Durban University of Technology (DUT) has launched the ENVISION2030 Living Values Framework. The five values are identified as transparency, honesty, integrity, respect and accountability. The principles espoused are fairness, professionalism, commitment, compassion and excellence. DUT’s Communications team, Simangele Zuma spoke to Ms Bongiwe Mnyandu, Assistant Registrar, managing the academic data and student records at DUT.
Q: Kindly tell me about your role at DUT?
A: “I am an Assistant Registrar at DUT, managing the academic data and student records portfolio for the institution, this entails capturing and maintaining the approved institutional curriculum onto the information system that runs our student life cycle from enrolment all the way to graduation. On the student records side we ensure the student records are kept up to date, archived and available on digital platforms for all day to day operations of the institution, this is from the first time that a student enrols with DUT to graduation. Student records performs a support function to alumni students by providing qualification verification services as well as document solution via Student Records support desk which was established in 2022.”
Q: How long have you been a member of the DUT family?
A: “I joined DUT from February 2020.”
Q: Amongst the mentioned ENVISION2030 Living Values and Principles, which one do you mostly associate with and why?
A: “Professionalism, because I conduct myself in a professional manner and communicate in a professional manner in all settings. I strongly believe it is a characteristic that can be cultivated and harnessed in every employee to propel DUT into great heights.”
Q: What are your views on the new DUT tagline: Creative. Distinctive. Impactful.
A: “The tagline shows that DUT is poised to be a university that embraces innovation by adopting digital technology to ensure it continues to be a leading institution of higher learning for its community.”
Q: How are you planning to keep abreast with the ENVISION2030 Living Values Framework?
A: “By constantly engaging with colleagues to promote the ethos, participating in all events that elevate this way of being for the institution, to ensure it indeed becomes part of our DNA and keeping myself informed of all developments in this regard.”
Q: What is the one thing that most people do not know about you?
A: “I am such a nerd, which is something most people tend to not expect from a farm girl like me.”
Q: In your opinion, how will the ENVISION2030 Living Values Framework benefit DUT?
A: “ENVISION2030 is unique and was developed with great wisdom of what is possible for DUT, as a result it will propel DUT in a direction never seen before. It has all the necessary elements needed to become very prestigious so there lies the benefit.”
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: “I love animation particularly short films with lessons in them, I read books that can impact my life in a positive supporting my personal development, drawing especially during loadshedding and travel whenever the opportunity presents itself.”
Q: How do you plan to make a positive impact at DUT?
A: “By embracing the Living Values Framework and assisting others to do the same and fully digitising student records so our students can reap the benefit of online support.”
Q: What is your daily motivation?
A: “Every day I get an opportunity to make a positive contribution to the betterment of the students’ experience at DUT.”
Q: What are your future goals at DUT?
A: “A fully digitised student life cycle at DUT is part of my goals where students are able to be provided with real time online support for all student administration processes from enrolment through to graduation.”
Q: If you were granted one wish, what would it be?
A: “For all South Africans to conduct themselves with honour and integrity in all that they do.”
