The Durban University of Technology (DUT) recently approved the ENVISION2030 Living Values Framework. The five values are identified as transparency, honesty, integrity, respect and accountability. The principles espoused are fairness, professionalism, commitment, compassion and excellence. DUT’s Communications team, Nomvelo Zulu spoke to Nelisiwe Ndlovu, Student Administration Officer: Pietermaritzburg Student Administration.
Q: Kindly tell me about your role at DUT?
A: “I am a Student Administration Officer: PMB Student Administration. I provide administrative oversight on students registration, examinations, and the curatorship of student records in the Midlands Campuses. I provide key support to stakeholders from the five faculties at the Midlands (including academics and students) and excellent customer service.”
Q: How long have you been a member of the DUT family?
A: “I joined the DUT family in July 2019.”
Q: Amongst the mentioned ENVISION2030 Living Values and Principles, which one do you mostly associate with and why?
A: “I associate with most of the ENVISION2030 values and principles, particularly integrity. It speaks directly to the four central aspects of the services of my unit. The four aspects are student registration, student records, examination and assessments as well as certification. Registration of students requires compassion – the students come from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. I ought to ensure that fairness and respect underpin how I engage to ensure that students do not face discrimination on account of physical ability, class, gender expression and so forth. The student records cover student personal and academic performance information and data, one needs to manage such information with integrity. Integrity is a huge part of ensuring that examinations are conducted according to best practice, because. So much is at stake! Once an institution is seen as a place where academic cheating takes place, every single alumnus it produces is at a disadvantage. Our unit is accountable for the safekeeping of important documents, once again, this requires integrity but moreover, also demands that we are transparent and fair in our practices.”
Q: How are you planning to keep abreast with the ENVISION2030 Living Values Framework?
A: “The plan is to raise more awareness about the values to my colleagues, bring values to life and integrate them into our daily transactions.”
Q: How do you plan to make a positive impact at DUT?
A: “The nature of my work requires me to serve as the primary point of contact for existing and prospective students. Therefore, it is crucial that I maintain the level of professionalism needed to effectively carry out my duties.”
Q: What is your daily motivation?
A: “Believing that the leopard in me can, should and must change its spots, is one of the inspirational forces of my life.”
Q: If you were granted one wish, what would it be?
A: “For people to let the beauty of who they are to shine brighter, than the ugliness of their character and actions.”
