On Wednesday, 31 May, Professor Nokuthula Sibiya, MUT’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement (RIE) capped five of her Durban University of Technology (DUT) PhD students. These are the postgraduate students that she commenced supervising before she left DUT for MUT. Professor Sibiya has graduated 31 PhD, and 60 Master’s students.
When Professor Sibiya was asked how over and above her responsibilities as the DVC: RIE she managed to graduate such a large pool of students, Professor Sibiya said: “As a Full Professor and an NRF-rated researcher, I strive not to drop the ball when it comes to research. I always attempt to balance teaching and learning, research, and engagement, which are pillars of an academic’s life. As an Adjunct Professor at DUT, I committed to walk the academic journey with my postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows that I started supervising before I left the University.” Professor Sibiya said that on daily bases, she ensures that she has 25 hours when some people enjoy 24 hours. Professor Sibiya further indicated that a total of 13 articles and conference proceedings have been produced by the five students that she has recently graduated. One of her students has published five journal articles from his study, and five peer-reviewed conference proceedings, one of these received a best paper award, and two received runner-up awards. Professor Sibiya said that these publications would indirectly enhance her research profile. Professor Sibiya has challenged MUT staff to collaborate with other universities in supervising postgraduate students, while the University’s postgraduate qualifications are undergoing review for accreditation.