DUT is now one of the proud affiliates of the Golden Key International Honour Society which connects high-achieving individuals locally and globally with lifetime opportunity, reward and success.

The first official meeting for the DUT Golden Key Chapter was held this month (September) at the Steve Biko Campus.

Golden Key International Honour Society is an internationally recognised, non profit organisation affiliated with over 400 universities throughout Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, the Bahamas, South Africa, India and the United States.

Membership into the society – which honours, recognises and encourages academic excellence amongst students – is solely based on merit. Only 15 percent of the top students who have completed at least one year of study can be taken on board. Golden Key also brings together students from diverse backgrounds and reinforces students’ interaction with university leaders.

The meeting between DUT and the society was coordinated by the Student Counselling and Health Department. “The aim of the meeting is to start discussing the way forward for the chapter at DUT with academic and management staff,” said Robyn-Leigh Smith, DUT Golden Key Chapter Advisor and Psychologist within the Department. “It is hoped that Golden Key will commence with the first group of students (BTech and above) in 2015. We also want to start advertising the society to all students as soon as possible,” she said.

Primary negotiations were initiated by Deva Govindasamy, Co-ordinator of the International School Programme and Special Projects at DUT. Govindasamy started negotiations with Golden Key in November 2012.

DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Ahmed Bawa said the University must make sure that the Chapter is successful so that talented students at the University enjoy opportunities afforded by the Chapter.

– Talent Buthelezi

Pictured from left to right: Psychologist and DUT Golden Key Chapter Advisor, Robyn-Leigh Smith; International School Programme and Special Projects Co-ordinator, Deva Govindasamy; Golden Key South Africa Director, Dorette Parsons and Golden Key South Africa Chapter Relations Officer, Stephan Gericke at the first official Golden Key Chapter meeting at DUT.