A warm Durban welcome to Westwood Lodge Student Estate, your home from home during the course of your studies. We encourage you to make yourself at home, familiarise yourself with your surroundings and make life-long friends... we will take care of the rest.
Westwood Lodge is a purpose-built student estate, developed to cater to the needs of the modern student. As such we ensure that our facilities are well maintained, homes are well serviced and that security is of the highest standard. This way we ensure that you Live Well and Study Well.
One of the ways in which we ensure that you can study well is through the relationship that we have with our neighbours at Sherwood Books. The well known bookstore has an exclusive offer for Westwood Lodge residents in the form of a discount voucher. Present your Westwood Lodge voucher when purchasing and receive a discount on your purchase. Collect your voucher at the Westwood Lodge office and present your student card, Identification Document (ID) or Drivers License on redemption. T's & C's apply.
The security of Westwood Lodge was improved over the holidays with more CCTV camera's being installed around the estate. This is in line with best practise and reinforces the safety and security measures that Westwood Lodge had in place which include biometric access points, trained security personnel and patrols by vehicle and on foot.
As the daily commute to & from campus has begun, please ensure that you have completed your vehicle or lift club accreditation process. Private vehicles require a Westwood Lodge sticker to be displayed on the windscreen of the vehicle. These are obtainable from the Westwood Lodge office. If you are using a lift club, please fill in the lift club form at the office which approves the vehicle entry to the estate for your convenience.
Useful numbers:
Cornell Haveman - 060 557 4883 (After hours manager)
General queries - 082 777 7609
Maintenance matters - 078 125 8704
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) reports that depression affects an estimated 4,5 million South Africans, equating to 1 in 10 people. Many people are in denial about depression because they perceive it as being weak. Around 70% of people who have attempted suicide have a mental health disorder, most commonly that mental health disorder is depression.
Adjustment issues are some of the issues feeding into depression, where young people feel that previous life experience has not equipped them to deal with their "new norm", struggling with acceptance and fitting in. For young people who have not developed problem-solving and life skills and are struggling with other issues from adolescence, it can lead to suicide.
Those who reach out for a qualified professional help may struggle to get it as General Practitioners fail to detect between 33 and 50% of depressive disorders in patients presenting them. Poor implementation of psychological interventions to address the challenges that students face also contributes the pre-existing issues not being resolved. Studies have found that almost half of suicidal youths report some kind of medical treatment in the months prior to committing suicide, very few professionals pick up the warning signs.
Statistically, 90% of varsity suicide cases have a psychiatric diagnosis - depression, combined with alcohol or substance abuse is the most common diagnosis, but victims can also suffer from schizophrenia or personality disorders. Other warning signs include individuals having made previous attempts at suicide, having access to firearms, and having recently experienced a negative life event, recent disappointment, or the individual being involved in some sort of trouble.
In the context of universities, suicide is the second leading cause of death among students, after accidents. Varsity life involves a number of additional pressures on the student; coping with greater academic demands, loss of social family relations, increased financial responsibilities and heightened awareness of sexual identity and orientation. Students also bring unresolved problems with them into their new environments and many young people who struggle with bullying suffer in silence. Technological advancement has seen the birth and rise of “Cyber bullying”. This type of bullying is rife among the youth and is particularly harmful as it spreads in seconds.
Suicidal persona’s and tendencies differ between students and non-students. Varsity students display different personality traits to non-students who commit suicide. Non-student who commit suicide tend to have high risk-taking personalities, frequently use drugs and alcohol. By contrast, varsity students who are at risk are largely depressed, quiet, socially isolated young people who do not abuse alcohol or drugs and draw little attention to themselves. For them, death is seen as comforting and as an escape from their depression. A noted finding is that student suicide is more prevalent among students who take more than 4 years to complete their degree. Varsity women attempt suicide more frequently than men do, but varsity men succeed in ending their lives more often. Cultural beliefs around masculinity are a major contributor to fuelling myths and stigma around depression. This can lead to suicidal behaviour as men are still raised not to express emotions. Many are unable to escape their depression and find an escape in alcohol and/ or recreational drugs. Others rely on endorphin dependent behaviours such as excessive workouts at the gym or becoming workaholics.
Depression is a treatable and manageable condition. In less severe cases, family members should be involved to provide support; professionals should try decrease the risk of prescribing strong medication that is non-lethal in overdose and increasing contact with the patient. Short crisis orientated psychotherapy that involves the family has been found to be particularly useful.
If you are need of help, or know somebody who is, contact the National Suicide Crisis Line on 0800 567 567. Lifeline can be reached on 0861 322 322. Universities have Student Counselling Services for students and staff onsite; who want or need contact sessions. Durban campuses Student Counselling services and offices can be reached on:
Durban University of Technology - 031 373 2266
University of KwaZulu Natal:
Edgewood Campus - 031 260 3653/ 3532
Howard College - 031 260 2668
Nelson R Mandela Medical School - 031 260 4595
Higher Education and Training has been a priority sector for the South African government for many years. This is in line with any developing country that seeks to be responsive to its needs, exploit its potential and remain abreast with developing sectors and industries.
This blog edition discusses the Priority Occupations as per The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), highlights the state of education in South Africa and what is forecast nationally in the Higher Education and Training sector in the coming years.
Budget allocation increases and targets:
The Department of Higher Education and Training White Paper for Post School Education and Training, aims at enrolling 2,5 million students by the year 2030. Of the 2,5 million students forecasted, 1,6 million will be university students. This objective will be achieved through the DHET progressively introducing free education for the poor in South African universities as the resources become available. There has been an annual increase in the amount allocated to the DHET from the national fiscus, highlighting it as a priority sector for the economy and its growth. The provision of Education and training is to be better co-ordinated with the needs of society and the economy.
Results of these budget increases can be seen already with enrolments at institutions of higher learning having increased year-on-year for full-time, part-time, contact and distance learning students. The total number of university graduates produced per annum is also increasing at a rate that has exceeded targets. Higher education is increasing its outputs too, as the increase in graduates is greater than the increase in enrolments.
Prioritised faculties and fields of study:
The DHET has also prioritised increasing research and innovation which will improve the quality of research produced by institutions of higher learning. Results of this have also been seen through the number of Research Masters and Doctoral (PhD) graduates increasing at a higher rate than the overall number of graduates at other levels of study. To absorb this increase and sustain the interest, policy will be developed focussing on the need to recruit and retain academics to ensure that academic careers are attractive and assisting academics improve their qualifications. It is envisaged that a National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences will be established to stimulate research and postgraduate studies in these vital disciplines. The DHET will also provide support for the study and development of the African languages in South African universities.
Other focus areas that have been identified are scarce skills areas including Engineering, Natural and Physical Sciences, Teachers, Animals and Human Health Studies
National List of Occupations in High Demand:
In the Government Gazette of 22 June 2018 a National List of Occupations in High Demand was identified and published. The primary purpose of the Gazetted List is to improve responsiveness of Post-School Education and Training System (PSET) to the needs of the economy and broader development needs of the country. This list refers to occupations that have shown relatively strong employment growth, are experiencing shortages in the labour market or are expected to be in demand in future. The next list will be released in 2020 and will be reviewed every two years. As a result of technological innovation, technological advancements, development of industries or implementation of government strategic priorities new occupations are expected to emerge in the near future which will be added accordingly to the list in future.
Three levels of demand were identified based on a point scoring system; occupations were distinguished between Highest Demand, Higher Demand, and High Demand.
Access, read or download the list of identified occupations on GreenGazette, or by clicking on the link https://www.greengazette.co.za/notices/skills-development-act-97-1998-national-list-of-occupations-in-high-demand-2018_20180622-GGN-41728-00637
The idea that sweets chocolates, biscuits and energy drinks keep our energy levels up is misleading. These high sugar foods cause a spike in energy, but the spike does not last long as it causes a tired slump, creating the craving for more sugar.
"You are what you eat" is an old saying that is apt for this blog edition. Our diet is the primary contributor to our nutrition, this is the fuel that affects our physical and mental performance. Brain fuel foods aid in keeping our energy levels constant, as well as maintain our concentration and brain power. In this blog edition, we list the food items that are aids during study time and elaborates on how these food items benefit us and our studies.
1. Fish:
Mackerel, salmon and sardines in particular contain Omega-3 fatty acids and proteins. These are known to increase concentration and cognitive performance, assisting in rebuilding damaged brain cells. This also helps produce the hormone that makes us happy, Serotonin. The body does not produce Omega-3 fatty acids on its own so we need nutrition to help us do so.
For vegetarians, these fatty acids are also found in linseed, soya beans and pumpkin seeds.
2. Green vegetables:
Vitamin K, Vitamin B6 and B12 are essential for keeping optimum brain functionality and energy levels up. Spinach, broccoli, lettuce, cabbage and Kale all contain these vitamins. These leafy vegetables also provide fibre, essential to your daily diet and natural antioxidants.
3. Wholegrains:
Good carbohydrates come in the form of wholegrain foods, set to sustain our body with constant energy level throughout the day. Wholegrains such as whole wheat bread and brown rice contain fibre and starch which take longer to digest, keeping your stomach fuller for longer and giving long lasting energy.
4. Fruit:
To cure the sugar craving, fresh fruit is the best way to go as they contain fructose (natural sugars), that give an energy boost. Fruit also provides fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants needed for the brain to perform at its best. Berries, for example, contain a large number of antioxidants that improve the brain's ability to remember facts, understand analytical tasks and improve decision making. Kiwi's contain Vitamin E that protects the body against viral and bacterial infections, keeping us fit and healthy during exam period.
5. Nuts:
Among the most convenient snack foods out there, nuts are packed with iron and fatty acid, helping us to maintain focus while studying. They have an added benefit of providing oxygen to our brain, helping us stay alert when putting in the late hours before an exam. A handful of almonds, cashews or salted peanuts will do the trick.
6. Apples:
The peel of an apple includes a powerful antioxidant called Quercetin that enhances memory function. This common fruit is good for the body and the brain, improving information retention and academic performance.
As the academic programme is at a crucial stage with assessments, tests and exams pending for many of our students; their food intake will affect their academic outcomes. We at Westwood Lodge hope that this blog is informative and helpful to our student residents, resulting in them achieving their academic potential.
Social media is a medium commonly used by people to interact with friends and the world at large. The more popular social mediums cross geographies, boarders and language barriers to link people with the broader international community.
Employers have been known to use these mediums to scrutinise prospective and existing employees. This is done by checking the personal accounts of the employee candidates and/ or employees to see what they have posted. Social media accounts are a reflection of the person's thoughts and reveal their behaviour.
In this blog edition, we use a study conducted by HarrisPoll on behalf of CareerBuild in the United States that collected data from 2380 hiring and resource managers. The findings are relevant to employers, employees and job seekers alike as it provides informative pointers on how social media activity affects employment prospects.
What employers are looking at:
Referred to as "Social recruiting", Human Resources (HR) departments have made this a core component of their employee screening process. According to the research conducted, 70% of employers use social media to screen candidates. Employers use social networking sites to look for information that:
69% of employers are also using search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing to research candidates.
Employers reasons not to hire candidates:
Social media content is cited as a reason why employers do not hire a candidate for an open role. 54% of employers have mentioned social media as a cause for not hiring a candidate. Reasons not to employ a candidate based on their social media profile included:
Social media also assists in cultivating your online presence and can lead to gaining employment. According to the research, 57% of employers are less likely to call a candidate for an interview if they can't find them online. By the same token, 36% like to gather more information on candidates before calling them for an interview. 44% of employers found content on social media that caused them to hire the candidate. The primary reasons that employers hired candidates based on their social media profiles were:
Once in the employ, an employee is a representative of the company. Thus, 51% of employers use social media to research current employees. This has resulted in 34% of employers finding content that has led to disciplinary measures.
Technology has become part of our daily lives, providing convenience of use at our fingertips for many vices. This blog feature identifies and profiles the top 10 student apps. These apps are for use inside and outside the classroom.
This blog edition follows the former and explores the link between student housing and academic success.
Welcome to your home-from-home at Westwood Lodge 2022.
The security, comfort and convenience offered on Westwood Lodge Student Estate, will ensure that you have peace of mind and are able to pursue and achieve your academic goals without worry. Settle into your house, make friends with your fellow residents and get familiar with your way around the estate.
What's on offer:
If you can't take the heat, get in the pool! The swimming pool deck is a favourite among Westwood Lodgers. Durban is famous for its tropical climate with hot and humid days being common. The pool is the place to keep cool... and look cool while doing it.
Fire is mankind's oldest common area, drawing people to gather around and socialise. The braai and entertainment facilities offered onsite are a place where many a memory are made. Gather friends for a braai, shoot some pool and keep it casual.
Assessments, assignments, tutorials, practicals and exams are the reality of university life. When its crunch time and the heat is on, the Study Lab is designed for you to get in the zone and study hard. It is a quiet area, free of disturbance and distraction. Your WiFi is also active in the Study Lab so take your laptop, tablet and/ or mobile phone for and continue to use those online tools at your convenience.
As a Student Estate, Westwood Lodge is a safe and secure student accommodation with dedicated onsite security. Emergency personnel is available around the clock for your medical emergencies.
Familiarise yourself with our contact details for any queries and further information that you may require. Our website, www.westwoodlodge.co.za , has all the information that you need to know. Like and follow our social media pages on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter alike; these will keep you up to date with our competitions, promotions and events.