FELICIANA NEZINGU
Campus Trade is a free online platform where students exchange study material and tools such as textbooks and calculators. The platform was established in 2018 and it helps students to save up to 65% on the cost of textbooks. PDBY interviewed Thabang Serumula, an Electronics Engineering student at the University of Pretoria and the brains behind the budding project.
When asked about what prompted him to start Campus Trade, Serumula described how his personal experience of struggling to buy costly books for his studies drove him to seek a solution. When he noticed that his fellow colleagues were facing the same challenge, he realised that not having access to affordable textbooks was a reality for many students at the university. As an engineering student, he found it difficult to attend classes or write open book tests without a textbook. “I really enjoy learning and reading books but it was very saddening when I came to university and realised how expensive textbooks are. I remember during my first year, I had to spend about R3500 for textbooks that I was going to use only for a single semester,” he explained. “The price for textbooks can be really high and this adds to the exorbitant costs that are involved with tertiary education. And most students find it hard to cope,” he added.
As a solution-oriented individual, he decided to simplify this process by establishing a platform to facilitate the exchange of books which eliminates the middleman and allows students to do so directly. “The idea came about when I couldn’t afford to buy new textbooks and I tried to sell some of my old books but did not succeed. I went to different book stores that accept second-hand books but they did not take mine and I was turned away. Then one day I realised that the university’s noticeboard was clustered with adverts from students trying to sell some of their old books. I tried to do the same but it did not work.”
“…his personal experience of struggling to buy costly books for his studies drove him to seek a solution.“
It took him three months in late 2018 to get the website fully operational and he was curious to see how students would respond to the platform. According to him, he was happy with the positive response from students and the number of students using the website has grown steadily. Today the platform not only facilitates the exchange of books but also includes other study tools such as calculators and clickers. The website also allows students to embark on entrepreneurial endeavours by allowing them to market their skills through services such as tutoring and photography. One can even find or post advertisements for vacant accommodation.
“Running Campus Trade has not been without its challenges” said Serumula He manages and maintains the website by himself. He explained that he has to find a balance between managing the project and focusing on his studies, both of which can be quite demanding and time-consuming. One of the main challenges he faces is finding support for his project. He approached a few departments and received positive feedback but no commitments materialised beyond discussions.
“I think it is difficult to get the university on board because it is not UP centred,” he said. Campus Trade is an innovative platform that bridges the gap between students and educational resources. Thabang’s plans with Campus Trade do not just end with the University of Pretoria. He has greater ambitions for the growth of the platform. He aspires to expand his platform to more learning institutions in South Africa to make education more accessible for students all over the country. He invites all those who have the same vision to join him and support his endeavour. “I truly believe that learning is for everyone and that education is really important for us to move forward as a country. By ensuring that textbooks remain affordable, we are removing a barrier to progress and making it easier for students to move forward with their studies.”
You can visit Campus Trade on https://campustrade.co.za/.
Photo: Kayla Thomas
