First-year students from the Durban campuses together with their parents and guardians will get to meet the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu during their official welcome day at the Curries Fountain Stadium in Durban on Tuesday, 04 February 2025 from 09h00. The Midlands first-year students will be officially welcomed at the Sports Centre, Indumiso campus in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday, 05 February 2025 from 09h00.
All guests are to be seated by 08h30 and both ceremonies will be broadcast live on the University’s website: www.dut.ac.za
The Vice-Chancellor and Principal’s Welcome Day ceremonies form part of the First-Year Student Orientation Week to help the first-year students to #ADAPT@DUT and to bridge the gap between high school life and university life. In Durban, the Orientation programme will start on Tuesday, 04 February 2025 to Saturday, 08 February 2025 at the Curries Fountain Stadium and Fred Crookes Sports Centre in Steve Biko campus. The Midlands First Year Student Orientation week is set to commence on Wednesday, 05 February 2025 and conclude on Saturday, 08 February 2025 at the Indumiso Campus Sports Centre and the Fred Crookes Sport Centre in Steve Biko campus on the last day.
The DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal is expected to congratulate the first time entering students on successfully completing Grade 12 and for making DUT their university of choice. He will briefly touch on the university’s ENVISION2030 strategy and the significance of the DUT tagline: Creative. Distinctive. Impactful. To highlight the DUT excellence, Professor Mthembu will share some of the university accomplishments and accolades, whilst motivating the new students to align themselves to ENVISION2030. All new students will get to pledge their commitment to ENVISION2030.
The Orientation programme is designed to introduce and orientate first-year students and their parents to the range of services, facilities and aspects of university life unique to DUT. The theme ADAPT@DUT stands for Academic support, Diversity and Inclusion, Agility and Attunement, Participation and Transition.
According to Dr Mzwandile Khumalo, Siyaphumelela Institutional lead and a DUT Teaching, Learning and Development Practitioner the ADAPT@DUT programme is designed to foster a smooth transition and integration into the campus, and to promote student success and retention, by putting students at the centre of the main and co-curricular activities as co-creators of their own experience.
First-year students will explore how they want to engage, learn and thrive in their university community and beyond. The programme will consist of facilitative experiential learning opportunities for first-year students that include: Nurturing a smooth academic and campus transition for first time entering students, Inculcating a sense of belonging, and a culture of active participation and agency and Creating and enhancing an enabling environment that is supportive of holistic development and success.
Pictured: DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu.
Simangele Zuma
