Page 8 - DUT Conduit

MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE
IN THE LIVES OF HIS
STUDENTS Waheeda Peters
Renowned for his contemporary tailoring, fusion of textures and colour, and innovative layering and deconstructed fashion designs, Gideon’s fashion path has become interwoven with the Durban University of Technology (DUT).
“I had always wanted to lecture and out of the blue, Head of Department Mrs Sunthra Moodley called me to consider coming to Durban University of Technology (DUT) to head the creative design for the third-year students. I was both hesitant and excited but after our meeting I jumped at the opportunity and have been loving my time at DUT.
Gideon has successfully represented South Africa at London Fashion Week twice, impressing international media and fashion editors with his distinct collections.
His garments have been featured in the pages of all major local magazines, including Elle, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire as well as in the international titles British Vogue, Wallpaper Magazine, ID Magazine and Collezione Sport and Street.
“Having to lecture and run my own business means that I have to ensure a strict guideline of work in progress and adhere to a precise timetable. This is to ensure that both sides of creativity receive the time and dedication they deserve,” he said.
Pictured: Gideon/Gameplan Media
theory-based idea into a third object that has been created with their own hands,” he said.
Besides imparting his fashion knowledge academically, Gideon also hosts the DUT Annual Fashion Show. “The fashion show is the culmination of a theme and vision I put together for the students that dictates all aspects of their third-year curriculum. Being the creative director of the show, I ensure that the stage, lighting, music, models and all aspects of the show are correct to allow my students’ work to shine,” he said.
With the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gideon had to find an innovative way to still show the students’ work at its best. He decided on a pre-recorded show with multiple camera angles.
He further explained that COVID-19 has brought about the importance of reinvention in fashion. “I tell my students that if one becomes stagnant or complacent, especially in this new face of fashion, you will be left behind.”
Gideon envisions his role as guiding, inspiring and making a positive difference in the lives of his students. He thoroughly loves lecturing at DUT and being able to work at an institution that is a forerunner in its field.
“I feel a huge responsibility in the constant betterment and evolution of DUT and love being a part of the growth and the upliftment of my students. It is easy to fall by the wayside without the right people working together to help guide our students and at DUT, we are known for our dedication, inspiration, hard work and the importance of teaching our students self-worth,” he said.
His advice to students wanting to continue their path in fashion is to always have belief and passion. “Grab any opportunity that comes your way; egos destroy careers so remember to remain humble with no expectations of handouts, but rather allow yourself to dream. Always be a leader not a follower,” said Gideon.
“Fashion is ever evolving and continually does a 360 on itself. The rise and importance of technology has helped greatly, from students being able to research fabrics, cuts, inspirations, etc. at the push of a button; to help understand the importance and practicality of destructive waste in the industry; to the visual imagery and audio that inspires them, technology has become an instrument of constant support,” he said.
Gideon said that practical experience is vital as it is through a ‘hands on approach’ in this tactile- based practise that the students learn to put theory into play. “Fashion is about the evolution of second to third year and practical work, which helps them to determine the outcome of a
PAVING THE WAY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
OF NEW QUALITY JOURNALS AT THE
Durban University of Technology (DUT) is proud to announce the successful accreditation of the pioneer accredited journal – African Journal of Inter/Multidisciplinary Studies.
The initiative to launch an in-house journal was the brainstorm of Ms Vaneshree Govender, Research Capacity Development (RCD) Coordinator and Dr Kunle Oparinde from the Directorate for Research and Postgraduate Support, who is also the Journal’s Editor-in-Chief and a DUT alumni.
Dr Kunle Oparinde said that the journal was conceptualised in 2018 when he and Ms Vaneshree Govender were attending a conference in Tanzania. The idea was motivated by many reasons, among which are the need for the University, as an academic institution, to have an academic journal of its own, the need to promote the idea of interdisciplinary research, and to also prioritise the Institution’s local and indigenous knowledge.
“It was a tough process but we got some relevant support, notably the Deputy- Vice Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, Professor Sibusiso Moyo and
UNIVERSITY
DR KUNLE OPARINDE, VANESHREE GOVENDER
the Director of Library Services: Ms Lucille Webster. In our collaboration with the library, particularly with Mr Sagren Moodley and Mr Sean Carte, we were able to launch an online system for the journal and in May 2020, we registered it on the Directory of Open Access Journals database, which has now been accredited by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET),” he said.
“Upon introspection we realised that there is a wealth of knowledge on the African continent that is worthy of bringing to the fore to share with the wider South African and African communities as part of our African Engagement agenda,” said Govender.
Explaining the importance of such an accredited journal, Dr Oparinde said that DUT is only the second university in KwaZulu-Natal to have an accredited journal of its own.
“Through this journal, DUT further announces itself as an institution of higher learning capable of producing and advancing research and innovation opportunities for both internal and external researchers. Also, the journal is a way to further promote the
visibility and credibility of the University both locally and externally,” he said.
Govender also stressed that the University receives subsidies from DHET for academics/ researchers who publish in accredited journals.
Going forward, the journal will publish high- quality papers and contribute significantly to knowledge production – an important role a university must play.
“Apart from that, the development of this journal could also serve as a background for the development of new quality journals at the University,” he said.
Govender further stated that the team are open to mentoring staff on this aspect.
With COVID-19, having all the processes automated online helped the team to carry on with the entire process of the despite working remotely.
Dr Oparinde, explained how different the process is in terms of editing and ensuring all ethical processes are in place.
“It was a bit challenging at first. However, with time and relevant support, as well as
with lessons learnt from more experienced academics managing different journals, I was able to handle the challenges. At each point, I reminded myself that the journal should maintain a high quality, especially in its peer review processes. Also, the ethical decisions and processes pertaining to the journal were handled by the editorial board comprising experienced and resourceful academics from DUT and external universities,” he said.
Through relevant benchmarking with already established journals and consultations with experienced academics, Dr Oparinde proposed ideas to editorial members regarding what the standard of the journal should be.
Dr Oparinde said that one of the important aspects of ENVISION 2030 is for the University to be a place for generating new knowledge and solutions. “This can only be done through research and innovation. Thus, we encourage DUT researchers to consider the journal for their high-quality research.”
Ms Moodley also said: “We particularly thank our team of editors composed of internal and external members, who can all be found at: https://journals.dut.ac.za/index.php/ajims/ about/editorialTeam.
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