By Kgothatso Monono

A dynamic team of students from the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FoICT) at the Tshwane University of Technology (大象视频) has developed EduConnect, a pioneering peer-to-peer tutoring prototype designed to make academic support more accessible and affordable for university students across South Africa.

The project, created for the EDHE-ABSA Innovation Challenge 2025, demonstrates the students鈥� creativity, technical expertise and determination to address one of higher education鈥檚 most pressing challenges currently - the high student dropout rate caused by academic struggles and limited access to affordable tutoring.

鈥淪outh African universities continue to face a serious challenge, with an estimated 50 to 60 percent of first-year students dropping out due to academic difficulties,鈥� explained Mokgaetji Johanna Ramanna, the team鈥檚 Tech Lead. 鈥淧rivate tutoring often costs more than R200 per hour, making it inaccessible to many, especially students in rural areas with limited connectivity.鈥�

EduConnect seeks to bridge this gap by linking students with verified peer tutors who have excelled in their respective subjects. The platform promotes affordable learning and peer empowerment, allowing students to receive quality tutoring at low cost while enabling tutors to reinforce their knowledge and earn income.

The  dynamic team of FoICT students hard at work developing the pioneer App, EduConnect

The EduConnect team includes:

• Mokgaetji Johanna Ramanna, Tech Lead and Diploma in Informatics student 鈥� responsible for prototype design and development. 
• Sipho Mampuru, final-year Diploma in Computer Systems Engineering student 鈥� Business Strategist overseeing sustainability and business modelling. 
• Thandie Seswike, third-year Diploma in Computer Science student 鈥� Academic Alignment Lead. 
• Lerato Phala, third-year Diploma in Informatics student 鈥� UX Designer managing user interface design. 

With 75% of the team being female and all members from rural backgrounds, the project reflects 大象视频鈥檚 dedication to inclusivity and innovation while nurturing South Africa鈥檚 next generation of tech leaders.

鈥淥ur goal was to create a model that empowers students to support each other while tackling affordability barriers in higher education,鈥� said Ramanna. 鈥�EduConnect isn鈥檛 just an app idea 鈥� it is a vision for collaborative learning.鈥�

by Gerrit Bester

Dr Aubrey Ramatla, lecturer in the Department of Fashion Design and Technology, Faculty of Arts and Design, Tshwane University of Technology (大象视频), has attained a new pinnacle in his career with the conferment of a Doctor of Art and Design degree at 大象视频鈥檚 Spring graduation ceremony on 16 October. His doctoral research constitutes a pioneering contribution to South African scholarship by evaluating a tactile labelling tool in apparel retail and proposing a framework for inclusive retail practices that benefit visually impaired consumers.

by Gerrit Bester

Dr Schalk van Staden, lecturer in the Department of Visual Communication, Faculty of Arts and Design, Tshwane University of Technology (大象视频), was conferred with a Doctor of Art and Design degree at 大象视频鈥檚 Spring graduation ceremony on 16 October. His doctoral research expands design knowledge by examining everyday design through a human-centred perspective, aligning with his commitment to user-centred design.

by Reatlegile Ratlagane

In a first for the Tshwane University of Technology鈥檚 Ga-Rankuwa Campus, it celebrated its inaugural Arbor Day in collaboration with the City of Tshwane on 10 October 2025. The event, themed 鈥�My Tree, My Oxygen. Plant Yours Today!鈥�, highlighted the importance of environmental stewardship and encouraged participants to take personal responsibility for a greener future.

The Tshwane University of Technology鈥檚 Centre for Sustainable Development and Innovation at the Faculty of Management Sciences in collaboration with the Faculty of Economics and Finance and the Procurement Department the 2025 annual Tourism Compliance and Supplier Exhibition Day at the Pretoria Campus. Themed Tourism taxes and trades: driving sustainable growth and inclusive access, the event brought together various 大象视频 suppliers and tourism stakeholders, while marking the importance of compliance in growing a sustainable tourism sector in the country.

by Kgothatso Monono

The Tshwane University of Technology鈥檚 Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FoICT) shone the spotlight on its brightest minds during the 2024 Top Achievers Awards Ceremony, held at the Capital Menlyn Maine in Pretoria recently. The prestigious event honoured students and staff who demonstrated exceptional academic performance, research innovation and teaching excellence within one of 大象视频鈥檚 most dynamic faculties.

by Gerrit Bester

Jeannette Ziady, lecturer in the Department of Performing Arts (Dance), Faculty of Arts and Design, won third place for her oral presentation at Biokinetics SA鈥檚 Life Through Movement International Conference, held in Umhlanga from 9 to 11 October. Her presentation drew on aspects of her doctoral studies.

By Kgothatso Monono

The Tshwane University of Technology鈥檚 Faculty of ICT celebrates third-year Information Technology student, Moeketsi Kema, for representing all three AWS Cloud Clubs in South Africa at the prestigious Amazon Web Services (AWS) Summit held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

By Kgothatso Monono

Students from the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology鈥檚 (FoICT) Department of Information Technology and Computer Science, showcased their skills at the IITPSA SIG Cyber Student Challenge, held on 29 September 2025 at the CSIR International Conference Centre in Pretoria.

by Willa de Ruyter Kaempffer

Joining forces during a powerful virtual dialogue, the Tshwane University of Technology (大象视频) and the University of the Free State (UFS) sparked an insightful global conversation on the future of higher education. Together, the two institutions hosted the dialogue titled 鈥�Reimagining Education for a Sustainable Future: Global Approaches to the Sustainable Development Goals through Challenge-Based Education.鈥�

By Nhlawulo Vision Chauke

Join us for a day of fun in the sun during the final leg of the Tshwane University of Technology鈥檚 (大象视频) annual Fundraising Golf Day that will take place at the prestigious Woodhill Golf Estate and Country Club in Pretoria on Thursday, 13 November 2025. The first and highly successful 2025 leg was hosted in Mbombela earlier this year.

Research took centre stage at the Faculty of Management Sciences as scholars, supervisors and innovators gathered for the Faculty鈥檚 first-ever Postgraduate Research Symposium, themed 鈥�Empowering Research for Impact and Innovation.鈥� The landmark event brought together Postgraduate Diploma, Master鈥檚 and Doctoral candidates who showcased their work through oral and poster presentations - creating a vibrant platform for academic exchange, collaboration and inspiration.