DUT’s Cane Growers Hall, ML Sultan Campus, was packed to capacity during the recent graduation ceremony of students within the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority (W&RSETA).

Graduates from DUT, Mthashana TVET College, Majuba TVET College, Esayidi TVET College and Thekwini TVET College were presented with their certificates on the day.

This graduation ceremony was a project by the KZN Retail Schools of Excellence (RSOE) aimed at promoting collaboration between the wholesale and retail sector and institutions of learning to ensure that competent, skilled and experienced workers are produced to meet the requirements of the sector.

The project was launched by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, at the Esayidi TVET College on 14 August 2014. Five hundred learners were enrolled on learnership programmes with the participating colleges. A total of 405 learners have successfully completed the programmes. For each institution, 50% of the learners were unemployed youth, who on graduating will have an opportunity to work for the retailers that are partners to the KZN School of Excellence.

“I’m very happy to get my certificate for National Qualifications Framework level two. I think this will prove to be the turning point in my life because now, I am more skilled in the retail sector,” said Mduduzi Cele, a graduate from DUT.

DUT Registrar, Professor Thenjiwe Meyiwa, lauded DUT’s partnership with W&RSETA and the TVET colleges. “The collaboration is heartening and we think that it will expand as time goes on,” she said.

– Sihle Ndebele

Pictured: The happy graduates.