The Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) are hosting its four-day Annual Learning and Teaching Imbizo themed: Beyond Limits: Reshaping the future of higher education at the Coastlands Umhlanga Conference Centre from Tuesday, 10 October 2023. It is set to end on Friday, 13 October 2023.
Facilitating the imbizo were CELT’s Nalini Chitanand and Shubnum Rambharos who encouraged the esteemed guests from the various higher education institutions across South Africa to engage and take notes of the insights shared by the keynote speakers; in order to learn ways to create a more vibrant, flexible and responsive higher education system that meets the needs of students, professions and society.
Delivering the welcome remarks at the official opening of the imbizo was the DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu who spoke about how the higher education institutions need to facilitate learning for the future so that young people cannot be stuck on the old philosophies that keep them unemployed. He made reference to ENVISION2030 and how DUT hopes to produce graduates that will be creative, innovative, entrepreneurial and adaptive to the changes of the world.
Sharing his message of support was the Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning at DUT, Dr Azwitevhelwi Nevhutalu who was fascinated about the imbizo. He indicated that he sees the imbizo going international in the future.
The opening keynote speaker was Professor Saleem Badat from the University of Free State. He delivered a remarkable address titled: Commodification, Corporatisation, Crisis and Complicity: The University in Contemporary South Africa. He left the guests inspired to go back to their institutions and explore the adaptive teaching and learning. Prof Badat also encouraged the guests to develop ways to enhance teaching and learning in Africa and to not put pressure on them wanting to imitate the international universities.
Sharing the same sentiments were the other keynote speakers consisting of Professor Zayd Waghid from Cape Peninsula University of Technology. He delivered his address titled: Disrupting Education for a Paradigm Shift: Towards Empowering university students as Critical Global Citizens. Prof Waghid highlighted the importance of students and lectures becoming deliberative, responsible and risk orientated if they are to appropriate the values necessary for relevant education to Africa. He emphasised that in doing so they will be able to cater to their needs and often challenging circumstances of students within the contemporary African society.
Prof Waghid shared the stage with Mr Richard Perez from the University of Cape Town who delivered his address titled: Unlocking our creative confidence as a catalyst for change. His address was delivered in the afternoon session of Day two. He kept the guests glued to his presentation where he shared fascinating ideas on how they can exercise their creativity in the workspace while not being afraid to fail in order to learn from their mistakes and succeed.
The imbizo provided an enriching experience with esteemed keynote speakers, engaging critical dialogues and a diverse range of presentation formats. On a daily basis, a number of parallel sessions were held where researchers got a chance to present their papers to the guests and managed to engage on their research sharing their knowledge and also taking ideas on how they can go further in their research.
The guests were also treated to a cocktail evening to give them a warm welcome and also allow them a chance to engage with other esteemed guests, some of whom were from outside KwaZulu-Natal. Delivering the welcome remarks at the cocktail evening was Prof Mncedisi Maphalala, a Director of the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) at DUT whom urged the guests to feel at home at DUT and highlighted the importance of collaboration and sharing of knowledge for the betterment of the students and the society at large. Guests had immense fun as they were seen mingling and also dancing together, sharing special moments at the cocktail function.
Pictured: Professor Saleem Badat addressing the attendees at the 2023 Annual Learning and Teaching Imbizo.
Photographer: Morgen Kisten.
Simangele Zuma
