The Community Engagement Office under the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement (DVC: RIE) at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) hosted the Volunteers Appreciation Day 2024 at the Durban Botanical Gardens on Thursday, 07 November 2024.

Under the theme “Building Bridges and Changing Lives,” this event marks the first of its kind, bringing together students, staff, representatives from other universities, social partners from NGOs, industry leaders, and government officials. The purpose of this gathering is to honour and celebrate the invaluable contributions of our student volunteers who actively support the Community Engagement Office’s diverse programs. The office collaborates closely with all faculties at DUT, working on a range of initiatives that not only enhance the academic and professional development of our students but also address the pressing social needs of the communities we serve. This event offers an opportunity to reflect on and showcase the positive impact of these initiatives, while reaffirming our commitment to social responsibility and the overarching goals of ENVISION2030.

The Programme Director, Ms. Runyararo Marima, a lecturer from the Department of Food and Nutrition: Consumer Scieances, took a moment to acknowledge the student volunteers for their exceptional contributions to the community. She also played a crucial role in maintaining the energy and flow of the event, ensuring that participants remained both entertained and well-informed throughout the proceedings.

Director of Special Projects in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal at DUT, Dr David Mohale extended the words of welcome to all the attendees and briefly contextualised community engagement in the context of ENVISION2030 strategy, which provides s the institutional long-term strategic thinking and planning.

“The intention is to produce adaptive graduates that can initiate change and respond to change. We are doing that because we are conscious of the society that we live in, that it is faced with different socio-economic issues,” said Dr Mohale.

Delivering the opening remarks on behalf of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, Professor Fulufhelo Netswera, the Executive Dean of Faculty of Management Sciences at DUT emphasised the importance of collaborations in solving societal concerns.

“As the institution, we should work hand in glove with the corporate sector and public sector. It is important that the institution continuously get involved with the society it serves, so that the work that we do in teaching and research resonate with the interest of the community. The engagement work that we have been actively participating in ought to resonate strongly with stakeholders of the DUT,” he said.

Director: Community Engagement and Development (CEAD) Directorate at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), Prof Busisiwe Nkonki-Mandleni delivered a keynote address on Future of Service Learning and Community Engagement. She explained Service learning as a fulfilment of the requirement in the dynamic educational system.

“We need to integrate meaningful community services with an instruction and reflection at the end. After completing every community project, we need to come back to classes and apply what we have learnt from our communities. This approach teaches us not only academic knowledge, but also the critical skills of empathy, collaboration, and social responsibility,” she said.

Prof. Nkonki-Mandleni added that service learning provides a space for theory and practice to come together, where students can engage and have a hands-on experience with problem solving techniques.

The event proceeded to a panel discussion under the topic: Innovation Through Social Enterprising with the following speakers:

• Moderator: Ms Kanye Rampa (Education Consultant from the University of Pretoria)
• Mr Nikhil Sewdass: Director of South African BRICS Youth Association
• Mr Fanie Ndlovu: Founder of VarsityGenie
• Ms Portia Nene: Founder ENEN Enterprise

Mr Andile Masuku, Student Development Officer conveyed a message of support on behalf of Dr Clement Moreku, Dean of Students, acknowledging the outstanding work of the DUT Community Engagement Office. Dr. Moreku expressed his appreciation for the contributions of students in positively impacting and transforming the lives of communities. He highlighted that true leadership is not defined by the pursuit of recognition or power, but by the ability to use one’s skills and opportunities to create meaningful change in the lives of others.

During the ceremony, Ms. Phumzile Xulu, the Engagement Practitioner at DUT, awarded certificates to all the volunteers. She shared heartfelt words of appreciation with the attendees and provided a brief overview of the initiatives, which aims to foster collaboration, increase civic participation, and strengthen social ties within the community.

 “It is our first time doing an event like this and we are learning a lot from it. As we run community engagement programmes at DUT, we work with a lot of student volunteers which many of them are here today. Hosting such an event allows us the opportunity to share our experiences, reflect, and evaluate the work that we have done to support communities. Community Engagement at DUT has grown over the years, as we see more students and staff are getting involved in community projects that has social impact, aligning with the ENVISION2030 goals,” shared Xulu.

Ms. Xulu expressed her hope that the event would inspire more volunteers to join and contribute to the community engagement projects in the upcoming year. She highlighted the importance of growing volunteer participation, which would not only enhance the impact of these initiatives but also foster a stronger sense of community involvement and collaboration.

Prof. Oludayo O. Olugbara, the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Accounting and Informatics at DUT, delivered the vote of thanks, extending his sincere appreciation to the distinguished speakers, panelists, and all participants. He emphasised that their knowledge, expertise, and active engagement were pivotal in ensuring the event’s success, and their contributions added significant value to the discussions and outcomes.

Pictured: DUT Executive Deans, Guest speakers and DUT engagement practitioner at the Volunteers Appreciation Day 2024.

Thubelihle Dumakude