The Dean of Students at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), Dr Clement Moreku is happy to welcome the first-year students to be part of the DUT community. He described these students as the “best” as DUT received many applications but could only take the best, based on the available spaces for first time entering students.
Dr Moreku is cautioning the first-year students to be aware that they will meet all kinds of people and experiences that would be part of their learning experiences (not limited to the classroom) but life itself.
“Let me give you two related quotes, one, ‘eagles hunt alone, but flies gather to celebrate death and decay’. Two, ‘a milk that does not attract flies, is no milk at all’, the essence of the two quotes is: when you have so much happening, meeting new people, a new partner maybe, the question is are you the milk they see life in or are you the death and decay they see no value in?” asked Dr Moreku as he prepares the first-year students for university life.
He indicated that the new students’ focus should be on their books, and involvement in activities that the university has set to support and develop. He stressed that there are lots of sporting codes to partake in, as the saying goes “mens sana in corpore sano” usually translated as “a healthy mind in a healthy body”. Importantly, Dr Moreku said as a first-year student one has to work towards the goals set for one’s
self, “ubambe ifocus” (be focused) and that is nothing else but academic excellence.
“The two cities we are situated in, Durban and Pietermaritzburg have so many destructions, the nightlife, and groove but you must choose to be self-disciplined,” advised Dr Moreku.
Speaking on the programmes DUT has in place to assist the new students to integrate to the university life, Dr Moreku said: “We understand that the first year at the University is very critical in determining the success of our students. With this in mind, we have employed a Holistic Student Support approach in the design of initiatives that recognises the students’ ways of being, doing and knowing. Initiatives such as the Know your cash, financial literacy Campaigns, Vuna Leadership Academy, Dean’s Student-Led Conversations and many programmes in the Student Housing and Residence Life. We have a variety of sport activities that you may affiliate with even represent the university at a national and international level.”
He also encouraged the students to join the clubs and societies, and perhaps start their own, not limited to political and religious, but also academic, art and innovation. Dr Moreku reiterated that students have a critical role to play through activism as agents of change.
Assuring the parents that their children are in the right place, Dr Moreku indicates that the ENVISION2030 outlines that DUT is committed to nurturing the students to be entrepreneurial, to be thought-leaders and stewards of change, to be innovative and creative.
“Our people (both staff and students) have an important role to play towards the realisation of the university’ strategic direction. We would need to work with parents to ensure that the well-being of the students is taken good care of. We have all kinds of support to ensure the well-being of your children (our students), this includes psychological support, career support, academic advising and the above-mentioned activities. But as parents, your role does not end now that students are with us. You still have a major role to play in pruning the tree, for it to bare fruits. Therefore, we have a collective duty and responsibility to produce an agile and a dynamic graduate with requisite skills and knowledge to face the world,” added Dr Moreku.
Lastly, Dr Moreku’s message to first-year students is that their journey starts now and the finishing line is theirs. He stated that 2023 is a game changer for them, they will be trained to become the best professional they ought to be.
Pictured: DUT Dean of Students, Dr Clement Moreku.
Simangele Zuma
