Kuvashni Naidoo counts her journey to academic excellence as one of the most challenging journeys of her life due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic changing her life forever.
She experienced some normality as a student when she began her first year as a Public Relations and Communications Management student at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), picturesque Riverside campus in 2019.
After a year of physical classes, her journey changed to online classes, a transformation she never had anticipated but nevertheless learnt to embrace as time went by. Halfway through her second year of study she had to make the change to online classes and do a lot of her practical, group work online and contact her amazing classmates through social media as well, when the need arose.
All she wanted was to get through her studies and never thought she would achieve such amazing results.
The 21-year-old lass graduated Cum Laude and the esteemed Dean’s Merit award for her National Diploma in Public Relations and Communications Management at the Faculty of Management Sciences. She received her accolades at the DUT Autumn Celebratory Graduation at the Royal Show Grounds in Midlands on Wednesday, 27 July 2022.
“I don’t have any words to explain how excited I am. I am also very grateful that I made it this far,” she exclaimed happily.
Choosing Public Relations was something that fascinated her, especially the way companies always have to communicate with the public, and for her it was very interesting how the whole process works and comes together.
“I will definitely come back to study for my Postgraduate Diploma in Public Relations and Communications Management and perhaps right until my PhD level,” she said.
Giving the congratulatory message and vote of thanks was Professor Fulufhelo (Fulu) Netswera; Executive Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences.
He gave a few remarks to the graduates on the journey they face ahead of them.
“Firstly, let me congratulate you for working extra hard to attain your Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas and Certificates but these are only the beginning of a long journey in the coming 30 to 40 years. Some of you will appreciate the skills and knowledge that you have acquired and you should utilise this knowledge in developing our country, “he said.
He further urged graduates to go out in the real world and make South Africa shine and great again.
Pictured: Kuvashni Naidoo
Waheeda Peters
