TSHWANE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY FACULTY OF SCIENCE MINUTES MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE FACULTY BOARD THURSDAY, 29 November 2007 09:00 - 12:00 Déjà-Vu Tea Garden, 78 Annie Botha Avenue, Riviera
1.	OPENING AND WELCOMING: The Chairperson, Prof PJJG Marais welcomed members to the last Exco meeting of 2007.
2.	ATTENDANCE: A signed attendance list is available. Apologies: J van Vuuren, PJ (Prof) Kotze, P (Mr) Enslin, G (Dr) Smit, M (Mr)
3.	ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PERSONALIA:
3.1	From the Dean: Prof P Marais thanked all the Heads of Department for their cooperation and support during the year. He wished them a very restful holiday.
3.2	From Heads of Department: Nature Conservation: Mr A Botha informed the meeting that the Heritage Park project has been approved by North-West Parks. Biomedical Sciences: Ms G Tiedt reported that Ms H du Plessis has resigned and are immigrating to Canada in 2008. Radiography has received a donation of R13 000. Nursing Science: Dr L Maree informed the meeting that her department has their annual lamp ceremony tonight.
4.	SUPPLEMENTARY AGENDA: (Matters not addressed elsewhere.) Two items were added to the Agenda: Computer Skills (Dr L Maree). Possible Collaborations (Dr T Maja)
5.	APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS EXCO MEETING(S): Decision: That the minutes of the meeting that was held on 8 November 2007 be approved.
6.	MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING(S): (Matters not addressed elsewhere.) None was discussed at the meeting.
7.	STANDING MATTERS:
7.1	Marketing: No matters discussed at the meeting.
7.2	Student Matters:
7.2.1	Application for approval of study field and appointment of study panel (PGS003): Decision: That the application submitted for the following student be approved: Mapeka, TM (Ms) (204114420) – D Tech: Water Care (DTWC99). Study field: Prevalence and implications on non-tuberculous mycobacteria in Limpopo HIV/AIDS hospital water systems and the beneficial effects of medicinal plants against mycobacterial infections Supervisor: Momba, MNB (Prof) (PhD) Co-supervisors: Bartie, C (Dr) (PhD) & Gulumian, M (Prof) (PhD) Note: The final title should be much shorter.
7.2.2	Application for approval of provisional title and confirmation of study panel (PGS007): Decision: That the application submitted for the following student be approved: Singo, M (Mr) (203176589) – M Tech: Environmental Management (Structured) (MTEVS0). Provisional project title: Impact of mining operations on the quality of groundwater within Vantech mine in Mpumalanga Province Supervisor: Okonkwo, JO (Prof) (PhD) Co-supervisor: Mphephu, NF (Dr) (PhD)
7.2.3	Application for approval of an amendment of study panel (PGS007): Decision: That the application submitted for the following student be approved with changes to the title: Mogaila, MA (Mr) (201195969) – M Tech: Pharmaceutical Sciences (Structured) (MTPJS0). Provisional project title: Information sources used by medical doctors, pharmacists and patients to acquire drug-related information Supervisor: Nazer, D (Mr) (B Pharm, MBL)(*) Co-supervisor to be appointed: Olivier, E (Dr) (D Tech) (*) This is a pipe-line student, who has nearly completed his studies.	Addendum D
7.2.4	Application for approval of final project title and appointment of external assessors: Decision 1: That the application submitted for the appointment of external assessors be approved but that the final title be referred back. The Exco suggested that they add the study location or geographical area to the title. Biko’o, AA (Mr) (201137900) – M Tech: Nature Conservation (MTNA95); Final project title: Conservation status of the endemic plant Haworthia koelmaniorum var. mcmurtryi plus study location or geographical area External assessors: Bredenkamp, G (Prof) (PhD) and Westfall, RH (Dr) PhD) Decision 2: That the applications submitted for approval of final title and appointment of external assessors for the following students be approved: Cronje, I (Ms) (97003394) – M Tech: Nature Conservation (MTNA95); Final project title: The management implications of water sources in the Manyeleti Game Reserve, South Africa External assessors: Eckhardt, HD (Dr) (PhD) (Wildlife Management) and Van Rooyen, MWG (Prof) (PhD) (Ecophysiology) Grobbelaar, JAN (Mr) (98115269) – M Tech: Agriculture (MTAP98); Final project title: Egg production potential of four indigenous fowl breeds in South Africa External assessors: Jansen van Rensburg, C (Dr) (PhD) and Scholtz, MM (Dr) (DSc (Agric)) Note: It was mentioned at the Exco that in the title “potential” should be changed to “potentials”. According to the Language Committee, the South African Oxford Dictionary and the Bilingual Dictionary of Bosman, Van der Merwe and Hiemstra it should be “potential”. Mogaila, MA (Mr) (201195969) – M Tech: Pharmaceutical Sciences (Structured) (MTPLS0); Final project title: Information Sources used by medical doctors, pharmacists and patients to acquire drug-related information External assessor: Lubbe, MS (Prof) (PhD) Note: The Exco has made some changes to the final project title. Pretorius, WE, (Mrs) (203091672) – M Tech: Mathematical Technology (Structured) (MTMNST); Final project title: Gyroscopic effects in a thin vibrating circular disk subjected to inertial rotation External assessor: Anguelov, R (Prof) (PhD) Veale, MA (Ms) (97124000) – M Tech: Agriculture (MTAL98) Final project title: Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and evaluation of Solanum tuberosum L. for resistance to Phthorimaea operculella Zeller External assessors: Van den Berg, N (Dr) (PhD) and De Ronde, JA (Dr) (PhD)	Addendum E
7.2.5	Application for approval of final project title: Decision: That the application submitted for the following student be referred back because no confidentiality agreement could be provided. Without an official confidentiality agreement the application can’t be approved. There could also be an ethical problem if research is kept secret. Botha, M (Ms) (95031811) – M Tech: Environmental Health (MTEH95).
7.2.6	Application for approval of an amendment to the final project title: Decision: That the applications submitted for the following students be approved with amendments: Labuschagne, K (Ms) (91070952) – M Tech: Veterinary Technology (MTVE96); Final project title: Survey of Culicoides spp. at the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (Pretoria) Pretorius, OJ (Mr) (89064015) – M Tech: Environmental Management (Structured) (MTEVS0) Final project title: The atmospheric impact of benzene from Sasol Synfuels operations on neighbouring bordering developments
7.2.7	Approval of final results: Decision: That the final results submitted for the following students be approved: Labuschagne, K (Ms) (91070952) – M Tech: Veterinary Technology (MTVE96). Results: That the qualification be awarded cum laude with an average mark of 75%. Owuor, KO (Mr) (201120780) - M Tech: Environmental Management (Structured) (MTEVMO). (Mini-dissertation). Results: That the mini-dissertation be approved with an average mark of 63%. Pretorius, OJ (Mr) (89064015) – M Tech: Environmental Management (Structured) (MTEVS0). Results: That the qualification be awarded with an average mark of 70%. Note: The final project title was changed by the Exco – “bordering” should be replaced by “neighbouring”. Reyneke, T (Mr) (88024222) – M Tech: Biomedical Technology (MTBM96). Results: That the qualification be awarded with an average mark of 60%. Tjatji, MP (200198301) - M Tech: Water Care (MTWC99). Results: That the qualification be awarded with an average mark of 59%. Traut, MJ (Ms) (99206691) – M Tech: Water Care (MTWC99). Results: That the qualification be awarded with an average mark of 65%.
7.3	Academic matters:
7.3.1	Examinations:
7.3.1.1	Examination committee (FEC): The Heads of Department were reminded again of the FEC meeting to be held on Friday, 7 December 2007.
7.3.3	Admission of students: Revised statements
7.3.3.1	First year applications: Dr B Sutherland reported that there are candidates who applied in June for admission but they have not received any communication from TUT. The Chairperson requested that he send the names, with id-numbers to Mrs T de Beer. The meeting felt strongly that communication with prospective students is very important, otherwise we will loose students.
7.3.3.2	Admission statements: The Chairperson informed the meeting that all revised admission statements have to be submitted by 30 November 2007.
7.4	Feedback from meetings / conferences /workshops: No reports received for the Agenda.
7.5	Staff matters:
7.5.1	Match and Place process: A document on the departmental structure for each department in the Faculty was handed out. The meeting took note that letters were handed out to all the academic staff in the Faculty. Heads of Department were reminded to plan and schedule the Department’s staff development programme before discussions with staff members. The development programme of each staff members should be incorporated in his / her performance management plan. Letters were also handed out for contract staff members. The Chairperson requested Heads of Department to communicate to contract staff that, although it is stated in their letters that their contracts will be terminated one week after the Match and Place process is completed, we will keep them until June.
7.5.2	Re-appointment and appointment of new Extra ordinary Professors: The matter will stand over to the next meeting.
7.6	Budget: Part-time budget: Prof P Marais, Dr T Maja and Mrs L du Preez will finalise the budget. The meeting took note that departments will next year have to declare if they have too much money. Responsible person: Mrs L du Preez (x6206)
7.6.1	Payment of staff - Saturday and off-campus classes: The Chairperson reported that the task team could not come to a conclusion. The matter will be discussed again next year.
7.7	Strategic planning:
7.7.1	Relocation status in Faculties: Dr J Pieterse gave an overview of all the relocation activities in the Faculty during 2007. He thanked each and everybody for their participation and cooperation and stated that the Faculty is ahead of the relocation program. Prof P Marais thanked Dr Pieterse, on behalf of the Faculty and himself for his hard work and strong hands-on approach. Het commented that it is nice to have someone who you can trust to handle a certain task. He has only received compliments and no problems.
7.7.2	Annual Reports: Format was provided. Completion date: 10 January 2008...
8.	NEW MATTERS: None were discussed at the meeting.
9.	DISCUSSION OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY AGENDA:
9.1	Computer Skills: Dr L Maree explained to the meeting that the Department of Nursing Science has in the past made use of staff in the Faculty of Engineering to offer Computer Skills to the students, although it is not a subject on its own, but part of another subject. It was recommended that: The Department should immediately ask for service from the Faculty of ICT. The subject should be spit in modules to accommodate the Computer Skills.
9.2	Possible Collaborations: Dr T Maja reminded the Departments of Nursing Science, Sport, Rehabilitation and Dental Sciences and Pharmaceutical Sciences about the possible collaborations with the Thames Valley University (TVU). They have to meeting early in 2008 to discuss issues around our programmes and exchange possibilities of lecturers.
10.	MATTERS PENDING: Need to be revised for 2008
10.1	Service subjects: Discussion. Notes from pending list: How are we going to handle the matter? Heads of Department need to identify subjects and discuss the matter with the other Department together with Prof P Marais and Dr J Pieterse. Mathematics for teachers: Have to discuss next. Entrepreneurial Skills: It is an open debate now. Research Methodology
10.2	Work Integrated Learning: Support and registration of students. Monitoring of students. A workshop (1 hour) will be scheduled to discuss the problem.
10.3	In-equalities in the Faculty: The following issues have to be debated at a later stage: Budget allocations. Part-time staff. Workload of lecturers. Winter school. Short courses.
10.4	Academic colours for the Faculty: There are no strong feelings towards a specific colour. It seemed that most other institutions are using blue for the Science faculties.
10.5	HESA workshop: HELM programme for Heads of Department 2007 – at least two should attend.
10.6	Rentention workshop: To be arranged early in 2007.
10.7	Internal procedures / guidelines for the Faculty: Documents will be drawn-up as soon as possible. Please note: Postgraduate and research related forms and procedures are available at the following Intranet link: https://jupiter.tut.ac.za/staffportal/index.php?struc=422
10.8	Generic master’s degree:(Prof A Toriola)
11.	NEXT MEETING: Schedule will be available in January 2008
12.	CLOSURE: The meeting was closed at 13:15.
ANDRIONE, P (MRS) MARAIS, PJJG (PROF) FACULTY SECRETARY EXECUTIVE DEAN AND CHAIRPERSON DATE