Laptops, iPads as well as eBook Readers will be the majour prizes up for grabs to winners of the DUT Writing Competition for DUT Undergraduates when the DUT Writing Centres officially launch today (Wednesday, September 11, 2013).

The Writing Centres, being run under the office of the DVC: Academic, Professor Nomthandazo Gwele, have been established in all DUT and PMB campuses, with the exception of Brickfield and Ritson campuses. Staff and students at these campuses will be serviced by the City and Steve Biko campuses respectively. It is however important to note that the Writing Centre in the Faculty of Arts and Design at the DUT City Campus has been operational since 2008.

“It is important to note that the Centres are not remedial”, said Dr Gift Mheta, the Project Coordinator. “The Writing Centers are there to assist both staff and students with writing challenges, be it conference papers, dissertations, poetry, short stories, etc. They are also there to help those who are already talented because there’s always room for improvement. Even a sharp spear needs constant polishing. We’ve had a number of staff members who have approached us for assistance in terms of (writing) articles and conference papers and we have offered them the assistance they needed. Students are, on the other hand, generally being assisted with academic writing. The Centres came as an intervention to help students with this,” said Dr Mheta.

Instead of having two separate events, the recently established DUT Writing Centres decided to announce the winners of the Writing Competition, which received over 69 entries, at the official launch of the Writing Centres.

The competition was divided into three genres; namely short stories, poetry and essays (opinion pieces). The broad theme of the competition is Tradition and Modernity with the sub themes;

– Identity and self-representation

– Rural-urban divide

– Pan Africanism

– Colonial encounter and its consequences

– Post independent Africa

– Gender, culture and society

– Redefining traditional African culture

The competition’s submission deadline was August 8, 2013. First prize winners in each category will receive a laptop, second prize winners iPads and third prize winners eBook Readers.

Dr Gift Mheta, Co-ordinator of the DUT Writing Centres, said the Centres have enjoyed a steady increase in students needing writing assistance. Between May 14 and July 25, 2013, the Centres, excluding City Campus, were visited by 555 students who needed writing assistance. He added that the staff recruitment process is now complete, and Centers now have a total of 26 employees. Both Centres at the PMB campuses, as well as those in Durban, are now fully functional.

“The Writing Centres in both Durban and PMB are fully functional and furnished. However, improvements will continue as and when required,” said Mheta, adding that he is excited about the launch.

The launch of the Writing Centres and the announcement of the competition winners will take place as follows:

Date: Today, Wednesday September 11, 2013

Time: 1pm

Venue: Ritson Hall