Publications
Partners
- More than 7 000 students are set to graduate this week at CPUT.
- The university says this year's autumn graduation is the largest to ever take place.
- Students say receiving their qualifications in person was an overwhelmingly proud moment.
The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) in Cape Town held its autumn graduation this year in person.
More than 7 000 students are set to graduate across all six faculties until Saturday.
CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansley said three ceremonies would be held per day at the Bellville main campus.
"The autumn graduation ceremony is the largest to take place at CPUT, and this year over 7 000 students will be capped by vice-chancellor Professor Chris Nhlapo," she added.
Good News24! | Catch up with our feel good stories
Kansley said watching students achieve a momentous day in their academic journey was always a "highlight" at CPUT.
On Wednesday morning, top gamer Julio Bianchi from Uitsig graduated cum laude in business and management sciences.
Bianchi, 24, said he was honoured and grateful to receive his qualification in person.
"It's a momentous occasion, and I always wanted to celebrate it, especially after the difficult Covid period," he added.
Last year, he became the first South African to qualify for the FIFA World Cup. Known as the "Beast", Bianchi has proven his talents extend beyond the gaming world.
He was scheduled to jet off to London where he will compete in the FIFA Team Of The Season (TOTS) Cup; however, he was able to attend his graduation after a visa delay.
Tamryn Christians, 25, said walking onto the podium felt like "freedom".
Christians added her academic journey started off rocky, as she did not have a permanent place to stay and was constantly looking for accommodation for herself, her mom and her brother.
"I'd be separated for up to eight months from my mom as she tried to get a place for my brother and me to sleep while she worked. Some of my teachers would take me in and clothe and feed me until my mom could provide a stable home for me."
During her studies, she failed a subject and had to repeat it.
"I couldn't handle the pressure anymore. When I managed to find a part-time job to help my mom with money to find a place to stay, having to work and study was not child's play. Eventually, I couldn't anymore, and I left school."
Christians said in 2019 she enrolled back at CPUT to complete her national diploma in journalism, which was "the best decision I could've made".
"I had to have a tough conversation with my mom and said to her I could [not] live like this anymore; I need to focus on my studies. Moving from place to place every week, worrying about food and how we would survive, wasn't working for me anymore."
Christians said she eventually found a place to stay until her studies were done and put her all into her studies, saying:
Central Student Representative Council president Nanga Codana said his graduation proved student leaders could balance the challenges of student politics and the stress of academic life.
Codana graduated with an advanced diploma in operations and will complete a two-year post-graduate diploma in supply chain management.
"Juggling this position while studying full-time required lots of emotional intelligence. I've always told people that you need to be a leader by day and a student at night. It always helps if you dedicated yourself to your books as much as you assist students," he said.
Codana added it was incorrect to assume student leaders had no interest in graduating.
"That is not true at all. If you look at the current cohort of student leaders, you will see that they are excelling," he said.
The Faculty of Informatics and Design celebrated the success of 665 graduates, including three doctoral graduates, during two ceremonies on Tuesday.
The trio includes Laizah Mutasa who had to face several challenges to complete her PhD in Informatics.
"It was a challenging process to complete my degree during the pandemic. Everything changed, I had to do my proposal defence to the department and faculty virtually, and all consultations with my supervisor were done on Zoom.
"I also had to deal with losing relatives, work colleagues and friends to the pandemic, making the journey even more difficult. However, the weekly online research forums led by my supervisor, Prof Tiko Iyamu, were helpful as I was able to get support from other students who attended the forums," said Mutasa.
Journalism student Maegan-Leigh Jacobs said getting her qualification meant the world to her.
"My class and I were one of the first few students who continued our studies during the hard lockdown period, during the pandemic.
"To be at my graduation in person was something I didn't think would be possible considering we still living through the pandemic, but it's such an overwhelmingly proud moment to know that I've made it and now my life can begin."
Never miss a story. Choose from our range of newsletters to get the news you want delivered straight to your inbox.
