In their bid to promote academic excellence, the Department of Media, Language and Communication, at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) hosted the 2023 Language Practice Students’ Awards ceremony. This glamourous event was held at Gym B Hall, M.L Sultan Campus, on Friday, 19 April 2024.
The purpose of the event was to acknowledge the student top achievers for their hard work and dedication in producing excellent results.
The awards ceremony was facilitated by the energetic Ms Nontobeko Mnyandu, Lecturer: Language Practice. Mnyandu kept the attendees captivated with her overflowing energy while giving an insight on the purpose of the day.
“We are here to celebrate our students for their achievements, as they have worked really hard, so we decided that this is the right platform to celebrate them,” she jubilantly said.
Mrs. Ntombezinhle Laura Cele, Senior Lecturer: Language Practice delivered her welcoming remarks and the awards overview, explaining the various categories. She added that as the Language Practice department, they are dedicated in producing adaptative graduates, who will influence their societies by being Creative. Distinctive. Impactful.
“I would like to welcome you to our 2023 student awards ceremony. We are here to honour our students and we appreciate everyone present today. I would like to appreciate those who have worked hard and dedicated themselves. I look forward into meeting them in the field of work,” she said.
The awards were split into 4 different categories:
- Top Achievers (English, Isizulu, isiXhosa, French and sign language)
- Leadership awards
- Tutorship awards
- Dux awards( overall achiever)
Upon being level 1 overall top achiever, Nombuso Shandu expressed her excitement as she scooped five awards in total.
“Honestly, I never thought I would receive any award let alone the Dux award. I feel happy, and I am extremely proud of myself. That award alone is a confirmation to me that my hard work does pay off and that the sky really is the limit for me,” said Shandu.
Mr Minenhle Khumalo, Lecturer: Media, Language and Communications introduced the guest speaker, Mr Ntokozo Zulu , a DUT Language Practice Alumnus who obtained both his Diploma and Bachelor of Technology degree in Language Practice with Cum Laude. In 2016, he obtained a Master’s Degree in the same course. He recalled his time at DUT, as he dove deep onto his journey, the difficulties and the triumphs.
“To everyone who is here today, you are very luck, because you are within the system. When I came to enroll for my first year, I knew what I wanted. From Monday to Thursday, you would find me at the library until late. In 2009 around August, I met Busiswa Gqulu at City Campus while printing out my poems. She then told me about their Poetry sessions and my life changed from that day. If I was not in class studying, I would attend poetry sessions. That was my routine for 3 years,” he said.
The Empangeni born enriched his academic portfolio by completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education with the University of KwaZulu Natal. From 2012 to 2014, he served as a part time lecturer in the Language Practice Programme.
The Language Practice Advisory Board Members also graced the event, to offer their unwavering support towards students and the department as a whole. Amongst them was: Ntokozo Mkhonto (Chairperson) from UMsunduzi Municipality, Ntokozo Zulu from Mangosuthu University of Technology, Fikile Ndaba from Vibe FM, Sara B’honji from Alliance Francais, Winnie Dube from eThekwini Municipality and Frank Lin Wu (Co-Dean) from the Confucius Institute at DUT.
Students also got the opportunity to recite their poems and performed different traditional dances as part of entertaining the attendees and showcasing their talents.
Pictured: Language Practice awardees at the 2023 Awards Ceremony.
Photographer: Nqobi Mngobese.
Thubelihle Dumakude
