Four DUT Tourism students are flying the University’s flag at a major African tourism conference where they will get a once in a lifetime opportunity to enrich their curriculum, get career guidance and build a network of peers and continued opportunities.

The students are attending the IMEX-MCI-MPI Future Leaders Forum which started yesterday (Monday February 25, 2014) and ends tomorrow (Wednesday February 26, 2014). The Forum is being held at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg

Last year (2013), a group of four students from the University were also selected to attend the event.

Hosted by the SA National Convention Bureau (SANCB) and IMEX-MCI; an independent, global communications and event management company), the Forum is being hosted at this year’s Meetings Africa.

Meetings Africa is the continent’s premier business trade show where (Africa’s) business leaders gather with local, regional as well as international corporate, government and incentive business event buyers or decision makes. The event also showcases Africa’s diverse offerings of services and products.

The IMEX-MCI-MPI Future Leaders Forum was developed to encourage the best and brightest students to enter the meetings and incentive travel industry. Tourism academics are tasked with selecting their top four third-year event students to participate in the event. In order to make the cut, students must perform well academically and must demonstrate learning and a potential for future involvement in the Business Events industry.

Sphamandla Khomo, 23, said he is excited about meeting people from the industry, adding he will use the opportunity to the max. “I’d like to come back with information that will also help other (tourism) students who didn’t get this chance,” he said.

Faheema Mohamed, 21, said attending the conference would provide her with the opportunity to network and share ideas. At the conference, she aims to network especially with representatives from the travel and eco tourism industries. “Eco tourism deals with the sustainability of tourism which is a great interest to me. At the moment, eco tourism is lacking in South Africa. I will definitely interact with people from these sectors,” she said.

Lungile Khumalo, 23, said she is excited to get the chance to learn about the tourism industry as a whole. “It’s important for students to attend these events because they get to network, ask questions, learn and acquire skills,” she said.

Lesleen Mukharonda, 21, also echoed Khumalo’s sentiments, saying events such as the IMEX-MCI-MPI Future Leaders Forum allow students to learn more and network with people who are already in the industry. “It’s important for students to attend such events because being at university isn’t only about theory. You still have to get out there and participate in the real industry,” she said.

– Sinegugu Ndlovu

Pictured: The four students with their lecturer Munnir Shaw (centre) before heading to Johannesburg to participate in the IMEX-MCI-MPI Future Leaders Forum. From left: Sphamandla Khomo, Lungile Khumalo, Munnir Shaw, Faheema Mohamed and Lesleen Mukharonda.