Page 2 - DUT Conduit Aug/Sept 2021

Professor Sibusiso Moyo: EDITORS’ Corner
Deputy Vice- Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement
August is when we celebrate women within our South African context because of the 1956 march on the Union Buildings in Pretoria, “to protest against the abusive pass laws”. The march comprised women from diverse backgrounds and professional class. Women have had to fight for their rights over many decades, both within
South Africa and globally. In the United States of America, for instance, the fight for women’s rights and suffrage movements had already started in the mid-nineteenth century, prioritising voting and representation of women. History teaches us a lot from real-time case studies of how women can organise themselves, break racial and class barriers and fight for common causes that help address gender inequalities and eradicate discrimination. After all, women enjoy the freedom and access they have today because of these pioneer women who fought for rights and freedoms that we must not take for granted.
We are also beginning to see more women break the traditional barriers to women’s success at DUT. At a strategic level, the University has an approved strategy, ENVISION2030, that promotes certain values and principles. As part of our living values, the University aspires to see its people living, practising and promoting Transparency, Honesty, Integrity, Respect and Accountability underpinned by the principles of Fairness, Professionalism, Commitment, Compassion and Excellence! We are inspired then by our Editor’s focus in this issue on excellence and breakthroughs being led by women on the research and innovation front through our Institute for Water and Waste Water Technology (IWWT), which is a leading Institute in this sector both locally and globally. Prof Sheena Kumari continues to mentor our students and leaders of the future in this area, which addresses Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 on ‘Clean Water and Sanitation’. DUT also hosts a number of key strategic focus areas that, in the context of this issue, are led by prominent academics at the University,
(GJHHD), focusing on SDG 3 and 5 and led by Professor Cheryl Potgieter; and the DUT Urban Futures Centre (UFC), focusing on SDG 1, 7 and 11, led by Professor Monique Marks.
staff and the entire DUT community have continued their valuable work in their respective roles, albeit through different means, whether working from home or diving right into the storm. Through our research and various projects, our results of excellence have again spoken for us as we continue to be ranked high in world rankings.
I must stress that it is not easy to stay positive when so much negativity is taking place, however, our great achievements are a beacon of hope for the Institution and for the entire community surrounding us and our stakeholders. While the work of excellence continues and our name shines among the best of the best, we need not forget that the pandemic is still very much alive and it is each one of us who can fight it through taking the vaccine and adhering to stipulated regulations.
It is also everyone’s responsibility to preserve and protect our society. Should we see any wrongdoers, we must report them – not be part of the problem but provide solutions. We do not grow by pointing fingers or sitting back and not even trying to work towards a better tomorrow.
Tomorrow is not guaranteed but today is an opportunity to do right and to claim your mark. Help us fight the pandemic and improve our society. There is no small act that goes unnoticed. Vaccinate, wear your mask, wash your hands, sanitise and social distance. Most importantly, as the late Mahatma Ghandi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world”. On 1 November 2021, go and make your mark by voting.
that is, the Gender Justice, Health and Human Development Through it all, our health workers, DUT essential services
As part of our aspirations of ensuring that all our people become entrepreneurial and innovative, we must not forget vulnerable groups and people within our communities who still remain underrepresented. To this end, I wish to congratulate our differently-abled students and alumni who have managed to excel and establish themselves in a context where there are a number of barriers. Congratulations to Nozuko Teto and Mahlatse Mphahlele who continue to excel as excellent living examples of ‘entrepreneurs’, which is not just limited to starting your own business but also applying the same characteristics of being an entrepreneur – opportunity assessment, perseverance, learning critical skills and applying these to excel in everything you put your mind to.
We congratulate our all our staff, students, alumni and all our quad-helix partners who continue to fly the DUT flag positively as we continue to receive a number of accolades as a University in terms of our excellence and impact nationally and globally!
Noxolo Memela: Communications Manager
To say that life and our society have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic would be an understatement: the virus has detrimentally restructured lives and industries, most of them for the worse.
As if the pandemic was not enough, some KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng residents decided to loot already affected sectors
of the economy. The tragedy sent the nation reeling while revealing yet another example of an underbelly filled with hate, spite and disregard for the disenfranchised.
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Vice-Chancellor and Principal: Professor Thandwa Mthembu’s Message UPDATES ON KEY DEVELOPMENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY
I will share some news on the appointment of new Durban University of Technology (DUT) stewards, DUT’s Business School going live and key achievements.
Dr Maditsane Nkonoane was appointed by Council as our new Registrar from 1 September 2021. Dr Nkonoane joined DUT as Dean of Students from 1 February 2019. He has spent more than 25 years in the higher education sector, 15 years of which were at middle and senior management. Professor Runette Kruger joined DUT as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Design from 1 August 2021. She has over 25 years of experience in the higher education teaching and learning sector, 14 of which were spent focusing on research and publications. Dr Kavita Beemsen is the new Director: Institutional from 1 July 2021. Mr Maletjane Phaladi (soon to be Dr Phaladi) joined DUT from 1 September 2021 as Director: Library Services. Please join me in welcoming Dr Nkonoane, Prof Kruger, Dr Beemsen and Mr Phaladi to DUT!
I am proud to announce that we finally launched the DUT Business School in July 2021 after years of conceptualisation, with online classes starting in August. This is a bold move for DUT in an environment where there are many reputable business schools; none of which caters for university of technology graduates with their workplace-focused training. I wish to congratulate all colleagues who worked tirelessly, especially Prof Netswera, who joined us relatively recently as our Executive Dean: Management Sciences and ensured that this school was launched.
We can all be immensely proud of the accolades we have received since last year as we continue to implement our ENVISION2030 strategy. Just recently, DUT earned another global ranking when we featured in the Top 100 for Ethical Value and in the Top 300 of all institutions of higher learning in the World’s Universities with Real Impact (WURI) 2021 rankings. A few weeks before the WURI global rankings were released, we were ecstatic to learn that DUT was ranked second in South Africa and 102nd in the world by the Times Higher Education’s Young University Rankings 2021. This was the third instance that Times Higher Education had recognised the international standards at DUT. In March this year, DUT was ranked in the Top 100 universities in emerging economies by the Times Higher Education Emerging Economies World University Rankings 2021.
Nationally, DUT has also won two awards from the Marketing, Advancement, Communication in Education (MACE) Awards, which include public and private universities and colleges. Our alumni magazine, DUT Connect, won the bronze award. The second award (gold) is for the DUT television/cinema advert.
Congratulations to our colleagues who work behind the scenes to keep everyone informed about us. The accolades and international ratings continue to raise our national and global profiles and they speak directly to ENVISION2030. Excellence is one of the principles we commit to live by. These achievements are indicative of our capacity to make our ‘Lived Values’ a reality of our lives and practices.
By now, I am sure that many of us are familiar with our mantra that people are the source of everything we do, but that the ‘right’ people are the ones who make us great. In pursuing greatness, it is crucial to remember that one of the fundamental preconditions for us to do anything successfully is good health. Despite online engagements seeming to be ceaseless and all-intrusive sometimes, we need to take care of our bodies, minds and souls. It is important that we rest to recharge, re-energise, and rekindle our relationships with our families, friends and colleagues.
As DUT, we started the year with the loss of many colleagues and students. While we are still blessed to be alive, we have been affected by the loss of our loved ones, be it family, friends or neighbours. While most of us are still lucky to be receiving an income, many have lost their jobs or have had to take salary cuts as a result of the devastation of COVID-19 and now the July unrest and violence.
I appeal to readers to take care of their health. It allows us to think and innovate in our collective quest to contribute towards improving the lives and livelihoods of our people. Let us do whatever is necessary to replenish our bodies and protect our lives. It is my prayer that we should finish the course of 2021 together.