SOFTCOPY MAGAZINE

Photography lovers admire the ‘Kabusha’ at the Technical Centre.   The Durban University of Technology Photography BTech class of 2019 hosted their year-end exhibition titled, ‘Kabusha’ at the Technical Centre last Friday, 24 October 2019. The students displayed a series of photographs to an audience that included their parents, friends, and other relevant stakeholders that are in partnership with DUT photography. Siya Meyiwa, one of the class representatives praised DUT Photography’s Coordinator Angela Buckland for a ‘significant’ role in their success as a class. “This class is fortunate for having Angela as our educator, she greatly contributed to equipping us with the knowledge and skills that will go a long way into our careers and production of our work moving forward,” He said. Buckland officially opened the exhibition by congratulating her students and celebrating their work. She said this was evidence of the journey they all travelled together. She also...

Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu at the SAERA conference.  Durban University of Technology’s (DUT) Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Thandwa Mthembu urges research educators to do more in elevating student progress into the working world, at this year’s edition of the South African Educators Research Association (SAERA) conference gala dinner, at the Elangeni Hotel on 24 October 2019. The three-day conference (23-25 October 2019) hosted by DUT’s School of Education in association with SAERA was themed: Beyond Boundaries: Exploring possibilities through research and innovation. The event was well-attended by University delegates which included researchers and educators, looking at alternative ways of promoting research and academic partnership, theory and practice, as well as bettering the state of research quality and accommodate the next generation of researchers. Prof Mthembu in his opening remarks, urged fellow research colleagues and...

Theatre in Education class of 2019 in Drakensburg.   The Drama and Production Studies Theatre in Education class of 2019 visited the Drakensburg for three days as part of the National Research Foundation project titled, The Unfoldment of Ubuntu through indigenous values based education. Project leader Dr Sury Rajah, Drama lecturers Lee-Ann Naicker and Dr Pamela Tancsik along with 27 students and tour guide Zweli Hlongwane travelled to Drakensburg to host a series of plays that reinforce the values and principles of Ubuntu. The students performed five plays to an estimated 257 primary school children. Dr Tancsik explained: “My students were inspired by Mr Hlongwane and his knowledge of medicinal plants, ancient history of San and Koisan people in the Drakensburg where most of my students had not been to during a talk I had hosted for my students in April, I then decided on storytelling based on Ubuntu and its related values such as respect, collaboration, sharin...

DUT staff and students with Associate Professor Mpume Zondi during the gender-based violence lecture.  The Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) Faculty of Arts and Design hosted a lecture on the obscurity of the nature of gender-based violence (GBV), with Associate Professor and Head of Languages at the University of Pretoria, Prof Mpume Zondi, on Friday, 04 October 2019, at the Hotel School Conference Centre, Ritson Campus.  In her opening statement, Prof Zondi spoke on gender-based violence and the ways in which it manifests itself. She said it’s profound and is a widespread problem affecting almost every aspect of life such as home environments, wider society, work and study spaces. She shared an overview of a book titled: Unbecoming to Become, this book is written by local author and actress Ayanda Borotho. In her book she talks about being in a toxic relationship that was forcing her to dim her own light for a man. “It is time for us to change the narrat...

Dheshnie Naidoo.  The Durban University Technology’s (DUT) Video Technology alumni, actress and television presenter, Dheshnie Naidoo was recently appointed as the first woman ever, to be the Head of Production Operations at SuperSport. Having started off as an Intern at Mnet in 1997, Naidoo has been progressively climbing up the ladder in the Television broadcasting Industry, flying the DUT flag very high. After her recent appointment, Naidoo expressed her excessive excitement for breaking the stereotype of males dominating the industry. “I am very excited to make the stereotype change because for a long time the industry has been dominated by males and now the playing fields have been levelled,” she said. Naidoo has held several titles over the years, including Senior Manager Production Services, events manager, operations manager and senior manager in the Outside Broadcast department and studios, where she gained extensive knowledge and exposure into the wor...

Dr Chris De Beer with FoAD's Information and Communications Officer.  NASIPHI GIGABA  The Head of Department (HOD) of Fine Arts and Jewellery Design, Chris de Beer recently completed his Doctoral Degree (PhD) in self-reflective study. Titled: “An autoethnographic exploration of Creative Design Practice: Towards Pedagogic implications”, his thesis presented an ethnographic exploration of his Identity as a creative artist, a designer and a university educator. “Being in the creative field and trying to cultivate the creativity within my students is what inspired my study. I examined my own creative practice by doing autoethnographic self-interviews of my contributions to exhibitions, and then examined the pedagogical implications inherited in these explorations,” said De Beer. De Beer’s thesis  offers a visually exemplar for artists and educators interested in exploring pedagogic implications of an enhanced awareness of self in creative practice, he also st...

NASIPHI GIGABA  (L-R) Ronicka Sirputh, Senele Hlumayo, Sue Barrett and Dr Rene Smith.  The Durban University of Technology’s (DUT) Faculty of Arts and Design (FoAD) staff were recently recognised and appreciated at this year’s Annual “Research & Staff Recognition Awards” hosted at the Ritson Hotel School. Opening the award ceremony and welcoming the staff was the Executive Dean of the FoAD, Dr René Smith, who emphasized the importance of hosting the awards and recognising the staff for all their determination. This year’s award ceremony marks the 4th Staff Recognition Awards and the 5th Staff Research Awards since 2014. As part of this year’s Implementation, all nominees in their various categories were appreciated with an award for their contribution towards the faculty and towards research. “We introduced the awards very interested more about the work that takes place in the faculty and over the years we decided that let us award everyone who contribu...