| ####

18 / 40

18 / 40

16

M U T

S P I R I T

/ /

S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 0

Professor Ramogale reminded graduates that they

were graduating a few days after the country’s Youth

Day holiday on June 16, which commemorates

the uprising of the youth of 1976 against apartheid

education. Professor Ramogale explained that just

like the youth of 1976, the Class of 2020 needed its

own legacy.

“I would like to challenge you as the Class of 2020,

receiving your qualifications under the lockdown. What

legacy are you going to carry beyond the lockdown?

However, my challenge to you is to think of yourself as

an employer. In that way, you will never go wanting,”

said Professor Ramogale.

Professor Ramogale, who has been the biggest

proponent of getting MUT students to consider

entrepreneurship, encouraged graduates to see

some of the problems caused by the coronavirus as

opportunities.

“The coronavirus has created many problems, but

has also opened new opportunities. Leverage these

opportunities, find solutions to the problems we are

faced with. In that way, you will find success. There

may be no jobs, but there is plenty of work if you see

work as the creation of solutions to existing problems,”

he said. He also highlighted the eight qualities

that graduates would need to become successful

entrepreneurs. These are: courage, perseverance,

tenacity, positive thinking, sound human relations,

willingness to take risks, curiosity and a problem-

solving attitude.

The MUT virtual graduation would have been

incomplete without the President of MUT Convocation,

Sandile Dlamini, formally welcoming the new

graduates to the MUT Convocation after the virtual

conferral of their qualifications.

Dlamini said: “I am very proud to share the excitement

of your graduation day. Although we are not able

to congregate at the Dr Pixley ka Seme Hall and

celebrate your achievement in person, it is with great

joy that I welcome you to the Mangosuthu University

of Technology Convocation family.”

The ceremonies ended on a celebratory note with

footage of the MUT Choir leading the last dance,

which has become synonymous with the joy that

graduation brings at MUT.

Graduation in numbers

Faculty

Diploma Advanced

Diploma

Bachelor of

Technology

Postgraduate

Diploma

Masters

Total

Engineering

785

-

24

-

-

809

Management

Sciences

1 053

170

31

25

-

1 279

Natural Sciences

323

61

49

15

3

451

Total

2 161

231

104

40

3

2 539

Vice-Chancellor’s Awards recognise top achievers virtually

The term ‘virtual’ has become a reality that everyone

has not only to adjust to, but to live with. ‘Virtual’

meetings! ‘Virtual’ public lectures! ‘Virtual’ trainings!

‘Virtual’ graduation! The latter has been in the minds of

many for the last three months or so, with institutions

being forced to conduct graduations online so their

students could receive their qualifications.

MUT was no exception to this new ‘rule’. One of the

highlights of the virtual graduation was the students

that performed exceptionally well in their last

examinations. Out of the 2 539 students that went

through this important rite of passage on 27 June

2020, three students received the Vice-Chancellor’s

Award for being the top students in each faculty.

Congratulations to this year’s awardees who have

done themselves, their families and MUT proud.