The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment proudly congratulates Dr Innocentia Mkhize, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering, on receiving the Platinum Award for Excellence in Innovative Curriculum at the Coastlands Musgrave Hotel in Durban, on Friday, 24 October 2025.
This prestigious award recognises Dr Mkhize’s outstanding leadership in curriculum transformation and her commitment to advancing innovative teaching and learning practices. The honour celebrates her pioneering work in the Green Engineering Module, which she teaches to Honours students in the Department of Chemical Engineering.
Launched in 2024, the Green Engineering module integrates sustainability, design thinking, and entrepreneurship, encouraging students to develop creative solutions to real-world environmental challenges. The initiative actively involves local industries and entrepreneurs from nearby townships, creating meaningful partnerships among the university, industry, and community. This approach not only enhances student learning but also supports DUT’s goal of fostering social innovation and impact-driven education.
Dr Mkhize expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) for their grant support and continuous guidance, which have significantly contributed to the success of the project. She also thanked her colleagues, and industry partners for their collaborative support.
“This award is a collective achievement that reflects DUT’s vision to nurture creativity, sustainability, and social responsibility in higher education,” said Dr Mkhize. “Through the Green Engineering module, we are preparing our students to become adaptive graduates who can think critically, innovate responsibly, and make a tangible difference in society.”
Her work embodies DUT’s Philosophy of Education, which is grounded in developing adaptive graduates who are capable of critical thinking, effective communication, and meaningful contribution to society. Dr Mkhize’s achievements exemplify DUT’s Envision 2030 mission Creative. Distinctive. Impactful. positioning her as a leading advocate for transformative, community-connected engineering education.
Pictured: Dr Innocentia Mkhize
Photography: Zamani Mathe
Pictured: Prof Sudesh Rathilal: Chemical Engineering, together with Prof Molusiwa Ramabodu, HOD: Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, congratulates Dr Innocentia Mkhize, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering, on receiving the Platinum Award for Excellence in Innovative Curriculum.
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