The Durban University of Technology (DUT) Business School saw its first three Master of Business Administration (MBA) students from its first cohort graduate at the DUT 2023 Spring Graduation ceremony which was held at the Olive Convention Centre, Durban on Tuesday morning (19 September 2023).
Menzi Ngcobo, Pholoho Hoffman and DUT staff member, Solomon Nyamurima made history as they were the first three MBA students to graduate from the DUT Business School since its establishment in 2021.
The DUT Business School was launched in alignment with the DUT ENVISION2030, which is to see its people ‘participating productively in the development of our region, country and the world.’ Its flagship programme, the Master in Business Administration commenced in 2021 with 17 students whom the number later decreased to 10. The remaining seven students from the first cohort are expected to graduate in the 2024 Autumn Graduation as they are still awaiting approval of their dissertations.
Hoffman (29) from Qhobosheaneng Ha-Ralebitso in Matatiele is a Senior Officer: Integrated Development Planning (IDP) at Matatiele Local Municipality, Eastern Cape. Ngcobo (35) from KwaMakhutha, Durban, who is a former DUT Student Representative Council (SRC) member, was recently appointed as the Senior Football Sponsorship Coordinator at Hollywoodbets, which is a position he obtained during his MBA studies. Meanwhile, Nyamurima from Headlands in the Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe is a Director at the DUT Centre for Social Entrepreneurship Rapid Business Incubator (DUT CSERI). He was honoured for his academic excellence as he graduated Cum Laude for his MBA.
The MBA opened doors of opportunity for Ngcobo, a DUT Bachelor of Education alumnus who recently bagged himself a top position of a Senior Football Sponsorship Coordinator at Hollywoodbets. Prior to this position, he was a Computer Application Technology teacher and a manager in charge of the football team at Kingsway High School.
Commenting on the DUT MBA programme, Ngcobo who aspires to one day work for FIFA said: “The MBA programme was extremely challenging; it stretched every single fibre of my intellectual capacity. If you want to be a thought leader in a highly competitive global business market, I would highly recommend this course. Amazingly, I am truly grateful for being part of this historic milestone. I hope my being part of history will open the door for other black kids from townships and rural areas, to dream and reach for the stars, I hope my success plants a seed of hope and inspiration for the next generation.”
Hoffman’s journey with DUT started in 2016 when he enrolled for his Bachelor’s degree in Public Management. He later returned in 2021 to pursue his MBA which he believes will offer him a wealth of advantages, especially being obtained from the number one University of Technology in South Africa.
“There are many reasons why I wanted to do an MBA, such as getting a high salary after completing, landing a top management position, developing a strong professional network or even becoming my own boss in the future,” shared Hoffman.
The ambitious Hoffman has already applied for his Doctor of Business Administration and his aim is to one day become the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Operations Officer.
Sharing his thoughts on graduating Cum Laude, Nyamurima who joined DUT in 2016 as the Centre Manager at DUT CSERI said it came as a surprise to him, as he enrolled for the MBA programme to enhance his managerial and leadership skills and gain a better understanding of the latest trends in the entrepreneurship space.
“I am grateful to my professors and classmates for their support and guidance throughout my studies. I am also grateful for the opportunity to have learned from some of the leading experts in the field of business. I am confident that the skills and knowledge I have gained will help me to achieve my goals in the future. I am excited to start my next chapter and make a positive impact on the world,” shared Nyamurima.
In addition, Nyamurima shared that he is inspired by DUT’s ENVISION2030 strategy and he aims to become an adaptive graduate who will contribute to the university’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, and ultimately improve the lives and livelihoods of the society.
Pictured: Menzi Ngcobo and DUT staff member, Solomon Nyamurima.
Simangele Zuma