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DUT’s Durban Head of Student Housing To Lead ACUHO-I-SAC In 2014

DUT’s Durban Head of Student Housing To Lead ACUHO-I-SAC In 2014

Next year (2014) will see Theophilus Doc Nhassengo, the Head of Housing at DUT (Durban), assume the reigns as President of the Association of College and University Housing Officers –International, the Southern African Chapter (ACUHO-I-SAC).

The ACUHO-I-SAC President-elect (Nhassengo) was nominated for the position last year (2012) to lead the organisation which came into being in 2006 for the provision of student accommodation and food nutrition at Southern Africa colleges and universities. The organisation is affiliated to ACUHO-I, the preeminent professional association that supports and promotes the collegiate residential experience in higher education institutions in the USA.

Nhassengo’s term as President starts in 2014 and will be for the next two years. He is excited about his nomination to lead an organisation that he was largely instrumental in creating when he was the President of NASDEV (National Association of Student Development Officers).

He acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead. “The challenges are the provision of access to affordable student accommodation and ensuring that the provision of such accommodation now meets the basic minimum laid down by the Minister of Higher Education and Training following an extensive investigation of the current provisioning of student accommodation with all the facilities that have conditions allowing students to live and learn in a safe and healthy environment. The report found a massive backlog in the provision of student accommodation, to the extent that if institutions were to meet that backlog, government would need to pump in billions of rands, money government is unlikely to raise. The greatest challenge is therefore attracting private equity and developers who will partner with the institutions in creating more bed stock that meets the standards set by government. At DUT, we need nearby residences where it can be easy for students to get to campus,” he said.

Nhassengo said another challenge is the low graduation rate of students living in residences. To overcome this problem, he plans to involve academics and mentors who would assist residence students with their studies. “We need to improve the academic performance of students in our residences and take the necessary steps where necessary, that is why we need the involvement of academics and senior students as mentors. The students need to enjoy their residence living experience and environment,” he said.

Nhassengo’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Pedagogics (B.Paed.) and Senior Secondary Teachers Diploma from UniZulu, a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed Honours) degree from UKZN, a Post-graduate Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Wales, Cardiff as well as various courses related to his work in student housing.

He is proud that DUT had embraced the idea of budget meals by service providers as well as the food security programme that caters for needy students who cannot access NSFAS funding. He is also proud of the vibrancy in the institution’s residences where students study hard while also enjoying their years as students.

– Nkosinathi Wanda

Pictured: Theophilus Doc Nhassengo, the Head of Housing at DUT (Durban), who becomes President of the Association of College and University Housing Officers –International, the Southern African Chapter (ACUHO-I-SAC) next year (2014). While he acknowledges challenges that lie ahead, he is excited about his nomination.

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