Becoming adaptive graduates encompassing living all the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) ENVISION2030 values and principles, and being creative, distinctive and impactful in society is what DUT aims to impart to its graduands.
Day one of the prestigious Durban University of Technology (DUT) 2024 Midlands Autumn Graduation saw 261 Faculty of Arts and Design graduands taking centre stage with great pomp and fair at the first graduation session at Indumiso Campus in Pietermaritzburg on Monday, 13 May 2024.
Officially welcoming the graduands, academics, parents, sponsors and various other stakeholders to the event was Senior Director of Corporate Affairs: Mr Alan Khan.
He gave a special welcome to the graduands, their parents, guardians, family and friends, supporters and funders, those who had assembled in the hall and those watching the ceremony via the live stream, online.
“The DUT ENVISION2030 strategy, which was launched by our Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu in 2020, is continuing to have a meaningful impact on our university. We are grateful and extremely proud of our students and staff who consistently live the values in the DUT ENVISION2030 strategy,” he said.
He reiterated that a total of 6199 adaptive graduates will walk the red carpet as DUT hosts the 28 graduation ceremonies in Pietermaritzburg and Durban.
“This year, 61% of our adaptive graduates are women which means that the ladies dominate the graduate list and that girl power is alive and well at DUT,” he said.
Mr Khan also excitedly informed the enthused graduands that DUT will be also awarding an Honorary Doctorate to Ms Gcina Mhlope, the famous South African storyteller, writer, poet, playwright, activist and actress.
“We are immensely proud to welcome Ms Mhlope into the DUT family,” he added.
Adding to the welcome address was the Interim Campus Director of the Midlands campuses, Prof Mashupye Kgaphola, who spoke to the stars of the moment, the DUT graduands.
“This is the day on which we have come together to pay respect, to bestow academic honour and to celebrate our graduands. Also, we have come to, in a sense, induct our graduands into new sets of communities stating with the community of our graduates. We are here together to be witnesses to the sweat and labour that our graduands have sown into their studies over the last couple of years. As we celebrate with our graduands, we are mindful that they have been part of a generation of students who have had to contend with some of the most challenging circumstances of our time. For some, there have been challenges of transitioning from their comfortable local contexts and familiar faces to a new, and sometime faraway place, in Pietermaritzburg,” he stated.
He expressed that this is a generation of hope as they have clearly demonstrated this through their relentless achievements.
The ceremony saw the two Doctor of Philosophy in Education degrees being bestowed to graduands, Mthabisi Mabaleka and Herbet Muradzikwa.
Adding to the academic coffer of excellence was Philani Brian Mlambo (26), who hails from Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal. He was extremely excited to have obtained his Degree of Master of Education in Adult and Community Education and Training Teaching. Further testifying that it was never an easy journey.
“This is my biggest day ever. I have been waiting for it. Well, as you know studies are not easy, you must keep on pushing. At some point, I felt like I could give up, but I always remembered why I started my journey in the first place,’’ he said.
Retired educator and DUT part-time lecturer Mbongeni Jonathan Mthethwa, lauded DUT for massively contributing to his decorated academic journey.
The 63-year-old, hailing Pietermaritzburg achieved his Master’s which was not easy, especially at his age. He further encouraged young ones to chase their dreams.
“It was challenging but I persevered and my passion to contribute to the academic future kept me going. Whether you are old or young never stop chasing your dreams,’’ he concluded.
The DUT Midlands Autumn Graduation will end on Tuesday, 14 May 2024, which will see more graduands from the Faculties of Management Sciences, Health Sciences and Engineering and the Built Environment obtaining their qualifications, and it is also expected to be a hive of activities.
Pictured: Dr Mthabisi Mabaleka and Dr Herbet Muradzikwa and Master’s graduands, Philani Brian Mlambo and Mthethwa Mbongeni, at the first graduation ceremony at Indumiso campus.
Photography: Mnqobi Mngobese
Vukani Langa/Waheeda Peters
