The Durban University of Technology (DUT) continues to commend all its essential workers for their dedication and commitment in providing services to the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. DUT’s Communications team’s Waheeda Peters spoke to Ndivhuho Tshikovhi, Post -Doctoral Research Fellow, Research and Postgraduate Support at DUT.

Q: Kindly tell me about your role at DUT?

A: “I am a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow assigned to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement’s office. I am responsible for entrepreneurship research and several entrepreneurship-related projects, such as the innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. My role includes the supervision of postgraduate students.”

Q: How long have you been in that role?

A: “I have been in this role since November 2020.”

Q: Please describe yourself in a few words?

A: “I am an outgoing, social and very helpful person (I would like to believe), always willing to learn from others.”

Q: How has it been like working during COVID-19?

A: “It has been interesting, I got the position amid COVID-19, and somewhere, somehow, I have managed to work through it without thinking twice about it. Also, our team from the DVC: RIE’s office is very helpful with anything that could ease my work during the pandemic.”

Q: How do you deal with the fear of contracting COVID-19 and losing loved ones due to this virus?

A: “I am constantly worried about COVID-19 infecting someone close to me. Luckily, I haven’t lost anyone close to me, but I am that guy in the family who is constantly reminding everyone to vaccinate, sanitise and mask up.”

Q: What is your daily motivation?

A: “It always seems impossible until it’s done – Nelson Mandela. This is my motivation to keep working from one paper, one project, to one postgraduate student supervision.”

Q: Please take me through a normal day in your life?

A: “It depends on the day. In most cases, I probably have a meeting with Professor Sibusiso Moyo, the DVC: RIE around 7:00 AM before her diary gets full. We have projects in BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and also GISU Network (Guangzhou International Sister-City Universities), which has universities in Europe, Asia and Africa and North America, etc. So when organising meetings, we have to think about everyone’s time zone. Then I have to do my research, which can be reading for my papers, reading my postgraduate students’ work or writing grant applications for projects. I usually stop around 7:00 PM but still reply to my emails throughout the night.”

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?

A: “I like to meet new people, which has been complicated due to COVID-19 but now things are better. I also enjoy running on Sunday mornings.”

Q: If you had one wish what would it be?

A: “To grant every DUT student an opportunity to study abroad for six months or more to get a new perspective on life.”