It was a bitter sweet moment for the 23 year-old Msizeni Zungu, who could not stop expressing his gratitude to the Student Representative Council (SRC),  Advancement and Alumni Relations office at the Durban University of Technology for funding his studies.

Zungu graduated this morning (24 May 2023) for his Advanced Diploma in Business Information Management (BIM) during the 2023 Autumn Graduation of the Faculty of Accounting and Informatics at the Olive Convention Centre (OCC). Zungu was able to get the SRC grant for his registration, while he was astounded about that, he secured a bursary from Toyota Tsusho Africa through the Advancement and Alumni Relations office.

“I am truly grateful to the DUT SRC, Advancement and Alumni Relations Office for their assistance in my studies. Getting into higher education requires massive funds which at the time I did not have. If it was not for the SRC Grant I was not going to be able to register. Once your register,  only half of the problem gets sorted, therefore, I still needed funds to pay for my fees and the Advancement and Alumni Relations office came to my rescue,” said the elated Zungu.

He urged students not to shy away from seeking assistance from the University structures that are designed to provide relief to students’ funding frustrations. “Explore what the University has to offer to you as a student and utilise those opportunities, apply for those student grants and bursaries in order to complete your studies,” he added.

The career-driven graduate is currently serving at Corporate Affairs within the Communications Unit as an Administrative Assistant intern. Zungu shared that his journey at DUT has been amazing from the time he joined DUT in 2019. He also shared that when he joined DUT, his intention was to study Information Technology: Business Analysis, but fate led to him pursuing Business and Information Management.

Being unable to enrol for IT did not deter Zungu, he embraced being a BIM student and he believes that it has attracted luck and fortune on his academic journey. Upon seeing that he was successful in his Advanced Diploma, he became very tearful but still went on to register for a Postgraduate Diploma that he is currently busy studying in 2023.

“I was stunned and very tearful when I logged into my student portal and realised that I was due to graduate. I immediately called my mother and my brothers and informed them that I have completed my second qualification,” he said jubilantly.

Zungu hopes to get his Doctorate degree before he reaches 30. He added that the DUT’s Communications Manager inspired him as she always gives him food for thought about the importance of education.

“Being an intern at the Communications unit is a huge blessing to me and I am truly bestowed to have such a career driven supervisor who encourages me to be better not only in my career but she even provides guidance about life and academics,” he proudly said.

Pictured: Mr Msizeni Zungu

Lethukuthula Ngubane