VUT celebrates thousands of its graduates and diplomates

The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) is celebrating the achievements of 3 965 graduates and diplomates from its four Faculties: Applied & Computer Sciences, Engineering & Technology, Human Sciences and Management Sciences.

Dubbed the “autumn graduations”, the six-day series of ceremonies got underway this morning at the University’s Desmond Tutu Great Hall at its main campus in Vanderbijlpark and will run from 17th–22nd of April 2023.

Of the total number of qualifications to be conferred, 75 are doctorates and master’s degrees, 560 B-Tech & Bachelor of Education and Nursing, as well as Postgraduate Diplomas, while 3 330 represent advanced diplomas, diplomas and national diplomas.

Once again, this cohort of graduates is another contribution by VUT to the country’s workforce, ready to solve real-life problems such as poverty. In his congratulatory remarks, the Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Dr Dan Mokoena lauded the graduates for having chosen VUT and trusting it with what he termed the “moulding of their future aspirations”, and for persevering against all the odds.

“Most of the students in the graduating class joined the University in 2020, the inception of the Covid-19 global pandemic. They did not have a normal campus life and their lectures and assessments were mostly online,” said Dr Mokoena, adding that despite this, they kept on.

He further described graduations as a ritual that symbolizes the rite of passage – a passage into an unknown world of work for most. “It symbolizes the shift from the sheltered university life into an often unhospitable, sometimes unwelcoming world,” he said.

On achieving the institution’s concerted mission to move from glory to glory, Dr Mokoena shared with the proud family members and friends of graduates some novel initiatives in the pipeline. These he said, include the new Institutional Strategic Plan that has been adopted, with plans already at an advanced stage to roll it out and cascade it across all levels of the University. “We are also in the process of identifying new key strategic projects aimed at turning around the institution in order to achieve its vision and mission.”

Also notably, he highlighted that during these graduations VUT is introducing its new brand in its academic regalia – for the first time, the procession will be wearing uniquely designed academic gowns that portray the University’s new brand elements, while graduates will be graduating with faculty hoods that display VUT’s unique trademark protected pattern.