The Durban University of Technology (DUT) successfully launched the DUT Business School, under the ambit of the Faculty of Management Sciences, at the Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel on Wednesday, 24 August 2022.

The DUT Business School was launched in alignment with the DUT ENVISION2030 strategy, which is to see its people ‘participating productively in the development of our region, country and the world.’ Its flagship programme, the Master in Business Administration (MBA) commenced in 2021 with 17 students. The second group that enrolled this year, consists of over 40 students. Besides the MBA programme, the DUT Business School also offers a variety of Post Graduate Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas and various Higher Certificates. Its curriculum is focused on applied business which will enable leaders to solve real life problems that contribute to socio-economic transformation.

The Programme Director was Dr Melanie Lourens, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences at DUT. The esteemed speakers included the DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences, Prof Fulufhelo Netswera, Director: Indian Institute of Management in India, Professor Himanshu Rai who recorded a message online, Dr Sean Jugmohan, Acting Head of Department: DUT Business School and Professor Veena Rawjee, the DUT Business School Project Leader. The guest speaker was Professor Robert Ebo Hinson, Pro Vice-Chancellor: Ghana Communication Technology University and who is also one of the DUT MBA lecturers.

Delivering the welcome address, Prof Netswera acknowledged the founding MBA students from 2021, confirming that their names will go down as the cohort that brought about the DUT Business School.

The DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Mthembu expressed his gratitude to Prof Netswera and the members of the Faculty of Management Sciences for their hard work over the years that led to the establishment of the DUT Business School. Prof Mthembu also revealed that DUT was working on the right positioning and right location for the DUT Business School, as it is temporarily based at the ML Sultan Campus. He thanked all of the dignitaries who had availed themselves to celebrate this great milestone in a life of a University of Technology.

“Whilst we as the Universities of Technology have been proud for many years of producing graduates for the workplace, who will just go into the workplace and be under somebody, we now, as the Durban University of Technology, wish to take the lead in ensuring that ultimately we make contributions to the lives and livelihoods of the broader society in all its stratifications. We are working on a unique philosophy of education at DUT, which is really about exploiting innovations and a sense of entrepreneurship that we hope we are infusing in our students, in making sure that they use all of that to transform society,” added Prof Mthembu.

Sending his message, all the way from India, Professor Rai, Director: Indian Institute of Management congratulated DUT for this momentous event, whishing the DUT Business School success in the years to come, with the hope of producing world business leaders.

The guest speaker, Prof Hinson, Pro Vice-Chancellor: Ghana Communication Technology University was excited to be part of the physical launch. He commended DUT for launching the DUT Business School. He spoke at length about factors contributing to effective universities, which he described as those universities that find solutions to the challenges facing the society. He cautioned DUT against worrying too much about the rankings of the DUT Business School while forgetting to serve the people in their surroundings. He advised that the DUT Business school should bring about change in the society and improve people’s lives. Prof Hinson also highlighted the importance of having the right talent and man power in the success of the DUT Business School.

Toasting to the DUT Business School and sharing its achievements so far was the DUT Business School’s Acting HOD, Dr Sean Jagmohan, who said next year they were expecting the first cohort of the MBA programme to graduate. He also said since the establishment of the DUT Business School in 2021, they had produced over 490 graduates.

The DUT Business School Project Leader, Dr Veena Rawjee delivered the vote of thanks, expressing their aspirations, with a hope that over the next few months the DUT Business School will triple its numbers.

Pictured: The Pro Vice-Chancellor: Ghana Communication Technology University, Prof Robert Ebo Hinson, DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Thandwa Mthembu and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences at DUT, Prof Fulufhelo Netswera.

Simangele Zuma