Towards the end of 2025, two staff members from the Faculty of Engineering had a life-changing experience. Mlungisi Dlamini and Nondumiso Makhoba, Technicians: Process Automation and Control/Mechatronics: Department of Electrical Engineering, were awarded with a UNISA’s Senate Graduate Excellence Award in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology for the 2025 academic year, for being top performers in the category “Best Results for BAC Eng Tech Hons in Electro”. The award includes a study bursary valued at R12 000.00, to be utilized within five years for further studies at UNISA.
They both gave well measured responses to this development in their lives. Both said they were “honoured and grateful to have received the award. Dlamini said: “This recognition is both humbling and motivating, as it affirms the hard work, discipline, and commitment that went into my studies. This award is also a reminder of the responsibility to continue striving for excellence and to contribute meaningfully to the engineering profession and to society,” Dlamini said. For her part, Makhoba said the award means a great deal to her because it recognises the hard work, dedication, and commitment she has put into her journey so far. “Beyond the financial support, the award has motivated me to keep striving for excellence, and to make a meaningful impact in my field and community”.
Dlamini and Makhoba said they would use the R12 000 bursary to support their further studies at UNISA. They have both registered for a Master’s degree. They will conduct their research at MUT. Dlamini’s research will be on process instrumentation and control; Makhoba will do hers on telecommunications. Both staff members would like to be lecturers.