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DUT Students Aim To Change The World Of Engineering

DUT Students Aim To Change The World Of Engineering

The Department of Chemical Engineering and Pulp and Paper Technology at, DUT honoured students who had excelled academically during its annual Student Awards Ceremony held at the DUT Hotel School,  Ritson Campus, on Thursday, (13 June 2019).

In attendance at the event were Professor Theo De Koker, Dr Sammy Kiambi, Ash Jaganauth, Dr Yusuf Isa (HoD), Mr Ziphathele Chamane, Mduduzi Khanyile, DUT students, DUT staff, parents, various stakeholders and external Business partners.

The initiative, held to encourage student performance, has grown over the years. Top students from all levels of study within the Department were given tribute for their academic excellence. Certificates of Merit awards (certificates and a small gift) were issued to students that received the highest mark (distinction) for each subject in BEng Tech Chemical Engineering, ND Pulp and Paper Technology, BTech Chemical Engineering and BTech Pulp and Paper Technology, in the academic year 2018. Special awards were also given to students that had the highest mark for any of the ‘corner stone subjects.’ In addition, awards were handed out for those that graduated cum laude in the programmes listed above and the MEng programme. Special awards were also given to the Top Academic Achievers in all the programmes.

HoD of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Dr Yusuf Isa said the event was aimed at recognising the good performances achieved by the DUT stakeholders (students), who were representing DUT in the industry and leading by example.

Guest speaker, engineer Ziphathele Chamane from Sapref, spoke about the latest chemical trends in terms of chemical jobs that are available, which were predominantly in the sugar, mining and nanotechnology fields. His advice to the students going out to industry were to always be committed to disciplinary delivery, be able to self-manage and to always be humble in the workplace. “As you exit the institution, remember to aim to make a success in whatever you do, so make it happen,” he said.

Second guest speaker, engineer Mduduzi Khanyile stressed to students to be innovative as they were the new breed of engineers and should aim to make a difference. “Make an impact and change the world,” he added.

Emmanuel Tetteh, who currently works at the DUT’s Department of Chemical Engineering, was overwhelmed by his awards. “I feel very excited to have achieved and won, especially for receiving the FFS Award for Top Academic Achiever (Master of Engineering). I really want to become a great researcher, so I am working hard towards achieving it,” he said.

Another award winner Kiara Govender, who won numerous awards, including the FFS Award for Top Academic Achiever (Master of Engineering), said she was so excited to have done so well. “I have always loved Maths from a young age and I have always excelled from primary to high school level, and now at tertiary level. I feel ecstatic and I really wanted to make my parents proud,” she said excitedly.

All in all, the general consensus from the various students who were awarded with one or multiple Certificates of Merit in the academic year 2018, were to continue working hard and to make a name for themselves in the Engineering industry.

Pictured: DUT students who won awards during the Chemical Engineering and Pulp and Paper Technology Annual Awards Ceremony held at DUT Hotel School, Ritson Campus.

Waheeda Peters

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