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Everything is in a state of readiness as the University prepares to welcome thousands of parents and other interested stakeholders to a four-day annual graduation ceremony that will take place at its iconic Seme Hall, from 16-19 April 2024. These stakeholders and the University staff, and its Chancellor, Mr Sandile Zungu, will witness 3051 students graduating. The bulk of these students will be from the Faculty of Management Sciences – 1315, with Mthobisi Khuzwayo, from the Department of Human Resources Management, receiving a Vice-Chancellor’s Award.  The Faculty of Engineering will graduate 1227 graduates; Nontobeko Timamu from the Department of Building, will receive the Vice-Chancellor’s Award. Lastly is the Faculty of Natural Sciences, which will graduate 509 students. Asanda Mavundla, from the Department of Community Extension, will receive the Vice-Chancellor’s Award. This is a four-day event and will have two sessions a day. Lizwi Masondo, the University’s Safety, Health, and Environment

The University is well on its way to having a Gender Forum (GF) that will deal with gender-related issues. It gives great comfort that one of the founders is Professor Nokuthula Sibiya, who has experience of what the Gender Forum does. Professor Sibiya, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement (RIE), was part of the Gender Forum while she was at the Durban University of Technology. Professor Sibiya described ‘gender’ as “complex, multi-facetted aspect of humanity that shapes the way we think and behave as individuals, as a society and institution. Gender is also a deeply personal, subjective experience that informs our identity, intersecting with other dimensions, including but not limited to, race, ethnicity, sexuality, disability, class, and socio-economic status”. Such a description can only be from an individual that understands this important aspect of humanity. According to Professor Sibiya, in any organisation there is a void if there is

A few weeks ago, at the State of the University (SOTU) address, Baboo Brijlal, Senior Director: HR&D, committed to making MUT a better organisation to work for. In his opening speech Brijlal mentioned that “Organisations strive for a workforce that has similar values, beliefs, and behaviours which are aligned with their strategic directions. However, no organisation is the same and has a similar workforce”.  After this presentation, MUT has now retained the services of Lyra Southern Africa, formerly ICAS Southern Africa to help MUT understand what the desired culture at MUT would be and how to get there. By now all MUT staff members should have received an email from the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Marcus Ramogale introducing the project. Tulisa Mjobo, Business Development at Lyra Southern Africa, has also sent an invitation inviting staff for a brief orientation on the project to take place at Bozzoli Hall on 22 and 26

Like any other student, Siyabonga Protus Radebe was happy to enroll for a qualification at the University in 2009.  Radebe registered for a Diploma in Biomedical Schiences, which he completed in 2011. From 2012 to 2013, he was studying towards a B.Tech in the Biomedical Sciences. Two years later, Radebe enrolled for a Master’s in Health Sciences, at the Durban University of Technology, and completed it in 2018. Now, he is studying towards a Master’s in Public Health at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.  Radebe, a man from Ladysmith in the midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, has rejoined his alma mater as a lecturer to “give back”. His focus are the students that he has advised should have “an imagination” to be great than what they are. “While I was still a student, I imagined myself as a lecturer,” Radebe said. “That is what I did. Then I put together a plan, part

Student Development Officer, Dr Mthoko, has reported that his daughter, Nonhlakanipho Ntuli, has been accepted for enrollment at the Arizona State University in the Construction Management and Technology programme in the Ira, Fulton School of Engineering, for the 2024 autumn semester after receiving a Fulbright Scholarship. Congratulations Dr Ntuli. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Nonhlakanipho follows right in the footsteps of her dad who also received a scholarship to study in the UK when he was still a young man.

The University’s sport men and sport women keep shining at the high level of their chosen sporting codes. Mpumelelo Luthuli, a second year Information Technology (IT) student recently won two series with this blind Proteas team. They defeated their New Zealand in the One Day International (ODI), and the T20 series. Mpumelelo was instrumental in the team’s victory. Mawande Mzulwini, a second year Electrical Engineering student, represented KZN U18 Volleyball at the Inter Provincial tournament in Limpopo last year. The KZN Team won gold. Now another IT student, Sphesihle Mazibuko, is among the players selected from all 26 South African universities to represent their country when CUCSA (Confederation of Universities and Colleges Sport Association) hosts the annual games at Tshwane University of Technology, from 8-12 July 2024. The other participants in the tournament are Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Lesotho, Botswana, Angola and Eswatini. Mazibuko said that he was confident

As the 5th Teaching with Technology Summit rapidly approaches, the Teaching and Learning Development Centre (TLDC)’s organising team is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that every aspect of the event is meticulously attended to. “We are dedicated to crossing all our t’s and dotting every i to ensure that the content presented is not only current but also highly relevant to modern teaching practices,” said Cebo Nyondo, Acting Deputy Director: E-Learning, Focus Conference Strategic Technology and Logistics Specialist. Scheduled to take place at Coastlands Hotel, Umhlanga, Durban, on 24-25 April 2024, the Summit has already garnered significant attention. Themed “The Responsiveness of Higher Education to Artificial Intelligence: Impact and Consequences,” this year’s Summit promises to be a standout event for enthusiasts of teaching and learning. Impressively, the number of registered delegates has surpassed expectations, with over 160 participants already signed up before the 12 April deadline, marking a substantial

The 2024 graduation ceremony that will be spread across four days – 16-19 April, will see at least three members of the Department of Marketing and Communications graduating for their senior qualifications which they be awarded by the University. Two of these members will be graduating for their Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing. These are Ayanda Bulose, a Schools Liaison Assistant Officer in the department, and Thandeka Ntuli, an intern in the department. Bulose said he was looking forward to his third graduation, after working hard last year. “It is unbelievable that I will be graduating this year, looking at the number of challenges which I have experience during the duration of the programme. I feel that I have gained more trust and confidence in myself and believe that I can complete everything I start and put my mind into.” When Bulose graduated for his Diploma in Marketing in 2015,

MUT Radio has hired a new DJ. Explaining how she landed this broadcasting gig, Khanya said that coming from a creative background in theatre, dance, film and interest in journalism and storytelling, “I developed an interest in voice acting, voice overs and podcasting. After starting a podcast with my father and working with Ntokozo Buthelezi, Marius Botha and Lu Dlamini at The Headroom studio on the podcast, I was told about the incredible work being done at the MUT Radio and wanted to join the team. Khanya’s full name is Khanya May Apelgren, but she goes as ‘Khanya May’. Commenting about her show, Khanya May said, “on a personal level I am learning a lot, not only about the technical aspects of broadcasting, but also how to use and trust my voice, and engage with wonderful, interesting people. She said they encourage listeners to engage with them throughout the show.

An MUT academic and a student are attending the UK Residential Study Exchange Visit of the Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP), from 24 May to 2 June 2024. Ntombifuthi Mthembu, Entrepreneurship Coordinator, and a Lecturer in the Department of Human Resources and Management, in the Faculty of Management Sciences, and Mbalenhle Nzama, MUT SWEEP President, will be representing MUT in this exchange programme that will be delivered by the London School of Economics Enterprise. The event is supported by the British Council and EDHE. Mthembu said “this initiative aims to empower student women and professional women entrepreneurs to become successful in the world of entrepreneurship, and to create businesses that have a positive societal impact”. Through a governance structure that includes coordinators of SWEEP in public universities, the project is designed to contribute to system-wide change by advancing gender equity and economic empowerment of student and graduate women at