A benchmarking session was held at the Hotel School at Ritson Campus recently with the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Student Representative Council (SRC), Walter Sisulu University (WSU) and Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) SRC student representatives.
Giving the purpose of the event to student leaders and staff was the Programme Director, Mrs Kholeka Mfeka. She indicated that the intention of the session was for the SRC to share their university vision, create an enabling platform for student leaders to engage on challenges that exist within their universities, their approach to student leadership and ultimately presenting methodologies they use to resolve challenges. She further stated that there was an array of presenters from various units such as Student Counselling and Health, Financial Aid, Student Housing, and Student Governance and Development, who were to present on the operations of their respective units.
Mr Sanele Khumalo, president of the DUT SRC welcomed the SRC student leaderships from WSU and CPUT universities.
“We must firstly appreciate the leadership for choosing DUT, indeed, you will be milking from the cow with a lot of milk (Nizokeza kwegwansile), we will also be doing the same from both universities. This emphasises, is that both universities are rich in terms of producing ideas and we hope to gain more. It is exciting to meet all of you and share some thoughts with the students’ leaders and university staff who are from CPUT and WSU,” he said.
The DUT SRC President further stated that CPUT is known for being one of the great universities of technology and WSU for having a similar vision as ours. These universities have produced many ideas that impacted the community positively, he elaborated that the mentioning of ideas is driven by the fact and knowledge that it is the only thing that cannot be killed or taken away. DUT is one of the best university not only in Africa but in the whole world. DUT is rated number 5 in South Africa and in the top 13 at sub-Saharan Africa. “The university has a unique approach,” he added.
He commented on the DUT DNA, that it is built around certain values and principles ‘people-centred and engaged’ and ‘innovative and entrepreneurial, we have institutional identity, character, guiding behaviour pattern values and culture. We are going to engage as we move forward especially regarding challenges that affect our constituencies, and approach that could be implemented to resolves such challenges, as well as to engage on the 10-year plan of our university, envisioning to 2030. (ENVISION2030).
The first speaker was Dr Naseem Haniff, Director of Student Counselling and Health, who welcomed the SRC students from various universities. Showcasing what is on offer by the Student Counselling and Health unit, she mentioned that her unit provides professional counselling, medical and health related services in the interests of well-being and holistic development of students. “Student Counselling and Health prides itself in delivering impactful outcomes towards improving the lives and the livelihoods of students at DUT contributing to ENVISION2030.
The Living Values Framework is the reference from which the unit strives to deliver gold standard excellence through the conduct, practice and adherence of professionalism, honesty, integrity, respect, compassion, commitment, transparency, and fairness. Also, shared accountability and responsibility is the cornerstone of the unit to ensure impactful service delivery,” she stressed. She gave a snapshot of the staff profiles, student and staff health organogram and what services are provided by the unit.
An important aspect mentioned by Dr Haniff was on DUT prioritising a barrier free and inclusive environment nurturing the success of students with disabilities and the principles for implementation. She further spoke on the integrated holistic services such as residence life support, food security and gender-based violence. 
The Financial Aid Processes were explained by Zandile Ngubelanga and Philisiwe Gumede, both who work in Financial Aid. They relayed who the team colleagues are and their core business which is to oversee the administration of bursaries that are pledged by NSFAS and other donors to eligible students. They explained that their unit also serves as a central hub for providing information and guidelines to students, staff, and funders regarding DUT’s student funding policies and procedures.
They delved into pledges made by donors, adding that bursaries are awarded to students as per the sponsor requirement and once the sponsor had approved funding for the student, such funds are allocated by Finance Department directly into the student account. They said that when donors pledge funds to DUT, such funds are advertised internally on the DUT Pinboard and academic departments. As a unit, they expressed that there challenges the unit faced which included issues pertaining to higher certificate students, final year students, transfer students, WIL/in-service training and NSFAS issues. An exciting feature that they shared with the students were their new online service where students can book to speak to a consultant on the gripe that they are experiencing.
Other presentations also included on Student Governance and Development which was presented by Student Development Officer: Thokozani Sibiya, who explained its core functions which is to support a governance framework for student activities and to offer opportunities for co-curricular learning and engagement, while promoting sound social and leadership skills.
She also explained on the role of the Student Parliament which is the official student assembly of the university and which plays an oversight role in supporting the work of the SRC and it is consulted in policy making process; and the assembly is made up of students from structures affiliated under the SRC.
She further showcased on the Vuna Leadership Academy that seeks to holistically develop graduates that assume leadership roles in the redress of South Africa and achieving a social compact that will lay the basis for equity, inclusion, and prosperity for all. “Students are given masterclasses on leadership, workshops, mentorship programmes, LGBT, and community engagement,” she stressed.
Each session had a robust session of questions and answers which relayed to issues on HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence, student policies, food security and financial aid. The various institutions compared, shared ideas and gripes in a bid to find possible solutions to curb key issues mentioned that affected students in every university.
All in all, the benchmarking session was a great success.
Pictured: WSU and CPUT SRC students at the DUT benchmarking session.
Waheeda Peters
