It was a historical moment when the Durban University of Technology (DUT) unveiled its ENVISION2030 DNA double helix monument and sealed the ENVISION2030 Time Capsule at the hybrid event, held on the Steve Biko Campus in Durban and via MS Teams, on Friday, 26 August 2022.

The DNA double helix monument, with two intertwined strands, namely ‘people-centred and engaged’ and ‘innovative and entrepreneurial’ is DUT’s pride as it symbolizes the institutional identity, character, behaviour and culture.

DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu entombing the letler in a time capsule.

DUT staff, students and guests witnessed the DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu entombing a letter in a time capsule in the monument. Prof Mthembu’s “message from the past” is expected to be received in April 2031, by the person who will be the DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal during that period when the time capsule will be unsealed. He hopes during the unsealing of the time capsule in 2031, that DUT would be in a position to celebrate the achievements of the ENVISION2030 strategy.

At the prestigious launch event, aimed at highlighting the University’s goals for the decade ahead, the University also revealed its new tagline: Creative. Distinctive. Impactful. This tagline emphasizes the key attributes of ENVISION2030.

Facilitating the event was Mr Alan Khan, Senior Director of Corporate Affairs at DUT. Mr Khan began by acknowledging the honoured guests in attendance, which included the DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Thandwa Mthembu, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement (DVC: RIE), Prof Sibusiso Moyo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning (DVC: T&L), Prof Nokuthula Sibiya, Director: Department of Institutional Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr Kavita Beemsen and DUT Registrar, Dr Maditsane Nkonoane. Based on the important activities planned on the day, Khan noted that it was a memorable day in the history of the university.

DUT Management at the launch of the DNA monument and Time Capsule.

In her welcome remarks, Prof Sibusiso Moyo, DVC: RIE said that one of their main roles as management was to translate the ENVISION2030 strategy into initiatives that could be implemented and objectives, that can be measured on an annual basis. Revealing the new tagline: Creative. Distinctive. Impactful. – Prof Moyo acknowledged the Marketing, Communications and Advertising Task Team consisting of the DUT specialists who finalised the tagline. She then went on to explain the word ‘Creative’ in the tagline and how it was aligned to ENVISION2030. Meanwhile, Prof Nokuthula Sibiya, the DVC: T&L further described the two remaining words of the tagline Distinctive and Impactful, highlighting their alignment with DUT’s 10 year strategy.

Dr Kavita Beemsen, Director: Department of Institutional Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at DUT, unpacked the ENVISION2030 strategy, explaining its four perspectives and objectives, with a hope of simplifying it to the staff and students in attendance. Dr Beemsen indicated that ENVISION2030 foregrounds creativity as a crucial skill in the tool kit of the DUT people. “Creativity is key to effective manifestation, our innovative and entrepreneurial DNA strand. Within creativity the resolve is to free the mind to imagine, to create noble ideas so that we can inspire entrepreneurship and innovation,” said Dr Beemsen.

Delivering the keynote address, Prof Mthembu began by congratulating the DUT Executive Management Committee, the Strategic Planning Working Group and the University Planning and Resources Forum for providing guidance to the ENVISION2030 strategy and the plan which is currently in place. He also congratulated the DUT community for helping to shape the DUT values and principles which came from a number of engagements in 2019. The Vice-Chancellor also thanked all those who had contributed in shaping the strategy. He spoke on the significance of the DNA monument and also on the entombing of a time capsule.

“The time capsule will be unsealed in 2031 by the Vice-Chancellor and Principal who will be in charge then, I would have retired then. I have written a long letter to him or her. The letter chronicles several events or developments at DUT including today’s event. What ENVISION2030 means to us, our numerous achievements. It also chronicles the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic, how we have been forced to reconsider what we valued, how we engaged with one another as part of the DUT way. Our core business in a value and principle based manner and how we contribute towards improving the lives and livelihoods of our people and the broader society in impactful ways,” said Prof Mthembu.

The Registrar Dr Maditsane Nkonoane concluded the event with a vote of thanks before passing the mic to the two young men, Bandile Shezi and Siboniso Xolo from the Bellhaven Harm Reduction Centre, which partners with Urban Futures Centre at DUT. The two talented musicians performed an original rap about DUT ENVISION2030.

Pictured: DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu cutting the ribbon of the DUT ENVISION2030 DNA Helix monument along with the two Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Prof Sibusiso Moyo and Prof Nokuthula Sibiya.

Photographer: Morgen Kisten

Simangele Zuma