Third-year students in the Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology in Internet of Things (BICIoT) programme at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) showcased their innovative solutions to real-world challenges during the 2026 BICIoT Third-Year Project Exhibition on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
Hosted by the Information Systems Department in the Faculty of Accounting and Informatics (FAI), the exhibition took place at the IoT Laboratory on the ML Sultan Campus. It provided students with an opportunity to demonstrate working prototypes developed by applying the knowledge and skills acquired throughout their studies.
The exhibition marked an important milestone for the programme, with the second cohort of BICIoT students expected to graduate in 2027. Students were tasked with identifying real-world problems, designing feasible solutions within practical constraints and developing prototypes that demonstrated the potential of Internet of Things technologies.
Welcoming guests, Head of the Information Systems Department, Professor Nalen Naicker, commended the students for their perseverance and dedication in completing a demanding qualification. He also highlighted the programme’s continued development and the progress made in the quality of students’ projects.
“This is the second cohort of students that will be graduating from the programme, and I think every year we are getting better and better in terms of our IoT deliverables. We are looking forward to seeing some fantastic projects today,” said Prof Naicker.
He emphasised that employability remains a key outcome of the qualification, encouraging students to continue strengthening their technical competencies as they prepare to transition from academia into industry. He congratulated them on progressing to their final year and wished them well in their future careers.
The BICIoT Programme Coordinator, Dr Oyeniyi Alimi, described the exhibition as an important platform for demonstrating how students could apply the knowledge gained throughout their qualification to address societal challenges.
“The projects you will see today represent much more than the work completed in a single module. They are the result of a collective effort by academic staff teaching across various modules, whose contributions have helped students develop the skills and knowledge demonstrated during the exhibition,” said Dr Alimi.
He explained that the projects reflected the learning journey students had undertaken from their first year through to their final year, demonstrating their growing ability to apply technology to problems affecting communities and society more broadly.
Dr Alimi added that the exhibition reflected DUT’s commitment to producing innovative, adaptable and socially responsible graduates who can translate theoretical knowledge into practical solutions. He also highlighted the role of the Engineering Practice Innovation Project (EPIP) model of teaching and learning in preparing students to tackle real-world challenges.
“This exhibition is also an outcome of the EPIP model of teaching and learning. It reflects our commitment to creating opportunities where students can connect theoretical knowledge with practical experience and develop solutions that address real-world challenges. Through this process, students learn to think critically, work collaboratively, communicate effectively and become active contributors to society,” he said.
Following the opening programme, academics and industry representatives toured the exhibition, where students presented their projects, demonstrated how their prototypes worked and answered questions about their development processes, challenges and potential applications.
Professor Mogiveny Rakoomar praised the students for the quality of their work, highlighting the level of innovation, technical competence and problem-solving reflected in the projects.
“The projects showcased by the students were truly remarkable. I was highly impressed by the level of innovation, technical competence and problem-solving demonstrated throughout the exhibition. Some of the work presented is comparable to projects that one would expect to see at Master’s and even PhD level. This speaks volumes about the quality of the programme and the commitment of the students,” said Prof Rakoomar.
Industry representative Lister Dube from Pert Industrials also commended the students for developing solutions that combined creativity with practical relevance.
“I was impressed by the creativity and functionality of the projects presented today. The students have shown that they can identify real-world challenges and develop practical solutions using emerging technologies. These are the kinds of skills that industry is looking for, and it is encouraging to see graduates who are already thinking innovatively and applying technology in meaningful ways,” said Dube.
The exhibition highlighted the technical capabilities of BICIoT students and the programme’s emphasis on practical, industry-relevant learning. As they prepare for graduation in 2027, the second cohort has demonstrated its ability to apply emerging technologies, solve problems and develop solutions with the potential to make a meaningful contribution to society.
Pictured: Third-year students in the Bachelor of Information and Communications Technology in Internet of Things (BICIoT) during their Project Exhibition.
Sinamile Sithole
