Kevin Abrahamse enrolled for his Advanced Diploma in Management Science (Business Administration) through the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Business School during June 2022 and successfully completed his qualification with cum laude and obtained the prestigious Dean’s merit award. He graduated at the at the Olive Convention Centre on Tuesday, 19 September 2023.
Upon hearing the news of his sterling achievements, the 49 year old from Merrivale Heights, Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, said he was honoured, humbled, and elated have graduated with Cum Laude with a Dean’s Merit award, given all the obstacles he had faced. “I am hoping that I am a true inspiration to my family, fellow colleagues, and students to achieve the same. Age is just a number do not let it define you,” he stated.
His family were so proud of his achievement, and Abrahamse quipped that his wife now owes him a holiday as she had challenged me to obtain Cum Laude.
“I want to thank my wife Jolene, and my daughters Carmen and Kelly for always loving, supporting, and believing in me throughout my study journey. It was not an easy path for them as well and I am incredibly grateful for having them in my life. I also want to thank my study group members and all my lecturers for the selfless dedication, support, commitment, and encouragement throughout my study journey. Lastly, I also want to thank my supervisor Dr N Mthembu and my colleagues for supporting me and providing me with the required resources to complete this relevant occupational qualification,” he added.
As a student, Abrahamse explained that he had to learn to accept and embrace technological changes such as using Microsoft teams for attending lectures, witing exams and submitting assignments on Moodle and being invigilated by an invigilator application during tests and exams.
“Also, dealing with competing work, life, health and studying priorities, attending on-line lectures and writing on-line exams during load shedding and dealing with network challenges, formed part and parcel of some of the challenges he had faced whilst studying.
For Abrahamse, he had explored several options and found this course was offered on-line by DUT Business school was more suitable as he could not attend full-time lectures in Durban.
“I highly recommend this course for any supervisors or managers in both the public and private sector that wants to broaden their core management and generic functional competencies in their current working environment,” he said.
He did mention that he would love to do a postgraduate qualification and is still exploring his options.
“I want to continue learning, better myself as an employee and leader, be an inspiration for others and impart what I have learned to others,” he replied. His golden words of advice to first year students is that one is never too old to study and learn something new.
“Set your own personal goals and objectives and work smart and hard to achieve the same. Do not be too hard on yourself, you will make mistakes, learn from them. Most importantly, if you do not know something, do not be afraid to ask questions,” he said.
Pictured: Kevin Abrahamse
Waheeda Peters
