The Durban University of Technology (DUT) hosted a successful, robust Career Guidance Day with Grade 10, 11 and 12 learners from Hunt Road Secondary School in Berea, Durban, last Saturday, 28 August 2021.

Despite the cold weather, learners came in their numbers to the Career Guidance Day, which forms part of DUT’s School Engagement Project, a partnership between DUT’s International Centre of Nonviolence (ICON) and Advancement and Alumni Relations Department which was launched in 2018.

The Career Guidance Day showcased presentations from DUT’s Student Recruitment, DUT Midlands Entrepreneur Centre and Student Desk, along with its partners Career Connect and Tomorrow’s Leaders in Training (TLT), offering learners a better understanding into the qualities of a leader, as well as focusing on how the learners can achieve their personal vision and goals.

Grade10 learner, Zamandosi Ngema enjoyed the interactive sessions, expressing her interest in what DUT offers and the process on how to apply for such programmes. “I want to know all the career choices that are available at DUT and how to apply when it is time for me to do so,” she said.

For Siboniso Zondo, a Grade11 learner, he was keen to know more about the Information Technology (IT) as he believes technology is the way of the future. Grade 12 learner, Mathula Mkhize said he has now been made aware of many diverse career options that are available and based on the presentations, he feels confident that he knows what he wants to do at tertiary level.

“I feel like the presentations will help me as I go on and pursue my career when I venture into university life,” he said.

Berenice De La Croix, the Project Coordinator said: “I can say it was a very rich and inspiring Career Day that opened our learners’ eyes to the possibilities of their future.”

DUT’s Alex Mdletshe, Manager at Student Recruitment said the learners were very interactive, engaging, asking many questions, as well as very keen to learn more about DUT and the study programmes that are available, especially in the field of Information Technology.

The Career Day was well-received with many thanks by excited learners and the teachers of Hunt Road Secondary School. Several learners expressed their gratitude to DUT and its partners for bringing to the fore the qualifying criteria’s involved when applying for after-school study options through CAO as well as what career choices that are available at DUT.

The DUT Midlands Entrepreneur Centre’s Student Advisor and Liaison Coordinator, Mr Thobani Thusi spoke to the learners about the fundamentals of social entrepreneurship, stating that it always starts with an idea, igniting the learners’ minds with business ideas in order to be future business leaders and to ultimately contribute towards the growth of the country’s economy.

Thusi further shared information on the Centre’s entrepreneurship programmes that have been created to harness youth development. “I’m happy that I’m challenging the learners to think out of the box. At the beginning of the engagement it began slowly but as the presentation progressed it picked up momentum. We give the learners the freedom to engage with us, they are aware of the current problems in our society, and we encourage them to have a proactive approach to finding solutions to curbing unemployment and finding innovative solutions to those existing problems,” he said.

DUT’s partner at the event, Career Connect, gave learners access to information which is key, and feedback on their unique, ‘one-stop academic service’ that stimulates successful career pathing, planning, and integration, supporting successful career linkage for learners.

Life Orientation Teacher and one of the school coordinators, Mrs Shivani Naidoo said that despite of the weather, the learners’ spirits were not dampened.

“This may be attributed to the awesome facilitators who were punctual, displayed amazing dedication, outstanding communication and excellent inter-personal skills held together by the passionate and exceptionally well-organised glue that held it all together, like Ms Berenice De La Croix. Our staff and learners appreciate and extend a big thanks for a successful event. It was informative, educational, fun and intersectional. We look forward to future events,” she said.

Acting Head of Department at Hunt Road Secondary School, Judesha Singh thanked the DUT team for a well-planned and executed career day programme at the school.

“This will definitely guide them in making smarter choices with regard to their future, as they have been opened to a world of new possibilities such as social entrepreneurship and personal leadership. An absolutely priceless experience all round. Thank you for investing in us. We are beyond grateful,” she said.

Deputy principal at Hunt Road Secondary School, Mrs Engeline Masuku echoed her gratitude to the DUT team and its partners for hosting a successful event, adding that they hope to continue such engagements with DUT.

Pictured: The DUT Midlands Entrepreneur Centre’s Student Advisor and Liaison Coordinator, Mr Thobani Thusi with Grade11 learners from Hunt Road Secondary School, Aphile Shezi, Lebohang Sinela, Khanya Nofonta, Siboniso Zondo and Anele Ngcobo, at the Career Day.

Waheeda Peters