Students from Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) and learners from a Chatsworth township have gained renewed direction and clarity regarding their future in information technology following an eye-opening Open Day hosted by the university’s Department of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). The event featured a keynote address by Khulekani Mavundla, Academic Programme Leader at MANCOSA and a Computer Science PhD candidate, who urged attendees to look beyond academic metrics and focus on industry readiness.
Addressing the audience, Mavundla emphasised that earning an IT qualification is not the destination, but rather the foundation for a sustainable career. Mavundla challenged students to move past simply securing good marks by actively building practical skills, assembling work portfolios, solving real-world problems, and learning to collaborate responsibly with Artificial Intelligence (AI). “Do not only ask: ‘What job can I get?’ Ask: ‘What value can I create?”, he said.
Mavundla demonstrated how a single community or business issue can generate diverse job roles across the tech ecosystem, outlining several critical career pathways. He referred to roles such as Application Developer, Full-Stack Developer, DevOps Engineer, and Cloud Engineer. “There is high-demand for specialisations including, Data Analyst, Data Scientist, Machine Learning/AI Specialist, and Data Visualization Specialist. Also, operational paths include Cybersecurity Analyst, Cloud Security Specialist, Incident Response, and IT Risk roles,” he said. There is also Business and Technology Strategy. “These bridge roles include Business Analyst, IT Project Manager, Technology Consultant, and IT Governance Specialist,” he said.
The event left a strong impression on current undergraduates. Second-year ICT students Amanda Gwala and Thando Maphumulo noted that the Open Day completely reshaped how they view their study programme. Maphumulo shared that hearing the breakdown of career tracks reinforced that she is in the right programme, while highlighting the crucial role Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) plays in landing employment post-graduation.
Attendees also engaged directly with interactive student projects exhibited at the event, featuring practical technology demonstrations, including a miniature smart vehicle equipped with front-mounted sensors capable of autonomously navigating around obstacles.