The Durban University of Technology’s Sport Centre was packed to capacity during the Spring day graduation that took place on Wednesday, 2 September 2015.
The atmosphere was electrifying. The excitement was evident on everyone’s faces. Parents were proudly praising the graduates and hoping to get a glimpse of their loved ones as one by one took to the stage to receive their diplomas, degrees, Master’s and Doctorates. One the graduating students took to the stage to perform a traditional Zulu dance. The DUT choir, with its melodic music sent a powerful message of encouragement and joy to the graduates and the attendants.
The programme director, DUT Head of Public Relations Management, Mr Zwakele Ngubane said that graduates should make a positive impact in society and reiterated that they should enjoy their graduation day as each and every student worked hard to achieve their academic dreams.
DUT Vice Chancellor, Professor Ahmed Bawa, added that it was that time of the year again, where everyone gathered as a DUT family to celebrate the success of the students. “I must begin by congratulating the successful graduating students for their consistent studying over the extended period of time, you have engaged with new ideas and new techniques and you have mastered it. You have gained knowledge in project based work and in the workplace environment. To the parents and families of the students, you have made great sacrifices and your commitments and passion are fundamental to these students that have graduated,’’ he said.
Prof Bawa also emphasized that the main purpose of the University was to ensure that students leave DUT as young graduates and grow into strong, effective intellectuals that become responsible citizens in South Africa, and he hopes that these students will return to the institution to take up post graduate studies in the near future.
To date, a total of 381 female students and 512 male students graduated. The number of graduates by qualification were: National Diploma: 521, BTech: 325, BTech (4 year): 03, MTech: 20, DTech: 1, Master’s: 17, Doctorate: 02 and PhD: 04.
Pictured: DUT graduates excitedly gather for the Spring Grad ceremony.
Mxolisi Ntanzi and Sihle Ndebele
