Durban University of Technology (DUT) hosted its 2020 Spring Virtual Graduation ceremony on the DUT website: www.dut.ac.za and DUT YouTube channel: DutCampusTv today, Monday, 30 November 2020.
This was the second season of virtual graduation events hosted by DUT this year, after the 2020 Autumn Virtual Graduation which was held on 10 June 2020.
A total of 1117 graduands, across all six faculties, graduated from DUT today. The names of all graduates appeared on the graduation roll, on screen, and we highlighted those who graduated Cum Laude and those who earned the prestigious Dean’s Merit Award. The graduation roll for all six faculties is available on the DUT website.
The Programme Director was Mr. Zwakele Ngubane, DUT’s Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations, who welcomed the esteemed DUT Chancellor, Ms. Nonkululeko Nyembezi; DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu; the Deputy Vice-Chancellors, the Registrar, Executive Deans, students and their families and friends who were watching the online broadcast of the graduation ceremony.
Ngubane said that DUT had decided to continue hosting the graduation ceremonies online, in keeping with the COVID-19 public health guidelines and restrictions related to events. He made it clear that DUT will resume with traditional graduation events as soon as it was safe to assemble.
“On a positive note, DUT was recently ranked in the Top 5 of all South African universities in the 2021 World University Rankings and rated in the Top 500 globally. We are grateful and proud of our students and staff who continue to lead, succeed and excel, as we strive to improve lives and livelihoods with ENVISION 2030,” said Ngubane.
He congratulated all of the graduates who were now part of the DUT Alumni, wishing them success and good fortune always.
In constituting the virtual congregation and sharing her opening remarks, The Chancellor Ms. Nyembezi said that she was acutely aware that some of the graduates will be extremely disappointed that they are missing out on the ceremonial traditions of graduation. “It is certainly most unfortunate that our world is gripped in a severe fight against COVID-19 and I trust that you will agree with me, when I say, that we have to place the health and safety of our graduates, their families and our staff, above all else. So, thank you for your understanding and support, as we host our virtual, online, graduation ceremony today,” said Ms. Nyembezi.
Furthermore, she said as the Chancellor of DUT, she was always filled with immense pride during the graduation season.
“The culmination of your hard work and the achievement that your efforts have conceived is good news for our country and our continent. I wish you continued success and good fortune in the years ahead. I also want to thank your parents, guardians, friends and funders for supporting you through your studies at DUT. And finally, I must also acknowledge the team at DUT, who have supported our graduands over the years,” said Ms. Nyembezi.
Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Thandwa Mthembu delivered a short address thanking the families and the sponsors of the graduates for supporting them through thick and thin over the years. “Some went hungry just for you to earn this qualification. Some of your siblings sacrificed so much to give you the opportunity you got and that they may not have had and may never ever have. They all look forward to you putting your knowledge, your high levels skills, and the innovations these should spawn as you demonstrate those compelling and innovative ways you will choose to insert yourself into the broader society and its organs. Our ailing and COVID-19 battered economy awaits your innovations to turn it around,” said Professor Mthembu.
The ceremony ended with the singing of the national anthem of the Republic of South Africa before it was dissolved officially by the Chancellor, Ms. Nyembezi.
Simangele Zuma
