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Future Chemical Engineers Show-off Competitive Edge

Future Chemical Engineers Show-off Competitive Edge

Being a creative problem solver is what a chemical engineer strives to be, and DUT’s Department of Chemical Engineering celebrated the success of such students at the Department’s Annual Merit Awards function.

The event was held yesterday (Tuesday, 9 June 2015) at the University’s Ritson Campus. A total of 47 certificates were issued to students in recognition for excelling in Diploma, BTech and Master of Technology courses completed in 2014. A total of 34 students were awarded with subject merits (highest mark in a subject) and 10 cum laude certificates were issued to students for their overall achievements.

The honored students were:

– Nikita Singh, Sumesh Singh and Lorelle A Stoffels- cum laude in ND: Chemical Engineering.

– Mpumelelo Mbatha achieved cum laude in BTech: Chemical Engineering.

– Tinos K Manyumbu, Diren Naicker, Jaynath Ramlall, Jeane Retief and Rivaan Thupsee- cum laude in BTech: Pulp and Paper.

– Martha N Chollum- cum laude in MTech: Chemical Engineering.

Top student awards were also given to Sumesh Singh in ND: Chemical Engineering, Mpumelelo Mbatha in BTech: Chemical Engineering, Jeane Retief in BTech: Pulp and Paper and Martha N Chollom in MTech: Chemical Engineering.

Pulp and Paper Technology is a specialist field of chemical engineering which involves the study of the processes required for the conversion of raw materials such as wood into pulp and paper products.

 

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Chemical Engineering HoD, Dr Maggie Chetty said, “The Chemical Engineering Department has taken the initiative to recognise the achievements of students, and we (the Department) have grown from strength to strength and the number of certificates and prizes has also increased. This initiative started several years ago and besides offering the academic programmes, we (the department) are also involved in a lot of research. Students are in competition in the Diploma, Btech and Master’s levels and since our students do well academically, it has become a big thing for them to see who wins the best student awards annually,” she said

She also thanked the Professional Provident Society (PPS); the only company in South Africa that caters exclusively for graduate professionals, for its partnership with DUT. PPS donated R60 000 towards the refurbishment of equipment for post-graduate students. Last year (2014), the company also donated a bursary to BTech Chemical Engineering cum laude student, Mpumelelo Mbatha.

PPS representative Celest Nqoko, who presented the R60 000 cheque to the department, was very excited about the new partnership between DUT and PPS and hoped to continue the relationship and help fund more students in future.

Rachi Rajagopaul, a Water and WasteWater Practitioner at Umgeni Water, who has had a long-standing relationship with DUT for many years, spoke on the opportunities in the technical space and how students can prepare themselves for the workplace. “Preparations start from young, from primary to university level and believe it or not, each and every one of you is well prepared. However, a few attributes are needed to excel in whatever you are doing, such as building a good work ethic, having humility at the workplace, being a hard worker, being disciplined and performing to the rules and regulations of the workplace,” he said. Rajagopaul also reiterated that all students were leaders and as leaders, they (students) should be able to motivate each other at the workplace in the right direction. He also stressed the importance of emotional intelligence and having the right attitude in the workplace.

“Draw a roadmap of your life and see where you want to go and use the stops along the way as part of your learning experience. There’s a lot for the future, it all depends on you,” he said.

– Waheeda Peters

Pictured:  PPS representative Celest Nqoko, presents the R60 000 cheque to Dr Sudesh Rathilal, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering, at the annual awards ceremony. Also pictured are   top achiever students Mpumelelo Mbatha and Martha N Chollom with Chemical Engineering HoD, Dr Maggie Chetty, at the awards ceremony.

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