The student accommodation crisis and the role of private accommodation in alleviating the problem was on the agenda during a recent intervarsity colloquium.
The theme of the two-day colloquium, which was hosted by the University of Fort Hare, was ‘Maximising student access through safe affordable accommodation’.
The CPUT delegation consisted of Phillip Chibvuri from the Residence Business and Risk Assessment Centre and Zandile Jacobs, Head of Department: Housing (Bellville)
TVET colleges and the SAFETSA (South African Further Education and Training Student Association) were among the stakeholder attendees besides the universities represented.
“The basic aim was to begin a serious conversation on how best universities should solve this national crisis around accommodation, which many a times exposes students to detrimental elements as they begin or carry on their tertiary studies. Another focus was how universities currently run placements and allocation of residence space as well as the local software (if any) used to ease the pressure, which is common in most institutions. Commissions were established sharing on best practices in areas such as residence finance & budgeting, allocations & placements, student living and & learning environments and student governance within residences. Regulations, practices and systems around accreditation was the beat of the discussions,” says Chibvuri.
“Through this we are not only finding solutions to the student housing crisis but we are solving other issues as private accommodation benefits communities and the greater economy. This was the first ground-breaking colloquium and we will now keep this conversation alive.”
Last year CPUT launched the Off-Campus Housing Accreditation Program (OCHAP), an online database which aims to assist students in the hunt for safe off campus accommodation. It has since grown to 700 beds.
