Dr Margaretha Maria Peté was over the moon when she was conferred the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Visual and Performing Arts at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Celebratory Autumn Graduation ceremony which took place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Durban International Convention Centre, on Wednesday, 20 July 2022.

Her thesis is titled: A poetic inquiry into lecturers’ encounters with Technological teaching tools.

Dr Peté relayed that her thesis was about the lecturer’s engagement with technology, especially, during COVID-19 where the university went virtual overnight.

“This study asked how poetic inquiry (PI) can contribute to capturing the full complexity of lecturers’ encounters with technological teaching tools; and how the Actor Network Theory (ANT) and its theoretical relations can help to comprehend how agency plays out during these encounters,” she said.

She explained that she conducted virtual interviews about their virtual teaching.

“That’s why I managed to capture I would say the resilience and their agony. I had a view into their private life and private homes while they were working because of the methods with the teams recording. I could write much broader and deeper than just the technical aspects of teaching,” she added.

Dr Pete said this felt like it’s the beginning of a journey, in terms of her research.

“I’m ready now, my mind has done lots of mind yoga. so I’m fit now to start writing, my sixth book was published this year, but the collection from the thesis will be a collection number seven, she conveyed.

Another Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Visual and Performing Arts was bestowed upon James Gregory Streak, his thesis is titled: Making Beyond Nothingness: An Artistic Challenge to the Unaesthetic Language of the Public Place.

Five Degree of Master of Applied Arts were awarded to graduates in Fashion, Fine Art, Journalism and Language Practice.

The session was also a special one because the Faculty of Arts and Design at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) celebrated the Honorary Doctorate recipient, the legendary actress Dr Thembi Mtshali-Jones, during the opening session of the DUT Celebratory Autumn Graduation ceremony

She was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Visual and Performing Arts, in recognition of her remarkable contribution to the world of Arts.

Pictured: Dr Margaretha Maria Peté

Photography: Mfundiso Khanyile

Nonkululeko Ngcobo/Waheeda Peters