Nokulindwa Jele’s academic excellence is driven by something beyond her personal goals, a passion to empower young women not only to pursue, but also to excel in STEM fields.

The 26-year-old from Mayflower, Mpumalanga who holds a Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Electronic Engineering, graduated Cum Laude and received the Dean’s Merit Award for academic excellence for her Advanced Diploma in Operations Management at DUT’s Autumn Graduation Ceremony held at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban on Tuesday, 26 May 2026.

“I feel incredibly grateful and proud. It shows that the sacrifices and long hours were worth it. It is more than a personal achievement. It motivates me to keep pushing and to show other students that consistency and hard work do pay off. I also want to mentor young women in STEM and management fields,” she said.

Nokulindwa said her academic journey taught her resilience, time management, and the importance of using the support services available at DUT. Each qualification has built on the last and shaped her into a more well-rounded professional.

One of the biggest challenges in her academic journey came during the COVID-19 pandemic, when learning shifted from on-campus classes to online platforms.

Balancing work and studies was another challenge. Travelling from work to campus for classes and then back home was exhausting, especially as she lived far from campus. However, she managed by planning her time carefully and staying focused on her goals.

Nokulindwa has always been passionate about technology and problem solving. She chose operations management to broaden her skills and create more career opportunities in management and process improvement.

Among DUT’s Living Values and Principles, she identifies most strongly with Excellence and Resilience.

“I always strive to produce quality work in everything I do, and my journey has forced me to be resilient because it required me to adapt to changes such as COVID-19 and continue despite personal and logistical challenges,” she explained.

Looking ahead, she plans to pursue a postgraduate diploma or master’s degree in management or a related field.

“I believe in lifelong learning and staying updated in my industry,” she said.

She also hopes to gain practical experience in operations and project management, with the aim of becoming an operations or engineering manager focused on improving efficiency and organisational processes.

Sharing advice with first-year students, Jele encouraged them to remain disciplined and make use of available resources.

“Start early, stay consistent, and do not be afraid to ask for help. Use DUT’s library, tutors, and online resources,” she advised.

She also expressed gratitude to DUT lecturers and staff, as well as her family and friends, for their unwavering support throughout her academic journey.

Pictured: Nokulindwa Jele.

Photographer: Khulasande Tshayile.

Vukani Langa