The Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Department of Finance and Information Management recently hosted their second two-day annual Postgraduate Orientation concurrently via Microsoft Teams and physically at the DUT Riverside Campus Committee Room.
The aim of the orientation was to assist postgraduates with the problems that were identified which included slow progress of postgraduate students, lack of knowledge of re-institutional processes and procedures, lack of knowledge of re-postgraduate trajectory from proposal stage to examination stage, to name but a few.
Facilitating the orientation was the Department of Finance and Information Management Lecturer: Dr Khethiwe Dongwe who welcomed everyone that had attended and outlined what DUT expects from master’s and PhD students.
“It is important for the postgraduate students to have knowledge of navigating the different stages in order to complete their qualifications. The stages include proposal, ethical clearance, data collection and analysis, thesis writing (findings), examination, administrative issues, processing feedback from supervisors, reviewers, and examiners,” explained Dr Dongwe.
DUT Midlands Writing Centre Practitioner: Dr Nonhlanhla Khumalo, presented on how to develop academic/ research writing at a postgraduate level and shared information regarding the library online booking system.
“Academic support is critical for students in order to succeed at any level of their studies. As an academic support unit, we work with students from undergraduate to postgraduate level. We look forward to collaboratively engaging with postgraduate students and supervisors at any level of their research development and try on our best abilities to support the students, so they are able graduate on record time,” said Dr Khumalo.
The Department of Finance and Information Management lecturer and Programme Coordinator: Dr Thandukwazi Ncube presented on the key points to be considered when converting thesis into publication and touched base on ethical issues to be considered when writing and publishing. Furthermore, he explained that this programme has a potential to afford students the opportunity to familiarise themselves with administrative procedures regarding research ethics, data collection, submission of chapters, analysis of data and writing up the research report.
The second day of the programme was held on Microsoft Teams, and it focused on the reflections from the previous sessions, how to survive postgraduate studies from a student perspective. The postgraduate students were also given the opportunity to indicate which support they need and discuss a way forward with their supervisor.
Pictured: Department of Finance and Information Management staff and Postgraduate Students
Photographer: Siyabonga Sibiya.
Zanele Mashaba
