In preparation for the year ahead (2018), The Durban University of Technology’s Department of Student Housing and Residence life held a leadership induction at St Michaels Sands in Port Shepstone last weekend.

The three days’ leadership mentoring workshop was aimed at equipping residence student leaders with necessary skills to perform their extra-curricular work while leading students within the university residences.

Senior Residence life officer and induction organiser, Phumlani Mnyango said the reception was positive and residence leaders were excited about the whole induction process.

“We had a number of topics that were presented during the induction, such as graduate attributes, students leadership dynamics, balancing residence leadership and academic excellence which will help students to become all rounded graduates of DUT,” said Mnyango.

With all the effort from student housing and residence life department to produce all rounded graduates, Mnyango said the main objective was to prepare residence leaders on how to maintain order and make residence environments a conducive place.

“Residence leaders’ responsibilities are to create and implement edutainment programmes, ensuring that such developmental programmes take place within residences and also act as a mediator for students,” said Mnyango.

Khethukuthula Mabaso , a second year-graphic design class representative and elected Upton residence house committee chairperson, believes that all DUT student leaders ought to undergo such training as there was a lot that a leader had to learn before embarking on the post.

“Student representatives in every department at DUT should also be considered to have their induction so that they can learn more about leading students and principles of being a leader as I did during the induction,” said Mabaso.

Mabaso further acknowledged the importance of the induction eluding that as an elected candidate at Upton residence he was not aware of any constitution to follow as a house committee.

“Being part of the induction really opened up my mind and taught me that if you are a leader there are rules you need to follow which can guide you to overcome challenging situations at residences and to be able to perform your duties to the best of your ability,” said Mabaso.

Picture: Residence advisors and residence student leaders during their induction.

Mbuso Kunene.