Welcome message from Dr. S Rathilal
Director (Acting): Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
Welcome Message
Congratulations and Welcome
Congratulations on your success in grade 12 and securing a place at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). This is a significant milestone, one that marks not only your access to higher education, but also the beginning of a journey toward shaping your future. University is more than attending classes and passing assessments; it is about developing skills, building knowledge, forming meaningful connections, and discovering who you are becoming.
At DUT, student success is supported through a wide network of services and programmes. The Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, the Student Services Division, and units such as the Writing Centre, Library, Innobiz and others provide academic advising, additional tutorials, academic writing development, health and counselling services, first-year experience initiatives, and much more. These are designed to help you thrive, graduate on time, and become an adaptive and capable graduate in a rapidly changing world.
However, success in university is a shared responsibility. While DUT provides support and opportunities, each student is expected to attend lectures and tutorials, ask questions, seek help when needed, monitor their progress, manage their time, and engage actively with the learning process. Your commitment and agency are key drivers of your success.
The ADAPT@DUT First-Year Orientation Programme is your starting point to understanding the resources and support available to you. Make full and sustained use of these—your future self will thank you.
Your journey from here is one of possibility and growth. Approach it with curiosity, responsibility, and courage. We believe in your potential, and at CELT we are committed to walk alongside and support you as you realise it.
Dr Shoba Rathilal
Acting Director: Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching
Message from Dr. Clement Moreku
Dean of Students
Welcome Message
Welcome to the ADAPT@DUT First Year Orientation
It is with great honour and profound privilege that we welcome you to the Durban University of Technology. DUT is far more than an institution of higher learning; it is an engaged academic community founded on shared responsibility and collective accountability. Together, we uphold and advance the DUT identity, carrying its values and principles with pride while contributing meaningfully to the social, economic, and intellectual development of our nation and the global community.
Central to this commitment is our educational philosophy: “Our creativity and innovation shapes adaptive graduates who transform society.” This philosophy transcends words on a page; it is a living ethos, purposefully embedded in our teaching, research, student support services, and developmental initiatives. These are deliberately designed to foster intellectual growth, resilience, and innovation throughout your academic journey.
In choosing DUT, you are joining a university that recognises each student as a valued individual rather than a mere number. We acknowledge your unique potential and your journey of self-discovery, transformation, and lifelong learning. Our commitment is to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and ethical grounding necessary to navigate complex situations, adapt to change, and contribute thoughtfully and responsibly to the transformation of society.
In his book Built to Last, Jim Collins observes that “you must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end – which you can never afford to lose – with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.” This insight underscores a fundamental truth of the student journey: success is not a matter of aspiration alone, but of sustained commitment, discipline, and accountability.
The outcomes of your experience as a student are largely determined by the choices you make and the effort you invest. This includes seeking assistance when support is required, engaging diligently with assignments and examinations, maintaining a clear and consistent study schedule, and attending lectures and practical sessions with purpose. Equally important is your active participation in co-curricular and extracurricular programmes, which enrich your personal and professional development. Above all, it requires a focused determination to progress successfully and to graduate within the prescribed time.
The ADAPT@DUT First-Year Orientation Week marks only the beginning of your academic journey. During this period, you will be introduced to a comprehensive range of services, programmes, and interventions specifically designed to support, enable, and enrich your university experience. To ensure that your transition into higher education is as positive, empowering, and successful as possible.
Listen with intention to learn and get yourself engaged.
Wishing you the best during this 2026 academic year!!!
Dr Clement Moreku
Dean of Students