Alumni & Convocation

Welcome to the DUT Convocation webpage.

A number of events have been planned for the year. We hope to see many of you at these events. We encourage communication from our alumni. Please contact us should your details change. One of our aims is to keep our records as up to date as possible and this is only achievable with your assistance.

Past students please go to the Alumni Database link to provide us with your personal and contact details so that we may communicate with you more effectively.

About Us

The Convocation Office is the direct link between DUT and its graduates and its aim is to cultivate and nurture a lifelong relationship between students and their alma mater. Alumni have an important role to play in the development of the institution and the Convocation Office is tasked with initiating and implementing an Alumni Relations  programme which will create a desire amongst alumni to identify with and support their alma mater ie the DUT. 

The office arranges social events which provide a platform for alumni to network with one another and which also provides a medium to keep alumni updated on current  developments at DUT. It is a great way to keep up or  renew friendships and indulge in a bit of nostalgia.

However, Convocation isn't just a reunion club, it has an important role to play in the institution  -  it has 3 representatives on Council, the highest governing body of the institution. Should you have legitimate concerns regarding your alma mater, use the Convocation Office as your channel through which to voice your concerns.

To keep you informed of new developments, members are encouraged to inform the Convocation Office of any change in their details. This ensures you continue to receive communication from Convocation.

Message from the President

Convocation plays an important role in the life of any institution and the DUT is no different. The affairs of Convocation are vested in the Executive Committee of Convocation (Convex) which is made up of individuals who voluntarily give of their time and expertise to make a valuable contribution to the institution. Institutions the world over place in high regard their alumni as they represent the face of the institution and are the mobile billboards of how successful an institution is. DUT, too, holds their alumni in high esteem. The institution has produced alumni of the highest caliber and many are making their mark both nationally and internationally. We salute the successes of all our alumni.

One of the initiatives of the Convocation of DUT is the Alumni Bursary Fund which was established to assist financially needy and academically deserving students. This is a project that we are extremely passionate about and I call on all alumni to support this initiative. According to a Buddhist saying, "If you light a lamp for someone, you also brighten your path".

Our role includes expanding the database, facilitating networking opportunities through the various activities planned for alumni, assisting with fund-raising and supporting the aims of DUT. If you are a former student, please contact the Convocation Office (details appear on this page), we look forward to hearing from you or possibly meeting you at one of our many functions. 

Please refer to the Events page for details of events.

Remember: Convocation is "Your Link for Life"

PRESIDENT: CONVOCATION

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Alumni Bursary Fund

The Convocation of the Durban University of Technology has embarked on a campaign to raise funds towards the Alumni Bursary Fund. Academically deserving and financially needy students will have the opportunity to realise their dreams of obtaining a tertiary qualification from the Durban University of Technology. Despite there being numerous bursaries and scholarships on offer to students, it is still not adequate to address the large number of students who require financial assistance.

We are sure that the Alumni Bursary Fund which we anticipate to grow substantially over the years will help in reducing the numbers that apply for assistance. Your contribution will open doors to students who otherwise would not have the opportunity to study. Your payment can be a once-off payment of R600.00 or a monthly contribution of R50. Receipts will be issued for all donations and these are tax deductible.

Click here to download  Pledge Form

PLEASE FAX YOUR COMPLETED FORM TO:

Fax : 031 373 2539

OR MAIL TO :
Convocation
Durban University of Technology
P O Box 1334, Durban, 4000

 

FOR QUERIES 

Telephone : 031 37 32549 / 373 2479 

Fax : 031 373 2539

E-mail : nishieg@dut.ac.za, naidooin@dut.ac.za
 

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Silver Tusk Award

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

The Executive Committee of Convocation together with the Alumni Relations Department is calling for nominations for the 2009 Silver Tusks Awards.  The Silver Tusk Award was introduced by Convocation in August 2003. This award is bestowed upon alumni who through their achievements bring great honour and recognition to the institution and who epitomize the institution's tradition of excellence.

The first recipient of this award was Sean Wisedale. The Silver Tusk was bestowed upon him for his incredible feat of having scaled the seven summits, the highest points in each continent. The 2005 recipients were Mr Billy Nair, a legend in the annals of the history of our country and especially in the struggle for democracy and Mr Wiseman Madinane, CEO of Gillmich Business Forms (Pty) Ltd which is a manufacturer of continuous and laser stationery for the computer stationery market. The 2006 award was made to Mr Alan Khan, CEO: Jacaranda FM and former Deputy MD: East Coast Radio. Mr Khan was, himself, instrumental in establishing this award and Convocation was extremely honoured to bestow this recognition upon one of its finest alumni.

Last years’ awardees included:

GORDON MURRAY (UK-based) Designer of F1 Brabham & McLaren Cars

SHARODA RAPETI (Gauteng) Africa ICT Achiever Award Winner

NANDA SOOBEN: (Durban) Anti-apartheid Activist; Amnesty International Awardee

DION CHANG: (Gauteng) Celebrity Fashion Designer & Fashion Journalist

Nominations can be made by any of the following extended member of the DUT community; academic staff members, graduates of the university (including former ML Sultan Technikon, Natal Technikon and Durban Institute of Technology).  A written nomination together with a brief motivation must be submitted to the Manager: Convocation and Alumni Relation at Sedumedd@dut.ac.za by no later than 19 June 2009.  Further inquiries may be lodges with the office on 031 373 2479 / 2549.
 
Issued by Convocation and Alumni Relation Department
 

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