Some of Nelson Mandela University’s 34 Summer Graduation doctoral recipients, inclusive of its honorary doctorate Dr Judy Dlamini (centre, back).
Nelson Mandela University honours its doctoral recipients (published December 2018)
The University honoured its 34 doctoral recipients, 15 of whom come from the Faculty of Science, at the annual Summer Graduation Doctoral Dinner last night.
In her address, University Chancellor Dr Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi urged the new doctors to live the legacy of Mandela.
“We do, we don’t just talk,” she told the graduates, at least 14 of whom are foreign students, mainly from Africa.
Dr Moleketi cited the research of a number of the recipients as offering answers – such as the sustainable funding framework for the public broadcast; sustainable and competitive tourism and the potato research of the doctorate from Cameroon.
“We can apply what has been learnt from this potato research, for example, to Keiskammahoek. We have the obligation of transformation for Africa.”
The 15 PhD graduates from the Faculty of Science is the highest number since the inception of the December graduation sessions in 2015.
From five in 2017, the latest cohort of doctors from the faculty had covered research ranging from quantum physics to social media as a government management tool.
The international doctoral recipients
Dr Fraser Moleketi also challenged students to look at how AI can transform universities especially in terms of the transdisciplinary nature of the scholarship.
“We need constructive disruption – yes, disruption in a positive way.” Chair of Council Ambassador Nozipho January-Bardill raised a toast to the doctorates, and especially their partners, supervisors and co-supervisors, recognising the role they had played in supporting the students to reach this academic milestone. Honorary Doctorate Dr Judy Dlamini was also acknowledged as a woman who embodies the ethos of Mandela. She attended the function at the Feather Market Centre, along with her husband, Sizwe, and about 160 other guests.
The University is celebrating the success of 1965 graduates in six ceremonies running from Wednesday to Friday afternoon.
Alumnus appointed as CEO (published December 2018)
BCom graduate Dave Tiltmann current Algoa FM managing director, has been appointed by African Media Entertainment as its chief executive officer effective 1 December 2018. Tiltmann has been with the subsidiary radio station since 1989. Dave Tiltmann will oversee the transition at Algoa FM till the end of the financial year in March 2019.Dave Tiltmann has been at the helm of Algoa FM; currently Commercial Radio Station of the Year, since 1999. He is a Liberty Radio Awards Hall of Fame inductee, who in January 2019, will celebrate 30 years in Commercial radio.