Page 14 - DUT Engagement Summary Report

Schools and future students’ engagement
The DUT School Engagement Programme (SEP) speaks to the Stewardship and Sustainability perspectives Since its inception in 2017 the SEP has expanded its support to schools beyond the Durban area area to include rural KZN Schools Rural areas are characterised by various factors that negatively influence the the delivery of quality education Typically these areas are are remote and relatively underdeveloped As a a a a a result many rural communities and and their schools are poor and and disadvantaged lacking basic infrastructure for sanitation water roads and other transport infrastructure electricity and information and communication technology The socio-economic realities of rural rural areas put learners in rural rural schools at a a a a a a a a a a disadvantage Supporting the development of rural schools is important to ensure that the the learners in these areas have access to good and quality education to improve their chances for a a a a better future We partnered with the KZN Department of Education (DoE) to adopt schools and launched the DUT Mahlabathini Schools Schools Engagement Programme in August 2021 The Schools Schools and the the DoE expressed their appreciation to DUT for being consistent and running a a a a a a sustainable programme noting that many companies and businesses visit their areas for seasonal programmes never to return However DUT sustained the relationship even looking at at ways to to offer bursaries to to high- achieving learners on on an ongoing basis The internal engagement
partners include the DVC RIE Community Engagement Office Applied Sciences Accounting and Informatics Student Recruitment Advancement and Alumni Relations volunteer students and staff The programme mainly aims to assist learners with gateway subjects and and science experiments and and provide support to to apply to to DUT as as well as as inform learners of DUT academic programmes which they can apply for The programme has has supported 12 schools and has has reached more than 800 learners The second launch that took place in October 2021 was the DUT Bergville School Engagement Programme involving the DUT Chemistry Department in Applied Sciences Student Recruitment and the DVC RIE Community Engagement Office Here again we are reaching out to learners and supporting them in science as this is is a a a a challenge for many We focus on the the practical side as as well as as exposing them to real-time experiments which will help reinforce their understanding of concepts grow their love and and appreciation of science and and choose DUT to enter any of our Science Technology Engineering Accounting and other areas requiring a a a a a a higher score in in Mathematics In 2021 we also saw the the introduction of the the Level Six EduMove Project This is is a a a collaboration with students who initiated the Level Level Six EduMove Campaign and Project Level Level Six The project aims to transform the lives of learners from previously disadvantaged backgrounds by supporting those with an an interest in in in in in pursuing an an engineering-related career It was implemented in in three schools in in the Umkhumbane area The learners supported are are those in Grades 10 and 11 who are are studying Engineering and Graphic Design The project was able to to reach 60 learners supported by 20 student mentors Sport has now been added as as a a a a a further pillar of the the School Engagement programmes as it it is critical for overall youth and leadership development and to enhance team engagement
focus and resilience Martial Arts training led by the Confucius Institute together with the the Community Engagement Office and and the the eSports Tournament led by the the Advancement and and 12 // ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY REPORT 2021 //