Nine students from the Department of Information and Communication Technology at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) were recently awarded bursaries to the tune of R1 million together with laptops by the prominent IT company, International Business Machines (IBM), South Africa.

They are Sanele Doyisa -Advanced Diploma student in ICT, Sthembiso Thabethe -ICT Honours student, Simon Xaba -Advanced Diploma student in ICT, Andile Chonco -Advanced Diploma student in ICT, Nompilo Mkhulisi – ICT Honours student, Zinhle Nzuza –third-year Diploma student in ICT, Ntokozo Ngcobo -Advanced Diploma in ICT, Ningi Mbona- third- year Diploma student in ICT and Sithembiso Kweyama – Advanced Diploma student in ICT.

Also present at the event was Petri du Toit; a professional South African Sign Language interpreter.

Last week, Friday, 5 August 2022 the Faculty of Accounting and Informatics based at DUT’s Ritson Campus in Durban invited the selected students for its third handover ceremony.

In terms of the selection process, IBM focused on DUT students who are registered for qualifications in ICT and who have not received NSFAS or any other bursary funding for their academic year.

Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Oludayo Olugbara, Executive Dean: Faculty of Accounting and Informatics conveyed his gratitude to IBM for providing sponsorship to the third batch of DUT students to have successfully been chosen to be awarded bursaries and laptops.

“There were 14 students who participated and nine of them were awarded the bursaries and in addition of the bursary funding, nine Dell laptops were given for each student. On behalf of the Faculty of Accounting and Informatics, I would like to appreciate IBM for continuously supporting this Faculty. The good news is that this year for the first time we have one of our Deaf students, Sthembiso Thabethe as one of the bursary recipients. Usually our Deaf students do not advance to a degree level, so thank you to Thabethe for making us proud. We hope you continue to the Masters and Doctoral level, the university is willing to support your studies,” he said.

Faculty of Accounting and Informatics’ Technical and Community Engagement Representative at DUT, Ugeshni Moodley said the bursary is not the ‘be all and end all’ of everything.

“We expect you to be able to engage in our ICT laboratory and for you to come through and work here with the resources at your provision. You have already met Fanie Ndlovu, who is the founder of the student club Varsity Genie which supports our Faculty programme and the implementation of student projects. Also, Sanele Doyisa, who is currently the president of VarsityGenie is here to provide guidance. Through them both, you will see that there are lots of engagements taking place from this Faculty at this 4IR Centre; to get you grooved up into the 4IR technologies that are out there so that you can start implementing them alongside your curriculum,” said Moodley

She further added that they want the ICT students to start testing all the new technologies and all the new programmes including taking the IBM Skills Build Platform to the wider DUT community.

“We have lots of new devices that you can start experimenting with so that your Advanced Diploma will take you gently into your Honours and from your Honours into your Postgraduate qualifications. This will help in setting your footsteps for what type of research you want to do,” she added.

First time bursary recipient, Mkhulisi said she feels so excited, and that the opportunity is going to encourage her to work harder to do well in her studies. Also, upon her graduation, she aims to give back more to students who will be in need of all her knowledge that she obtains in ICT and 4IR.

Simon Xaba could not contain his excitement upon receiving his bursary and laptop.

“I feel so ecstatic and it’s a privilege for me to receive this bursary as before this came through I was really struggling financially and now I am relieved,” he said.

He indicated that receiving something from DUT was a big deal to him, also saying that with his laptop he is planning to start an Internet Café in a rural area.

In closing, Moodley reiterated to the ICT students to be an inspiration to the younger generation that’s coming up.

“Look for the projects that you can run with your schools within your community, I’m sure you must have spotted a certain problem that you might want to solve, so try and think of how can I solve this problem, and with so much resources and technology here to help you, try and put up a proposal as to how you can solve the problem in your community,” she said.

Pictured: The group of ICT students who recently received IBM bursaries together with Faculty of Accounting and Informatics’ Technical and Community Engagement Representative, Ms Ugeshni Moodley and Faculty of Accounting and Informatics, Prof Oludayo Olugbara, Fanie Ndlovu and Sanele Doyisa.

Nonkululeko Ngcobo/Waheeda Peters