Yasheen Singh (26) from Durban graduated Cum Laude for his Bachelor of Engineering Technology Honours in Electronic Engineering at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) 2024 Autumn Graduation ceremony, which will be held at the Olive Convention Centre, Durban on Monday, 20 May 2024.
He was counted among the top achievers in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment. The hardworking Singh looked forward to gracing the graduation stage for the first time after his two previous graduations were held virtually.
“I was excited to graduate Cum Laude for my Honours degree. It signified the dedication and hard work I invested in my academic pursuits, as Honours really pushed us in terms of difficulty and workload. My past two graduations for the National Diploma and Bachelor of Technology qualifications had both been virtual graduations due to the COVID-19 regulations. So even though I have graduated two times before that, this was the first ‘real’ graduation that I had as I got to experience what a true graduation was all about,” said Singh who indicated that obtaining Cum Laude made it more exhilarating and worth all the sacrifices.
His academic journey began in 2015 after enrolling for a Diploma in Electrical Engineering Light Current. He indicated that it was a shaky start adjusting to all the freedom at the university.
“I quicky figured things out and took every challenge the course could throw at me with hard work and discipline. The course required students to choose a field they would like to specialise in by the third semester of studies, which were either Instrumentation or Communications. By analysing what both had to offer by consulting in lectures, peers and research on the career opportunities outside campus, I opted for choosing Instrumentation. Once I completed the theoretical part, it was time for me to complete the practical part of the course which required me to get in-service at an appropriate company for experimental training for one year,” shared Singh.
After obtaining his diploma he then enrolled for the Bachelor of Technology Degree in Electronic Engineering Instrumentation, which successfully completed. When he later heard that DUT has introduced the Honours Degree in his field, he did not want to miss that opportunity.
“Although returning to the journey of studying after a year of work was not as daunting as it was before, it was a bit of a shock as the workload and difficulty was a step up from before, but nevertheless all that was needed to be done was to persevere, be disciplined and be the best that I can be to overtake this hurdle,” added Singh.
As a student, he encountered quite a few challenges such as balancing academics with extracurricular activities since he is also passionate about playing football. He had to manage his time effectively which he confessed it did not always go as planned. Singh had to develop strong organisational skills, sought support from professors and peers, and maintained a resilient attitude knowing that it may not seem like it was worth it then but he knew it will be worth it in the future.
He has always been fascinated by technology, how it works and its potential to innovate and improve our world.
Looking at his future plans, he is considering a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) as he is keen on broadening his knowledge in the business aspect of engineering, in order to be the best in his field. He is looking forward to applying his skills and knowledge to contribute to future innovations and advancements in electronic engineering.
Pictured: Yasheen Singh who graduatined physically for the first time.
Photographer: Mnqobi Ngobese.
Simangele Zuma
