The Durban University of Technology (DUT) Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu officially welcomed the first-year students, together with their parents, guardians and sponsors. The welcome ceremony for students in Durban was held at the Curries Fountain Stadium on Monday, 13 February 2023 and he welcomed the first-year students in the Midlands at the Indumiso Campus Sports Centre in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday, 14 February 2023.
Facilitating the Durban welcome ceremony was Ms Phumzile Xulu, Community Engagement Practitioner at DUT and in the Midlands, the programme director was Dr Joe Molete, Midlands, Director: DUT Midlands Campuses.
Prof Mthembu urged the first-year students to treat the opportunity of studying at DUT with outmost respect and care. He believes life rarely affords the people a second opportunity so he advised the new students to avoid decisions and choices that may ruin their lives.
“Being here at DUT is an opportunity that you have been given. Do not squander it. Some of you are first-generation students-meaning you are the first one in your family to be registered at a university. Live up to the promise and potential and make yourself, your family and your community proud. The only reason you are here is to be educated intellectually, socially and otherwise. Having been admitted at DUT, you must have worked hard to meet the minimum requirements,” added Prof Mthembu.
To some this opportunity might mean freedom, however, Prof Mthembu warned the students about the great freedom that comes with their enrolment at DUT. He indicated that the freedom must be accompanied the great responsibility and accountability not only to themselves, but to their parents/guardians/sponsors, community and the broader society. Prof Mthembu made it clear that at DUT, there are no short cuts. “Inyos’ idl’ uju lwayo lapha,” said Prof Mthembu as he emphasised that at DUT they will get what they put in.
Extending his gratitude to the parents, Prof Mthembu said: “On behalf of DUT, I thank you very much for your willingness to share your gifts of life with us. We are about to take them through a long journey of holistic growth and development; a journey to distinctiveness and greatness. You raised them through thick and thin, through sweat and blood, through trials and tribulations, and through joys and thrills, too. You imbued them, we hope, with good values and principles that enhance, generate, but, hopefully, not degenerate, our country.”
Prof Mthembu also highlighted to the students what a university is and is not. He defined a university as a place where facts and evidence, reason and rationality, deliberation and debate reign supreme. Saying, misunderstandings, disputes and conflicts are settled intellectually and not by brute force, fire and brimstone.
The Vice-Chancellor and Principal made is clear that a university is not some headquarters of a political party. He stated that it is not a church, it has its unique character and culture.
“No decisions here are made based on democratic consensus and/or centralism. No decisions are made because some cult personality simply says so. Decisions are based on the best available ideas, information and evidence. Here, a great idea even from a single individual, whether a student or a staff member, wins the day because of its merit among many other ideas,” emphasised Prof Mthembu.
Prof Mthembu’s address was the start of the Orientation Week programme arranged by the Student Governace and Development Unit at DUT to integrate first-year student to the university life. Some of the activities that are part of the Orientation that have been running this week includes Campus Health, Safety and Crime Prevention, Engagement/Financial Aid/Scholarships/Entrepreneurship and Becoming a DUT Student. This Saturday, 18 February 2023 there will be a First-Year Sports Day at the Indumiso Campus Sports Centre from 08h00 to 13h30, where the will compete in the knockout sessions, playing street soccer, volleyball, netball and basketball.
Students and parents were also entertained by the DUT Indlamu and Izintombi who gave a very high-spirited, energetic, and the greatest performance. They also got a chance to meet the 2022/23 Student Representative Council (SRC) introduced by the SRC President, Sanele Khumalo in Durban and the SRC Deputy President, Thandolwethu April in Midlands.
The closing remarks were done by the DUT Registrar, Dr Maditsane Nkonoane who thanked all the stakeholders who attended the orientation.
“There are people that I would like to thank especially our Vice-Chancellor, for sharing pairs of wisdom not only for our first-year students but for us all in terms of how we should conduct ourselves. Thank you for choosing this great university, as DUT, we promise you to be creative, distinctive and impactful. And lastly, I would like to thank the parents for trusting DUT with their children,” said Dr Maditsane Nkonoane.
Pictured: DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu addressing the first-year students and parents at the Orientation.
Simangele Zuma and Sindisiwe Ndlovu
Photographer: Vusi Dlamini
