Durban University of Technology (DUT) 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, Waheeda Peters spoke to Dr Darlington Ikegwuoha who is the acting Head of Department, Civil Engineering in the Midlands.

 Q: Kindly tell me about your role at DUT? 

A: “I have been the acting Head of Department in the Department of Civil Engineering Midlands for one year. The role is a challenging but a fulfilling one. It requires one who is passionate about the department to navigate through and subdue the challenges that come with this territory. The role involves ensuring that the department runs smoothly like a well-oiled machine. This means making sure that quality measures are in place to inspire and accelerate the effective facilitation and delivery of teaching and learning, research and innovation, and sponsored engagements. It is pivotal to achieving these goals in the department.”

 Q: How long have you been a member of the DUT family?   

A: “I joined the DUT family in August 2019.”

Q: Amongst the mentioned ENVISION2030 Living Values and Principles, which one do you mostly associate with and why?  

A: “If I must choose just one, it will be integrity because in this very nuanced role, integrity possesses the binder properties to glue all nine values together.”

Q: What are your views on the new DUT tagline: Creative. Distinctive. Impactful?   

A: “The DUT tagline is very fitting because it lends itself to the DNA of DUT. Within the very competitive and cut-throat industry of academia, DUT’s creativity has sustained it thus far. This creativity is distinctive, and this explains why it has continued to grow and thrive. DUT’s impact in the community has kept it relevant in society. This type of impact can only be forged in the fire of commitment and excellence.”

Q: How are you planning to keep abreast with the ENVISION2030 Living Values Framework?  

A: “I plan to read, memorise, and meditate upon these values. Setting strategic targets which are appraised periodically are some of the ways I plan to keep a robust relationship with ENVISION2030. Thus, I have infused and integrated them into my KPAs and my performance agreements with my line managers using clear KPIs of these targets.”

Q: What is the one thing that most people do not know about you?

 A: “The one thing that people may not know about me is that I am very spiritually inclined. I like to use the not so famous words attributed or misattributed to Nicola Tesla, the day science begins to study non-physical phenomena, it will make more progress in one decade that in all the previous centuries of its existence.”

Q: In your opinion, how will the ENVISION2030 Living Values Framework benefit DUT?   

A: “The vision is one that if imbibed by all members of the DUT family will give DUT an international edge over many institutions of learning and practice by making DUT a centre of excellence and best practices.”

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?   

 A: “Study what happens in the higher spaces of life and try to relate them to life in the lower reaches of existence.”

Q: How do you plan to make a positive impact at DUT?   

 A: “By aiming to impress my students and colleagues every day through excellence and commitment.”

Q: What is your daily motivation?   

 A: “To put a smile on the face of at least two persons daily.”

Q: What are your future goals at DUT?   

 A: “I aim to become a renowned professor with impacts in both teaching and learning as well as research and innovation.”

Q: If you were granted one wish, what would it be? 

A: “I would love to have hindsight and foresight, all from one viewpoint.”