It was a joyful moment for the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Mduduzi Mpungose when he graduated Cum Laude and received the prestigious Dean’s Merit Award.
The 24-year-old Mpungose graduated this afternoon, Monday (22 May 2023) for his Bachelor of Engineering Technology Honours in Industrial Engineering during the 2023 DUT Autumn Graduation. The ceremony took place at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban.
Mpungose shared that he was overjoyed upon receiving the news that he had achieved Cum Laude and was overwhelmed at the same time because he had to go above and beyond in preparing for these excellent achievements. He mentioned that this made him believe that nothing is impossible if you have the willingness to achieve it.
Born and bred in Richard’s Bay (Madlangala village) in the North of KwaZulu-Natal, Mpungose thanked his family for being his biggest supporters throughout his academic journey. He explained that his family helped him with university registration fees whilst he was waiting for funding support. They motivated him to keep studying and be a great student. He further thanked his senior lecturers for ensuring that he received quality education, saying that they played a big role in preparing him into becoming a professional Engineer.
“I cannot leave out my peers who played an important role in making my university experience a wonderful one and made sure that we all learn from each other to make our achievements possible. I am humbled and grateful to God and everyone for helping and supporting me throughout my journey,” added Mpungose.
According to Mpungose, his biggest challenge was when he was accepted for a graduate programme as a Systems and Process graduate, and then in 2022 he registered as a full-time Honours degree student. For Mpungose, juggling both being a full-time student and an employee was hectic as the amount of time he had was limited. He added that at times it felt impossible to pass the qualification because of the amount of work that was required from him at a very short span of time and so he would stay up late to catch up with his school work.
Mpungose advised students to be dedicated towards their schoolwork and that one does not need to be the smartest one in the room to achieve greatness. He further advised that one should engage with their lecturers in order to stay informed about all the assessments and make use of study materials available to them.
“Understanding what you are capable of is the biggest factor in improving yourself. I am always determined to reach my full potential. Self-discipline and consistency are what drives me to greatness,” said Mpungose.
Pictured: Mduduzi Mpungose
Photographer: Khulasande Tshayile
Nikiwe Sukazi
