Talking to the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Fanie Ndlovu who was recently awarded the Community Engagement Student of the Year Award. 

The Community Engagement Office, under the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research Innovation and Engagement, recently launched the very first Community Engagement Showcase and Pitching Awards recognising projects initiated by both staff and students. These efforts were meant to establish a baseline of the type of work and engagements taking place in this area aligned to ENVISION 2030 and embedded within the Research and Innovation and Teaching and Learning core functions of the university. 

Ndlovu, a Masters Student in Information and Communications Technology (ICT), said his win of R10 00 was really unexpected.  “I still can’t believe even now that I have received such an award out of more than 30 000 DUT students. This was all made possible by the extraordinary support I have been receiving from DVC: RIE office, Faculty of Accounting and Informatics Dean Office, IT department HOD’s office, IT Department secretaries, lecturers and lab technicians, and my amazing VarsityGenie team who always supports any crazy ideas I have. I dedicate the award to them,” he said. 

VarsityGenie is Ndlovu’s brainchild, who is fervent about developing the skills of young people in communities and townships. His aim since its establishment is to equip all types of students with skills that will make them employable in the current economy.

He spoke on some of the VarsityGenie projects such as hosting the first ever Sign Language Artificial Intelligence online workshop for the deaf community helping an NGO to host an online fundraising game show, as well as working with Eskom Science Expo to teach school pupils mobile application development without knowing coding. 

Ndlovu said that in 2018 he was working with the IT Department and was honoured with a similar award.  “The award motivated me to work on bigger projects, opening doors for me to be recognised by the DVC: RIE office. Then next move is to work with Provincial Government, then National Government and internationally,” he said. 

Pictured: Fanie Ndlovu 

Waheeda Peters