Page 36 - Demo

Durban University of Technology 34The Durban University of Technology (DUT) commenced its annual three-day 2025 Open Week at the Fred Crookes Sports Centre on the Steve Biko Campus in May 2025. The DUT OpenWeek, which is spearheaded by the Student Recruitment unit, aims to provide high school learners from Grade 9 to 12 with valuable insight into the University%u2019s programmes, faculties and departments.The opening day saw hundreds of learners from in and around KwaZulu-Natal Province engaging with various DUT departments/units about their offerings.Mr Alex Mdletshe, DUT%u2019s Student Recruitment Manager, extended his gratitude to all DUT academic departments, student services,outside stakeholders and his team for supporting this initiative. He also thanked the schools for allowing their teachers and learners to participate in this empowering event.%u201cThis year%u2019s opening was quite impressive.We had more numbers compared to previous years. We have hosted 30 schools and around 2 500 learners. I encourage learners to take full advantage of this opportunity,%u2019%u2019 he said.During the engagement with learners,one of the exhibitors from the DUT 2025 OPEN WEEK ATTRACTS THOUSANDS OF HIGH SCHOOLS LEARNERSEmergency Medical Care Rescue (EMCR), Conny Kwaso, noticed that most learners assume that EMCR is a fire fighters%u2019 course, but this is not the case. Therefore, she emphasised the importance of this initiative because there are lot of misconceptions from learners when choosing their fields of study due to a lack of information.One of the teachers from Velabahleke High School, Ms Nontobeko Ngcobo, said that learners benefit greatly from this initiative, especially the Grade 9s, because it helps them to correctly choose subjects that align with what they want to study in universities.Open Air School learner Slindokuhle Nxumalo said that it was an eye-opening experience. She discovered many courses that are offered at DUT that she did not know about.%u201cIt was so exciting; I got to ask all my questions such as the requirements, years of study and the types of jobs I could get once I finish the qualification,%u2019%u2019 she said.Vukani LangaPictured: Learners from various high schools within KwaZulu-Natal at the DUT Open Week with DUT%u2019s Registrar Dr Maditsane Nkonoane. Photographer: S%u2019bonelo Dlamini