The 2nd Interdisciplinary Graduate School in Laser-based Manufacturing Technologies (IGSLBMT) organized by the Education for Laser-based Manufacturing (ELbM) Consortium was held at the Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), Pretoria campus, South Africa from the 16th to 20th October 2023. The summer school focused on imparting relevant knowledge and practical skills to youths across African Universities on the introduction to Laser-based manufacturing technologies and the possible opportunities of rebuilding Africa.
The Education for Laser-based Manufacturing (ELbM) Consortium together with the UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Manufacturing & Innovative Technologies (UCoSMIT) sponsored a team of two (2) supervisors and two (2) Masters students from the Botswana International University of Science & Technology (BIUST) to physically attend the workshops, with ten (10) other sponsored members attending online. The BIUST Vice-Chancellor Professor O. Totolo delivered an insightful eye-opening speech on “Revolutionizing and capacitating African youths with future employable skills through laser-based manufacturing technologies in Industry 4.0”. Several keynote speeches on manufacturing were delivered by expects from countries such as South Africa, Italy and Ghana. Team BIUST also delivered two (2) presentations on “Laser metal deposition/laser cladding” and “Powder metallurgy & handling in LMP” through Professor E.O. Olakanmi and Dr. R.V.S Prasad, respectively.
Some of the theories and philosophies behind laser-based technologies were made practical to students as revealed on the figures below, which was one of the main objectives of the summer school. The experiments were interactive, giving students a deeper understanding of powder deposition and fusion technology.
Applications are invited from African nationals for scholarships in the fields of Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Metallurgical Engineering and Biomaterials/Biomedical Engineering.
SCHOLARSHIP The ELbM scholarship includes a one round trip-air ticket and visa costs, participation costs such as tuition fees, registration and service fees, Insurance (Health, accident, travel), settling-in allowance, monthly subsistence allowance and a contribution towards the research costs associated with student mobility of 10 months or longer.
Applications are invited from African nationals for scholarships in the fields of Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Metallurgical Engineering and Biomaterials/Biomedical Engineering. In this ELbM scholarships call, a total of 22 scholarships comprising of 12 Masters (9 credit seeking and 3 degree seeking), 4 PhDs (3 credit seeking and 1 degree seeking) and 6 Staff scholarships are available. ELbM scholarships are jointly administered by four (4) African partner institutions, where selected students and staff will be able to engage in postgraduate studies, research, teaching or training.
Applications are invited from African nationals for scholarships in the fields of Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Metallurgical Engineering and Biomaterials/Biomedical Engineering. In this ELbM scholarships call, a total of 30 scholarships comprising of 20 Masters (6 credit seeking and 14 degree-seeking), 4 PhDs (2 credit seeking and 2 degree seeking) and 6 Staff scholarships are available. ELbM scholarships are jointly administered by four (4) African partner institutions, where selected students and staff will be able to engage in postgraduate studies, research, teaching or training.
SCHOLARSHIP
The ELbM scholarship includes a one round trip-air ticket and visa costs, participation costs such as tuition fees, registration and service fees, Insurance (Health, accident, travel), settling-in allowance, monthly subsistence allowance and a contribution towards the research costs associated with student mobility of 10 months or longer.
Previous and current recipients of Intra ACP or Intra Africa Scholarships are not eligible to apply for this scholarship.
The ELbM consortium is committed to offering 50% of its scholarship to women and disadvantaged or marginalized groups.
Prospective applicants should contact ELbM coordinators at partner institutions to discuss their proposal and application documents.
All applicants are required to apply for admission into their preferred host institutions while applying for ELbM scholarships. You are advised to adhere very strictly to the deadline for application for admission into your preferred host institution.
Two (2) Full PhD degree seeking scholarships are tenable ONLY at JKUAT (Kenya) and FUPRE (Nigeria)
Applications are invited from African nationals for scholarships in the fields of Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Metallurgical Engineering and Biomaterials/Biomedical Engineering. In this ELbM scholarships call, a total of 17 scholarships comprising of 9 Masters (3 credit seeking and 6 degree seeking), 4 PhDs (2 credit seeking and 2 degree seeking) and 4 Staff scholarships are available. ELbM scholarships are jointly administered by four (4) African partner institutions, where selected students and staff will be able to engage in postgraduate studies, research, teaching or training.
SCHOLARSHIP
The ELbM scholarship includes a one round trip-air ticket and visa costs, participation costs such as tuition fees, registration and service fees, Insurance (Health, accident, travel), settling-in allowance, monthly subsistence allowance and a contribution towards the research costs associated with student mobility of 10 months or longer.
ELbM CONSORTIUM PARTNERS
Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Botswana -(BIUST – Coordinating Partner)
Stellenbosch University (SU), South Africa
Federal University of Petroleum Resources, (FUPRE) Nigeria
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture, (JKUAT) Kenya
Council for Scientific & Industrial Research/Laser-based Manufacturing Research Group, (CSIR/LEM), South Africa. – Associate Partner
African Laser Centre (ALC), South Africa. – Associate Partner
Universita di Bologna, (UNIBO) Italy – Technical Partner
Previous and current recipients of Intra ACP or Intra Africa Scholarships are not eligible to apply for this scholarship.
The ELbM consortium is committed to offering 50% of its scholarship to women and disadvantaged or marginalized groups.
Prospective applicants should contact ELbM coordinators at partner institutions to discuss their proposal and application documents.
It is no longer a requirement for applicants to obtain admission to partner institutions prior to submitting their scholarship application. The consortium will facilitate the admission of successful applicants after the award of the scholarship.
Two (2) Full PhD degree seeking scholarships are tenable only at JKUAT (Kenya) and FUPRE (Nigeria)
Masters degree seeking should not apply to SU in this call.
With the passing of Professor Dimitrov (Professor at the University of Stellenbosch, Department of Industrial Engineering and a Fraunhofer Senior Advisor in South Africa) we have lost a respected scientist and an outstanding partner dedicated to education, supporting the local manufacturing industry, and fostering cross-continental cooperation. To many he was a friend, a colleague, a supervisor, a mentor, a project lead, a manager, a father, a brother, and an inspiration.
During his life, Prof. Dimitrov always showed great dedication to furthering engineering knowledge and education. Even until the very end, his projects and the people around him received highest priority. He was a selfless man who led by example and inspired those who worked with him to continuously strive towards higher levels of diligence and self-improvement. With great humility, he recognised and managed to bring out the best in everyone. He worked hard and demanded excellence, but also had an infectious sense of fun and zest for life.
Prof. Dimitrov made substantial and lasting contributions to the manufacturing and materials engineering landscape. He was a founding member of the Rapid Product Development Association of South Africa (RAPDASA), a board member of the Western Cape Tooling Initiative (WCTI), Management Committee member of the Plastics Institute of Southern Africa (PISA), and a member of CIRP, the International Academy for Production Engineering. He was also the SU representative in the national Titanium Centre of Competence (TiCoC) and piloted the national research program in machining of titanium alloys. In the Collaborative Program in Additive Manufacturing (CPAM) he was one of the key players. Furthermore, he managed to bring a fully international research network and knowledge exchange opportunity to South Africa through founding the International Conference on Competitive Manufacturing (COMA).
At Stellenbosch University he founded the Global Competitiveness Centre (GCC) in 1997, in alliance with more than 25 Industry partners, to address the challenges of global competition. In 2000 the Rapid Product Development Laboratory (RPD) was established and pioneered many applications of 3D printing technology, then still very new in South Africa. The Institute for Advanced Tooling was added to the offering in 2007 as another entity in the Industrial Engineering department at Stellenbosch University. This was an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology and the Technology Innovation Agency to support the tool and die making industry in South Africa and promote sustainable tooling. In late 2015 the Stellenbosch Technology Centre – Laboratory for Advanced Manufacturing (STC-LAM) was established. This brings together all created entities under one umbrella to further support the South African production industry as a whole. The official opening was held on 26 January 2016 with distinguished delegates from around the world. The STC would be Prof Dimitrov’s crowning achievement and the centre was opened in his honour due to his continued drive and passion in furthering production engineering in South Africa.
As a Fraunhofer Senior Advisor in South Africa, Prof. Dimitrov played an outstanding role in fostering solid and long-lasting international collaboration. A multitude of research and industry projects in the field of manufacturing and materials technology with Fraunhofer Institutes can be attributed to his initiative.
Professor Dimitrov worked with the Education for Laser-based Manufacturing (ELbM) consortium in single-hearted devotion by deploying his extensive network within Africa and Europe to ensure it is successfully established. The committed involvement of the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology (ILT), African Laser Centre (ALC), the Council for Scientific & Industrial Research/Laser Enabled Manufacturing Research Group (CSIR/LEM), and Trumpf via Retecon in ELbM’s activities is to the credit of Professor Dimitrov.
His academic contributions include many publications in the form of book chapters, journals and conference papers. He also supervised many doctoral and master’s students and always aimed at bringing the best out of them.
Prof. Dimitrov received numerous awards and honours in recognition of his achievements. In 2006 he received the THRIP Excellence Award for manufacturing in the category “SMME development and technology transfer”, followed by a second in 2010, this time in the category “Research Collaboration”. In 2015, the President of the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft awarded the highly prestigious Fraunhofer Thaler to Prof. Dimitrov “In recognition of his outstanding leadership and significant achievements in the field of applied research”.
Those who knew him will surely miss his energy, enthusiasm, and contagious joyful character.
Education for Laser-based Manufacturing (ELbM) team is excited to announce that our new website is live. The Education for Laser-based Manufacturing (ELbM) project website includes easy navigation, with drop-down menus for both mobile and desktop versions.
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