From a humble beginning of 38 companies a few years ago to 52 companies and a Seme Hall full of students from all levels of study and graduates from MUT, this is how the 2025 Careers Fair, which began on 15 May 2025 and will conclude today, appears, as described by Zama Hlubi, Job Placement Officer at the University’s Department of Cooperative Education. Hlubi said the event “has grown from strength to strength” because of the seriousness that is shown by the companies that support the event.
This annual event serves as a platform that gives industry representatives, students, and graduates an opportunity to share information related to employment opportunities on campus in a relaxed environment, as Hlubi said. Students are exposed to companies even before they start attending interviews. Careers fairs provide a platform for employers to showcase their organisations while allowing students to gain insights into industry expectations and opportunities, Hlubi said.
Some of the companies that are present at the event are Africa Health Research Institute, Agricultural Research Council (ARC), Alfred Nzo District Municipality, BANKSETA, Bell Equipment, Blendcor (Pty) Ltd, Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa, Council for the Built Environment (CBE), Department of Economic Development Tourism and Environmental Affairs(EDTEA), Department of employment and labour, Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, Durban ICC, Foskor, Lancet Laboratories, Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal, National Health Laboratory Services, SANRAL, South African Civil Aviation Authority, and South African National Biodiversity Institute.
The local government also made a strong showing at the fair. The eThekwini Municipality, Msunduzi Municipality, Ugu Municipality, and uThukela District Municipality were represented by five departments. Additionally, the event featured relatively new companies, including SARS, Safripol, Sandock Austral Shipyards, and Kerry Taste & Nutrition.
There are also several SETAS – Bankseta, Merseta, Chieta, PSETA, CBE, and Cathseta. Some of these are old MUT friends. These SETAS provide MUT students with funding and sponsor WIL students and interns with a stipend.
Assessing the impact of the fair over the years, Hlubi, said some companies have consistently been hiring MUT students “without fail”. Some of these companies are Bell Equipment, Transnet, Eskom, Umgeni-uThukela Water, PRASA, Blendcor, and Foskor. These companies primarily recruit engineering students.
Hlubi said that as the Cooperative Education department, their focus was on assisting MUT students to be employable. “We encourage students to be as prepared as possible for the world of work. Employers are looking to employ the best candidates; the students need to put themselves out there; it is a very competitive environment which requires one to be a go-getter. As a graduate, one needs to search for work opportunities actively,” said Hlubi, adding that this was an opportunity for the graduates to market themselves.
Among the large number of students who benefited from attending the fair was Sinethemba Mfeka, an S3 Chemical Engineering student. Mfeka visited the stands on the first day of the event. She said that when she left Seme Hall, she was a changed person. She had learned a lot about what companies do and how that relates to them as students. “I now have information about internships and bursaries, and some companies can provide opportunities to students before the students graduate,” said Mfeka. Now, Mfeka says that once you are in, it would be easier to spot opportunities. “We are not familiar with these things as students,” Mfeka said.