Durban University of Technology (DUT) officially launched the ENVISION2030 Living Values Framework, comprising five core values: transparency, honesty, integrity, respect and accountability. These values are underpinned by the principles of fairness, professionalism, commitment, compassion and excellence. DUT Communications team member, Sinamile Sithole recently engaged in a conversation with Professor Kayode Timothy Akindeji, Acting Head of Department for Electrical Power Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment to delve into the living values framework and ENVISION2030.
Q: Kindly tell me about your role at DUT?
A: “Presently, I am the Acting Head Of Department for Electrical Power Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment.”
Q: How long have you been a member of the DUT family?
A: “I joined DUT twelve years ago, precisely on 01 June 2013.”
Q: Amongst the mentioned ENVISION2030 Living Values and Principles, which one do you mostly associate with and why?
A: “Without gainsaying all the values and principles are worthy to be embraced. They are interwoven or interrelated, for instance, if you are honest, you will be transparent and have integrity. If you are compassionate, you will be fair in your judgement and be committed to your assignment. I resonate more with compassion and fairness. I believe that the well being of a student or a staff member is more important than the assignment or the work to be done. In other words, I place more values on relationship than things.”
Q: What are your views on the DUT tagline: Creative, Distinctive, Impactful?
A: “As much as the tagline is eye-catching, it calls for a lot of work, commitment and dedication on the part of every member (stakeholder) of the DUT community. In order to make this tagline a reality, whereby, DUT is well known and recognised globally for creativity, distinction and impact, there must be platforms for both staff and students to do things differently. We must be intentional in all our processes and systems to focus on this tagline, that is, the tagline becoming a yardstick to measure our results or products.”
Q: How are you planning to keep abreast with the ENVISION2030 Living Values Framework?
A: “I strongly believe in doing and not teaching. As a leader and a manager, I strive to lead by putting into practice the ENVISION2030 living values in everything that I do. These values and principles will be my watchwords, before I do anything, I will ask myself if it is fair, professional, true, excellent, open etc.”
Q: What is the one thing that most people do not know about you?
A: “I met my wife here in South Africa, precisely in Pretoria despite being from the same country, Nigeria.”
Q: In your opinion, how will the ENVISION2030 Living Values Framework benefit DUT?
A: “Naturally, living (eating, sleeping, exercising) right always comes with benefits. DUT as a community will enjoy great benefits if every member lives according to the values and principles. This must start from the top and it will flow down.”
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: “I like to watch TV, specifically Supersport and HGTV channels.”
Q: How do you plan to make a positive impact at DUT?
A: “I strongly believe that since I joined DUT, I have been making a positive impact, the way I conduct myself, my relationship with students and colleagues. I do not see myself just as a lecturer to the students but as a father, an uncle and a brother. I give godly counsel to many students that I have opportunity to engage with. I will continue to use every platform available to me to influence (directly or indirectly) people around me positively. In my own view, the students are not just at DUT to be impacted with knowledge in their disciplines, there are emotional, financial, physical and spiritual needs that are required to be met in order to produce adaptive graduates that will transform our society. As a senior academic, I will continue to support other staff members to grow by providing guidance, mentorship and resources. From my experience, people do not care how much you know but how much you care, this talks about compassion, fairness and empathy.”
Q: What is your daily motivation?
A: “My daily motivation is the Word of God. Jeremiah 15:16 (NKJV) Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. Nothing inspires me like the word of God, this has been my daily meditation. Psalms 119:97 (NKJV) Oh, how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.”
Q: What are your future goals at DUT?
A: “As long as I am in DUT, my goal will be to give my best in everything that I do.”
Q: If you were granted one wish, what would it be?
A: “My outmost desire in life is to fulfil the plan of God for my life.”
