There is a fire in your belly to educate and inspire. Keep it ignited for the next three years and beyond!
These were the inspiring words to first year-students from Professor Suren Singh, Executive Dean in the Faculty of Applied Sciences, during a recent orientation event. The event aimed to familiarise the new students on DUT’s policies and procedures, help them adjust to university life and inform them of the facilities and amenities available to them. Various heads of departments within the Faculty were in attendance.
“Educate, engage and innovate will be your mantra in our Faculty. We will strive to educate you in our different programmes. Engage with academics and all staff on this journey and extend this beyond university. Lastly, innovate and not just technology, but within yourself and (your) thoughts as well,” said Prof Singh.
He said the Faculty, which has about 720 new students this year, has adopted a new vision of leading through science and technology for 2015 and beyond, adding that the students are pivotal to this plan.
“Your journey to DUT, I know, was not an easy one. Our school systems are not equitable across South Africa. We have funding challenges, travel challenges, accommodation challenges, etc. But the fact that you are here says it all. We are embarking on revolutionary changes in our curricula to meet the demands of a new wave of learners like yourself and the next generations as well. The Faculty prides itself on its strong teaching in nine programmes, at both undergraduate and several at postgraduate level. Believe me, you have quality staff to nurture you all the way”, said Prof Singh, adding that several programmes within the Faculty would be offering degrees before 2020 and that online learning will become the norm this year (2015), with the Faculty’s programmes already having achieved more than 50 percent.
“Our research enterprise is growing at a rapid rate, and we have been the leading faculty for more than a decade especially in terms of quality research in Biotechnology, Food Technology, Chemistry, Food and Nutrition and our emerging Physics enterprise for renewable energy. The majority of our staff have international research profiles as well and we have a constant flow of world class researchers and teachers visiting the faculty on an annual basis to the benefit of students and staff alike. We are growing from strength to strength in terms of state of the art infrastructure and soon, you will have new lecture venues as well. Internationally, we are well connected and I urge you to interact with the relevant research programmes at this early stage to investigate the rewards of postgraduate research. Staff themselves will keep you in the loop,” he said.
All-in-all, students enjoyed the event which also featured quizzes and a dance and drama show presented by the University’s Drama Studies Department. Maritime students Philiswa Nkanbule and Arvin Singh said they learnt a lot about the various DUT campuses, adding that they are keen to learn more about online learning.
– Waheeda Peters
Pictured: Students have fun at the orientation day.
