a more diverse range of interested parties.

An extremely successful Construction Management 50th Anniversary Conference was hosted by the Department on 15^th and 16^th November 2021. Titled ‘The Next 50 years’, the conference comprised both a Scientific Day and an Industry Day to cater to a more diverse range of interested parties.

Mandela University architecture students took first place in both the 2021 PG Bison’s 1.618 Education Initiative student competition and the Caesarstone Student Designer competition.

Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Two thirds of the finalists in two industry sponsored design competitions are third-year Mandela Uni Architectural Design students who have been selected as finalists in the 2021 PG Bison’s 1,618 Education Initiative student competition and the 2021 Caesarstone Student Designer competition.

The Spirit of Water – Practices of cultural reappropriation: Indigenous heritage sites along the coast of the Eastern Cape-South Africa is title of the book Dr Magda Minguzzi of Nelson Mandela University recently published.

Students and staff in the Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology (EBET) have been playing an incredible role in tackling COVID-19 challenges.

Karl van der Merwe has been a practicing industrial engineer since 1989 who, after a fifteen-year stint in the automotive sector, moved to an academic environment to pursue a career in teaching, research and consulting. Karl holds a doctorate in operations management, which was granted by the NMMU, based on research completed in the field of Lean and Six Sigma operations. 

Gone are the days when hospital staff have to scour through hundreds of documents to find patient files — the Eastern Cape health department has launched an easy-to-use advanced electronic Hospital Management System (HMS).

Four student academic award recipients at the recent virtual annual academic student awards ceremony are top achievers in the world of computers and numbers.

Ann Lourens is an Associate Professor at Nelson Mandela University and Project Leader for Women in Engineering Leadership Association (WELA). Ann obtained undergraduate qualifications in Operations Management followed by an MBA (Cum laude) and DBA. Prior to a career in academia at the former Cape Technikon (Cape Town) and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (Port Elizabeth/Gqeberha), Ann worked in various manufacturing industries in operations-related positions.

Mandela University graduate developing cheaper and more comfortable socket liners for people with prostheses.

The six-month pilot of a webbased solution developed by Nelson Mandela University’s Centre for Community Technologies to track, trace and follow up on tuberculosis patients in Wells Estate has drawn to a close.

Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Professor Lynn Futcher from the School of ICT at Mandela University has been elected onto the executive of the national Institute of Information Technology Professionals of South Africa (IITPSA).

Nelson Mandela University has partnered with the Eastern Cape Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC-EC) towards the provision of relevant industry-aligned degree programmes and other capacity building initiatives aimed at bolstering the manufacturing sector and provincial economy.

Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: The Advanced Engineering Design Group’s (AEDG) engineering students are in an exciting collaborative project with well-known racing team, Scuderia Scribante.

Friday, 23 July saw the official launch of the Agricultural Nutrition Project, which will see a skills transfer from George Campus students to inmates.

With the University having to come up with all kinds of innovative ways to save water in this water crisis, the Botany Department has implemented a closed water distilling system for their research needs, saving an enormous amount of water.   

Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Nelson Mandela University students were the big winners at the recent Corobrik Student Architecture Awards.

In this professorial inaugural lecture* Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Mandela University, Russell Phillips, unpacked the role of renewable energy in de-urbanising post-COVID Africa. 

Dr Magda Minguzzi, senior lecturer at Mandela University’s School of Architecture and researcher at the Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, recently received recognition for her years of research and commitments with the First Nation. 

An Autonomous Solar Boat prototype that was designed in Nelson Mandela Bay will soon have its maiden voyage at sea.

“I am grateful to NSFAS and Nelson Mandela University for this opportunity to have a qualification that no one can take away from me and to Student Counselling for making sure that I kept my sanity” says Nomsa Gida, 35, who graduated with a Diploma in Building, 15 years after she first started at the University.

The first two graduates in BEngTech Marine Engineering graduated at Nelson Mandela University’s Autumn Graduation.

“Quoting our namesake, Nelson Mandela, “It always seems impossible until it is done” was a reality for the MPhil in Information Technology (IT) Governance treatise research that I undertook in 2020” says graduate Constandious Takura Munakandafa.

Amber Meyer was the South African Institute of Industrial Engineering’s Best Final Year NDip student in 2019, yet she never thought she would graduate, twice in a row or cum laude, having had to overcome educational and financial hurdles.

The Dean, Prof Ben van Wyk would like to introduce the first edition of our new annual faculty publication: IDEATE Vol 1!

This edition focuses on the work the faculty is doing in the 'service of society' through our entities. I sincerely hope you enjoy reading about our faculty's innovative work.

The third COVID-19 wave is due to hit the two big Eastern Cape metros of Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City by the end of March/beginning of April. This is sooner than expected and we are confident of the prediction as it is based on a range of local and regional data and on a year of national modelling, from the time that COVID-19 hit South Africa in March 2020.

Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Second year BComm student, Ndivhuwo Malange, has been named winner of the Undergraduate Category in the Nedbank & Old Mutual Budget Speech competition.

Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Second year BComm student, Ndivhuwo Malange, has been named winner of the Undergraduate Category in the Nedbank & Old Mutual Budget Speech competition.

It is often hard to find light in the seemingly endless pandemic. Still, perhaps the single most valuable consequence for higher education during this time is that it has forced us to reimagine ways in which to reach and engage our students, industries and communities, and provided unexpected insights into what is possible when technology is optimally leveraged.

An innovative app allows healthcare workers to remotely create an electronic medical record for a tuberculosis patient, capture patient data and record medication compliance.

Five professors at Nelson Mandela University have received the prestigious title of Distinguished Professor, which entails an elevated status in recognition of their dedication and commitment to their field of expertise.  

It is with great pride that the Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology staff congratulate Prof Darelle van Greunen who has been promoted to Distinguished Professor at the University and had also been awarded an Extraordinary Professorship at NWU's Optentia Research Unit. 

Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: Mechanical Engineering student, Wian van Aswegen from Port Alfred, has designed and created a unique 3D metal printed golf putter.

The School of Architecture would like to wish all students and staff a safe, healthy, and prosperous new year! We would like to also take this opportunity to welcome or our new students to the school! 

“If you consider that in 2050 Africa will have a population of approximately 2.5 billion people, representing a quarter to a third of all humanity, it becomes clear that Africa’s emerging markets are your future.” 

The School of Architecture would like to wish all students and staff a safe, healthy, and prosperous new year! We would like to also take this opportunity to welcome or our new students to the school!