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Sealing the Deal for Construction Research and Development

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Construction industry research and development received a welcome boost on Tuesday, 19 July 2011 with the signing of an agreement between Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and the Construction Industry Development Board (Cidb).

The agreement follows Cidb’s decision to award inaugural Centres of Excellence to NMMU and the University of the Witwatersrand. The Cidb will fund the centres for three years. The centres, in turn, should establish a dedicated research agenda and produce high level skills at master’s and doctoral levels.

At NMMU, the Built Environment Research Centre (BERC) will host the Centre of Excellence which will receive R1 million per annum for three years.

“We will focus on human resource development, academic excellence and targeted research in areas of importance to construction industry development,” says BERC director Prof Winston Shakantu.

Cidb chief executive director Ronnie Khoza was equally upbeat.

“We are doing it for the country. We are moving in the same direction towards developing the construction industry.”

The funding from Cdib will be used for postgraduate bursaries, direct research expenses, subvention of an academic position, research training support and payment of postdoctoral researchers, research assistants and interns.

BERC will cooperate with the Cidb in determining targeted research of immediate importance to the Cidb

Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Information Technology Prof Henk de Jager says that the faculty is fully committed to making its resources available too. “It will be a win-win situation for all of us,” he says.

The centre will officially start operating on 1 August 2011.

Back from left Bafana Ndwendwa (Chairperson of the cidb board), cidb programme manager Ntebo Ngozwana, BERC director Prof Winston Shakantu. In front signing the memorandum of agreement are NMMU Deputy Vice-Chancellor Prof Piet Naude and cidb chief executive officer Mr Ronnie Khoza.
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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.