For diligent Durban University of Technology staff member Ashendran Naicker, the prospect of going on an international trip is exciting and scary at the same time.

The dynamic ITSS fundi has left for China for a month-long workshop to learn about alternate ways to deliver high-speed bandwidth.

Sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, the workshop is called the “2017 Seminar on Construction of Information Highway Network for Developing Country Officers” and is being held in Wuhan, China, from 13 July to 11 August 2017 by the Wuhan Research Institute of Posts and Telecommunications, known as WRI for short.

WRI is one of two research institutes directly under the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (predecessor of Ministry of Information Industry) in China. It’s one of two foreign-aid training bases — communication training bases of Asia-Pacific Telecom Union (APT) which is under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. It is also the only qualified foreign-aid training base under the Ministry of Commerce in the field of communications.

Before leaving Durban this week, Naicker said the workshop would focus on the information high-speed network principle.
He said other topics to be highlighted were the experience of the development of Chinese operators; Chinese operator’s network construction experience; China communication industry policy and experience; China Telecom network structure; China Telecom network construction methods and programmes; and the overall information technology development trend.

He also said that a combination of lecturing and field visits would be in store and participants would have a chance to visit some sections related to new technology, research and development. “Participants will be invited to take a practical visit to Guilin in Guangxi Province and Kaifeng in Henan Province to see more practical techniques and better understand what they have learned in lectures. For me, this will be the highlight of the trip – to actually see places where such technology is used. I’m going to rely on Google translator, of course, to get me through the language barrier, but ITSS is a universal concept and I am sure I will understand what is being delivered, as most of the lectures will be in English. However, food wise, I’m a bit concerned about what will be palatable. But I’m adventurous and I will try anything once.”
Dr Colin Thakur, Acting Director of CCPE and head of the eSkills CoLab at DUT, said Naicker was the ideal candidate for this work-related trip.

“Ashen has proved to be a conscientious worker who has donated his weekends for our outreach projects on several occasions without cost or fanfare. The e-Skills Colab knows that he will contribute to the University, as well as our society in general, going forward,” he explained.

Naicker also thanked Dr Thakur for bringing such projects into the University’s offerings and for giving staff the opportunity to embark on them.
DUT’s DVC: Research, Innovation and Engagement, Professor Sibusiso Moyo, said this was an exciting opportunity for Naicker to attend the 2017 seminar on “Construction of Information Highway Network for Developing Country Officers”, organised by WRI.

“We as the Research Engagement and Innovation sector of the University are acutely aware that our Continuing Professional Education mandate is to ensure we also provide platforms for our staff to develop their professional skills in order to assist the University respond better to the rapid changes within the Information Technology sector. Ashen is a dedicated, hardworking ITSS staff member who fully deserves to go on this programme. We wish him the best and believe that he will come back with an enriched experience – both technically and culturally to contribute better to our DUT operations,” said Moyo.

She also thanked Dr Thakur and Mr Soren Aalto (ITSS) for making it possible for Naicker to take up the great opportunity.

Pictured: Ashendran Naicker with Dr Colin Thakur (Acting Director: CCPE) and DUT’s DVC: Research, Innovation and Engagement, Professor Sibusiso Moyo.

Waheeda Peters