Page 15 - DUT 2025 Engagement Report Q1

Furthermore, DUT produced eight bilingual (Chinese-English) videos narrating Spring Festival stories, which garnered over 20,000 views across domestic and international platforms. Notably, the DUT Confucius Institute students’ snake dance performance,“Let’s CHINA FUN,” was featured on China Central Television’s (CCTV) Spring Festival Gala, and other videos were selected for the Global Confucius Institute Gala.
In addition, a film screening and cultural salon featured “Creation of the Gods II,” followed by a discussion on Chinese mythology. Over 100 university students, faculty members, and local residents participated in this engaging event.
FAD also participated in a community outreach and development programme celebrating the 25th anniversary of International Mother Tongue Day under the theme “Make Languages Count for Sustainable Development.” This programme featured poetry, music, exhibitions, and panel discussions emphasizing the role of indigenous languages in sustainable development.
Community Engagement continues to support schools in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas through the Feeder Schools Programme, which fosters skills development, encourages university enrollment, and supports educational upliftment through Uni4All and Bergville Literacy Programmes. A key highlight was the Climate Change Pre-Conference event held in February 2025, hosted by the DUT Business School under the FMS, providing an opportunity for young people two local schools to discuss climate change concerns with conference delegates.
Additionally, campus visit for Grade 9 learners from two schools located in an underserved area,hosted by the Department ofVideo Technology under the FAD, exposed learners to career prospects in journalism and video technology.
The DUT Enterprise Risk Management Unit in collaboration with the KZN Department of Education hosted a Risk Management
Workshop for Mahlabathini CMC school principals on in March 2025, to enhance their capacity in risk identification and management. A follow-up session is scheduled for April 2025.
DUT’s commitment to community engagement extends through multiple departments. For example, the Department of Electrical and Power Engineering completed the installation of a Solar PV system at The Belhaven Harm Reduction Centre, ensuring reliable energy supply and reducing electricity costs. The Department of Architecture is supporting the development of a new girls’ dormitory at Inanda Seminary School, integrating Project-Based Learning and Design Thinking.
Other community-focused initiatives include the SCRA Disaster Management Project by the Department of Chemical Engineering and the ongoing RoboGirl 2025 programme, an innovative STEM initiative by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, empowering Grade 11 schoolgirls in MicroPython programming and robotics.
Additionally, the FHS made a generous donation of wheelchairs to the Khula Natural Health Centre in St. Lucia in January 2025.This initiative was one of the FHS Community Engagement Committee’s projects, and participation was from representatives from the Deans Office, Somatology, Chiropractic Radiography, Homoeopathy, Nursing and Emergency Medical care and Rescue. The donation a clear demonstration of inter-disciplinary collaboration for a common cause. This effort underscores DUT’s commitment to community engagement and addresses the pressing need for accessible healthcare solutions in South Africa. According to a recent study, approximately 2% of the South African population over five years old rely on wheelchairs, highlighting the importance of contributions like this.
The DUT School Engagement Project, launched in 2018, continues to provide valuable educational support to learners across multiple
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