The Durban University of Technology (DUT) Business School, in partnership with Glotan Research Services, held the inaugural Climate Change and Economic Management for a Sustainable Future Conference from 26 February 2025 to 27 February 2025 at Coastlands Hotel Umhlanga, attracting delegates from all over the world.
The programme saw a series of events in the build-up to the conference. The first event was a Capacity Building Workshop for postgraduate students and staff which was held on 24 February 2025.
The session saw academics from various institutions make presentations during the workshop. Some of the day’s presentations were from Professor Raymond Adibe, founder and publisher of Adonis & Abbey Publishers Ltd based in Nigeria and the United Kingdom and the editor of the journal African Renaissance delivered a presentation on the Fundamentals of Academic Writing: How to Publish in High-Impact Journals. Dr Ifunnanya Ani from Walter Sisulu University unpacked Writing a Grant particularly a Winning Grant.
On 25 February 2024, the DUT community participated in a community engagement initiative where they participated in community tours in the South Durban Industrial Basin, home to several industries located near residential areas.
The day’s programme ended at the Durban Botanical Gardens where Commissioner Makoma Lekalakala, Director, EarthLife Africa Johannesburg and member of the SA Presidential Climate Change delivered a keynote address. Ms Phumzile Xulu, the DUT Community Engagement Practitioner facilitated the session. Professor Pfano Mashau, Director of the DUT Business School delivered the welcome address.
A panel discussion took place, featuring Dr Desmond D’sa (Coordinator, South Durban Community Environmental Alliance), voices of youth (high school students from Chatsworth and Tongaat), and representatives from the eThekwini Municipality’s Disaster Management Centre.
On the morning of 26 February 2025, a large number of delegates, both in person and online, gathered for the opening day of the Climate Change and Economic Management for a Sustainable Future Conference. Alan Khan, Senior Director of Corporate Affairs at DUT, led the opening session.
The day’s guest speakers were Prof Tshilidzi Marwala, UN Under-Secretary General and Rector/Principal United Nations University (recorded message), Prof Cristina Trois Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies, Stellenbosch University, Professor Thomas Dobbelstein, from the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University in Germany and Chairperson of the DUT Business School Advisory Board and Dr Imitiaz Ismail Sooliman, Founder and Chairperson of the Gift of the Givers.
Professor Pfano Mashau, Director of the DUT Business School, delivered the welcome address. “Ladies and gentlemen I can proudly say that the DUT Business School is playing its role in bridging the gap between industry, academia and the community. Through these types of events, we are ensuring that our research is not only theoretical but that our research has a tangible impact on the society that we serve. This is the reason why we are here. We are here to share our research findings with different stakeholders present here today,” he said.
In his message of support, Professor Fulufhelo Netswera, Executive Dean of the DUT Faculty of Management Sciences, commended the DUT Business School team for organising what he described as a crucial engagement addressing key issues at the United Nations level.
“We listened to outstanding speeches regarding climate action and the urgency that everyone should have to combat climate change. I hope that in the future we will continue this annually but equally that we will have activities and engagements beyond the conference that are meant to cooperate with the corporate sector and with the government in order to have tangible outcomes in dealing with and addressing the climate change problem,” said Prof Netswera.
The first day concluded with a gala dinner event, providing scholars with an opportunity to connect and engage.
Day two of the conference began with the same vibrant energy as the previous day, with Dr Trevor Naidoo, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Operations and Quality, taking to the podium as the day’s programme director. Delivering the day’s keynote address was Professor Victor Mensah from the University of Cape Coast (virtual), Ghana and Makoma Lekalakala, Director, EarthLife Africa Johannesburg & Member of the SA Presidential Climate Change.
Professor Simphiwe Nojiyeza, Head of Research and Innovation at the DUT Business School and Chairperson of the conference’s Organizing Committee highlighted that they had collaborated with many scholars from around the globe to ensure the success of the conference, “I have been the chair of the conference’s organising committee from July last year, my first and immediate task was to find partners especially in Africa and elsewhere in the world. My first stop was in Mzuzu University in Malawi and you might have seen there were three or four papers that were presented here by a collective from this institution.”
The conference also welcomed scholars from Zimbabwe’s Midlands State University, Great Zimbabwe University, and Lupane State University. Additionally, it attracted academics from CSIR Ghana, the University for Development Studies (Ghana), and the Netherlands’ Vrije Universiteit. Among the delegates were also guests from Ireland.
“We are truly excited that we managed to organise an international conference on a subject that is very pertinent, the subject of climate change and economic development,” said Prof Nojiyeza.
Pictured: Delegates at the Climate Change and Economic Management for a Sustainable Future Conference.
Zandile Mahlobo
