Bradley Govindasamy (22) from Stanger, KwaZulu-Natal, says his long hours of studying and perseverance has paid off.
The innovative lad completed his Bachelor of Engineering Technology Honours with academic excellence in Mechanical Engineering at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) 2026 Autum Graduation ceremony, held at the Olive convention Centre on Friday, 22 May 2026.
Currently, Bradley is employed at Tigre Solutions as a mechanical designer. His role involves designing and modifying automated machinery and mechanical systems using CAD software. This opportunity has allowed him to apply the knowledge and skills he had gained during his studies in a practical industry environment.
For Bradley, he admitted that his journey at DUT has been both challenging and rewarding, indicating that throughout his studies, he had remained focused on achieving academic excellence while also developing practical engineering and problem-solving skills.
With his immense passion for design and innovation in mechanical engineering, he believed DUT was the right place to commit to his studies in this field. During his time at DUT, he worked on various engineering projects that helped him grow technically and personally. The experience further taught him discipline, resilience, and the importance of consistency.
“Graduating Cum Laude and receiving the Dean’s Merit award is an achievement that I am extremely proud of. It reflects the hard work, sacrifices, and dedication I put into my studies over the years. It is also rewarding to know that perseverance paid off. I hope my achievement can inspire other students to believe in themselves and work towards their goals. I want to also thank my family, lecturers, and everyone who supported me throughout my academic journey. I am grateful for the opportunities and experiences DUT has provided me with, and I hope to continue making a positive contribution in the engineering field,” he expressed happily.
Associating with the DUT values and principal is a key part of his life.
“I associate with excellence, integrity, and perseverance. I believe in always giving my best in everything I do and remaining committed even when circumstances are difficult. Throughout my studies, I stayed disciplined and focused on achieving my goals while maintaining honesty and professionalism in my academic work,” he acclaimed.
For Bradley, one of his biggest challenges was commuting to campus every day, as he lived approximately 80 km away from the university. Travelling long distances while managing coursework, assignments, and studying was physically and mentally demanding at times for him. However, the experience taught him resilience, time management, and determination. Despite the challenges, he stayed committed to his studies and continued pushing himself to succeed.
An icing on the cake for Bradley was having his family every step of the way.
“My family was extremely proud and emotional when they heard the news. They have supported me throughout my academic journey, so achieving Cum Laude and receiving the Dean’s Merit award was a proud moment for all of us. Their encouragement and sacrifices motivated me to keep striving for success,” he shared.
Mechanical engineering had always been his choice of study.
“I have always been interested in how machines, systems, and technology work. I enjoy problem-solving, design, and innovation, which made mechanical engineering the perfect field for me. I was especially drawn to the creative and practical aspects of engineering,” he said.
Bradley expressed that he plans to continue learning and developing himself professionally. “I believe engineering is a field where continuous learning is important, and I would like to further expand my technical knowledge and industry experience in the future,” he added.
Going forward, Bradley’s aim is to build a successful career in mechanical engineering, particularly in mechanical design and innovation. He want to gain vast industry experience, improve his technical expertise, and contribute to projects that create practical solutions and improve systems and processes. In the long term, Bradley hopes to grow into a professional engineer and mentor future engineers as well.
His advice to a first year who wants to embark on the same career is to remain disciplined, consistent, and patient with themselves.
“ Engineering can be challenging, but perseverance and hard work make a huge difference. Do not be discouraged by setbacks or difficult modules. Stay focused on your goals, ask for help when needed, and make the most of opportunities to learn both inside and outside the classroom,” he said.
