The Durban University of Technology (DUT) Celebratory Autumn Graduation ceremonies came to an end at the Royal Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday, 27 July 2022. A total number of 9081 graduates from the Durban and Midlands campuses were honoured for successfully completing their qualifications in 2021.
In his welcome address during the closing ceremony, the DUT Midlands Campus Director, Dr Joe Molete applauded the female graduates for dominating in the graduation, saying they might be taking their que from Banyana Banyana. He encouraged the graduates to continue making DUT proud.
“The women and men graduating have worked extremely hard to achieve this milestone, we congratulate them. Well done to the DUT Class of 2021,” added Dr Molete.
Girl power was alive throughout the ceremonies as the graduation list comprised of 5421 women and 3660 men. The celebrations took places over a 12-day period with a total of 35 sessions for both Durban and Midlands. For those who were unable to attend the physical in-person graduation events, they were able to join in the celebration online, since DUT livestreamed all the 35 ceremonies via the DUT website. The conferment of degrees and diplomas was conducted by the DUT Chancellor, Ms Nonkululeko Nyembezi and in her absentia, the DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu stepped into the role.
The highlight of the 2022 DUT Autumn Graduation was the conferment of the honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Visual and Performing Arts to the seasoned multitalented singer, actress, producer and playwright, Dr Thembi Mtshali-Jones. She was honoured during the opening session of the Faculty of Arts and Design held the Durban ICC on 20 July 2022. On the same evening, DUT hosted a Celebratory Dinner in her honour, also at the ICC.
Concluding the graduation Autumn season of 2022, was the Faculty of Management Sciences which had the highest number of graduates when compared to the other faculties.
Total number of graduates per Faculty is as follows:
Faculty of Management Sciences: 3344
Faculty of Accounting and Informatics: 2621
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment: 1169
Faculty of Health Sciences: 488
Faculty of Applied Sciences 852
Faculty of Arts and Design 607
Delivering the congratulatory message and the vote of thanks during the last session of the DUT celebratory Autumn graduation ceremony was the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences, Professor Fulufhelo Netswera.
“Halala graduates, halala! Halala to the sponsors and parents, halala! Henry Ford, the manufacturer of Ford industries, once said when everything seems to be going against you, you should remember that the airplane takes off against the wind and not with it. This is a profound statement, a lot of you have spent sleepless nights in order to get to where you are today. We want to remind you once again that this is the moment of taking off, the plane is about to take off. You have just received your licence to fly, therefore there are lots of huge expectations, from yourself, parents and also us as the University as we expect that you will represent us well. We hope that you will distinguish yourself and everybody will say graduates from DUT are outstanding,” said Prof Netswera.
He advised the graduates to go out there and face the world with courage and become job creators instead of job seekers as taught at DUT.
The Class of 2021 made sure that they made their presence felt as they graced the graduation stage.
Pictured: DUT graduates in high spirits during the last graduation ceremony.
Photographer: Vusi Dlamini
Simangele Zuma
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