Zwakele Ngubane

DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

Dear Alumni and Friends of the Durban University of Technology,

Wearepleasedtopresentour2024editionoftheDUTConnect Magazine. By now I am sure you are familiar with the purpose of this magazine.We trust that you have enjoyed our previous issues and we appreciate the feedback we have received from some of you,our readers.

Our theme for this edition is, aptly, the “power of connection”. One of our key objectives as the Advancement and Alumni Relations Unit is to promote and establish channels and programmes to facilitate connection between the alumni of DUT to their alma mater. I believe we need to connect now more than ever before. Among the many lessons we have learnt from our COVID experience is that, as human beings, connection to and with each other is critical. We heard of multiple reports indicating that people who were isolated because of the lockdowns, were suffering from a variety of mental health conditions. So, it is critical that we value and nurture relationships.

The Advancement and Alumni Relations Unit at DUT is committed to establishing, maintaining and nurturing

relationships with our alumni and other stakeholders and we do this through a variety of programmes and initiatives. For example,on the 24th of June 2024,we hosted anAlumni Business Networking Breakfast Session where we invited Alumni entrepreneurs and business people to engage on a variety of issues around entrepreneurship development and support.This session was informed by our ENVISION2030 Strategy, which is characterized by a commitment to the promotion of, inter alia, innovation and entrepreneurship. It was also informed by feedback and experiences received from alumni which signaled a need to provide a platform to support alumni entrepreneurs.

I trust that you will enjoy reading our latest instalment and be invigorated to continue pursuing your dreams despite the many challenges that may lie before you. Reverting to the theme of “the power of connection” I would like to encourage you to update your contact details on our database so we can stay in touch and receive all our communication through the following means:

DUTAlumni website:https://www.dutalumni.com DUT Connect online platform:https://dutconnect.co.za

LinkedIn:@dutalumni

Facebook:@DUTalumni

I would also like to congratulate and welcome all our new alumni who graduated during our winter graduation season in May 2024.We wish you all the best as you embark on this exciting chapter of your career and know that you will do us proud.

Finally,I wish to extend our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all the donors, sponsors and supporters listed below who support our various initiatives.

Sincerely,

Zwakele Ngubane Director:Advancement andAlumni Relations Tel:+27 31 373 3020 E-mail:zwakelen@dut.ac.za

"One of our key objectives as the Advancement and Alumni Relations Unit is to promote and establish channels and programmes to facilitate connection between the alumni of DUT to their alma mater. I believe we need to connect now more than ever before."