Earlier this morning, Monday, 20 May 2024, the Durban University of Technology (DUT) kickstarted its 2024 Autumn Graduation ceremonies at the Olive Convention Centre.
DUT is set to host 22 sessions in Durban starting from Monday, 20 May 2024 to Tuesday, 28 May 2024. The Durban graduation is set to end on a high note with the Faculty of Arts and Design conferring an Honorary Doctoral Award to a world-renowned South African storyteller, author, poet, playwright and actress, Ms Nokugcina Elsie Mhlophe, popularly known as “Gcina Mhlophe”. The honorary degree will be conferred during the closing ceremony, which will be held at the Olive Convention Centre, on Tuesday, 28 May 2024 at 09h00. The awarding of the honorary degree is in recognition of Gcina Mhlophe’s exceptional contribution and accomplishment in the world of the Arts, particularly in literature and the entertainment industry.
The programme director was the charismatic Mr Alan Khan, Senior Director of Corporate Affairs at DUT. He highlighted that a total number of 6991 graduands from Midlands and Durban campuses will be graduating at the DUT 2024 Autumn Graduation ceremonies, which will be held over 28 sessions. According to Mr Khan, “girl power” is once again alive and well at DUT, with over 61% of the graduands being women.
Starting the Durban graduations was the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, leading with two PhD graduates, Dr Dominique Ingala who obtained his Degree of Doctor of Engineering and Dr Comfort Iyiola who was conferred with a Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Built Environment. The faculty also honoured nine graduates who obtained their Master’s degrees at the opening ceremony. The majority of graduates obtained their Bachelor’s degrees while a few were awarded with their diplomas in their respective fields in engineering.
Dr Ingala’s thesis was titled: Predicting the Impact of IoT Devices on Radio Frequency Noise in South African Environments Using Machine Learning. Meanwhile, Dr Iyiole thesis was titled: Integrated model for enhancing the performance of value management in the Nigerian construction history.
Passing his congratulatory remarks, the Acting Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Professor Sudesh Rathilal said: “Today, you stand here, proud and accomplished, with a degree in hand and a world of possibilities at your feet. You are the future leaders, innovators, and change-makers of our global community. You are the ones who will shape the future, who will solve the complex problems that face our world, and who will make a positive impact on the lives of others. May your future be bright, may your impact be profound, and may your legacy be one of kindness, compassion, and love.”
Prof Rathilal further made reference to the late former President, Nelson Mandela who once said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.’ He told the graduates that were now armed with that weapon. “Go out and make your mark! Go out and make a difference! Go out and change the world!” added Prof Rathilal.
Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu extended his congratulatory message to the graduates on reaching this important personal milestone.
“Many of you would have joined DUT in 2020/2021 when the whole world was still reeling from the ravages of COVID-19 and its attendant disruption of your education and destruction of the global economy. Over that period and beyond, you demonstrated adaptability, agility and resilience characteristic of DUT people and the DUT Way. Earning your qualification is not only a measure of your academic potential. It also certifies your ability to cope with the abiding reality of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity that life is about the world over,” he commented.
Prof Mthembu also thanked all the guests who have witnessed this milestone that the DUT adaptive graduates have reached.
#DUTGrad24 #UnlockedExcellence #AdaptiveGraduates
Pictured: Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu, at the first session of grad at the Durban Olive Centre.
Photographer: Mnqobi Mngobese
Simangele Zuma/Waheeda Peters
