UKZN pulled out all the stops to showcase its facilities and academic offerings to interested school pupils at University Open Days held on the Westville and Pietermaritzburg campuses over two successive Saturdays.
The four Colleges – Agriculture, Engineering and Science; Health Sciences; Humanities; and Law and Management Studies – as well as clubs and societies and application and funding bodies, were on hand to offer friendly advice to potential students, whilst Corporate Relations ensured that a carnival atmosphere reigned with a DJ and entertainment throughout the day to keep the vibe alive.
Staff and postgraduate students in the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science (CAES) turned out in full force, determined to showcase the degrees and related career options offered in Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences; Chemistry and Physics; Engineering; Life Sciences; and Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science. Discipline-specific gadgets, equipment and interactive displays drew the crowds, ensuring that the CAES corner buzzed all day long. Highlights included the animal house where learners could get up close and personal with snakes and other interesting critters, and the chemistry corner which was punctuated by regular bangs and flashes.
There is stiff competition for places in the College of Health Sciences (CHS). Since all its programmes are professionally accredited, CHS staff and students were on hand at Open Day to showcase their careers as health professionals. The interactive displays included vision and hearing tests, facilitation of movement in a wheelchair, basic nursing and midwifery skills, measuring blood pressure and peak flow, dressing wounds, measuring a baby’s weight and height, conducting a normal vaginal delivery, simulating the examination of a trauma patient, performing baby and adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation and assisting a choking patient, and understanding human anatomy and physiology as well as physical rehabilitation and fitness.
Aspirant students in the College of Humanities were offered a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the diverse fields of the Humanities and make informed decisions about their academic journey. The Humanities offers numerous flagship programmes in the Arts, Social Sciences, Human Sciences, Built Environment and Development Studies, Religion, Philosophy and Classics as well as Education that are tailored to the unique interests of its students. Academic Leader in the School of Applied Human Sciences, Dr Ruwayda Petrus said, ‘Open Days at UKZN offer the chance to interact with potential students and their parents, showcasing all the possibilities that await them. Humanities graduates are strong social shapers, equipped with the ability to critically analyse complex issues, challenge societal norms, and advocate for positive change. It is a personal career highlight to interact with aspirant students as they play a pivotal role in fostering a more enlightened and harmonious society through their future work.’
Two unique experiential Humanities programmes were showcased. Lecturer in the School of Education, Mr Boitumelo Canady Mokolopeng hosted a Dramatherapy session. Dramatherapy is an embodied approach that employs a variety of theatrical techniques, such as theatre games, the use of objects, metaphors, role-playing, and stories. Dr Michelle Stewart and her team from the School of Arts hosted a Digital Arts interaction session for learners. Said Stewart, ‘We showcased augmented reality comic book projects, 3D digital modelling projects, and 2D and 3D animation. We also had a participatory session, where we demonstrated interactive open source drawing and animation software – this is on-going project in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Art in Antwerp. The programme that has recently become a flagship discipline equips students with digital skills that enable them to be locally and globally competitive in the growing animation and digital media industry.’
Academics and programme administrators from the Schools of Accounting, Economics, and Finance (SAEF), Law, and Management, Information Technology, and Governance (SMIG) within the College of Law and Management Studies (CLMS) actively engaged with hundreds of high school learners, providing them with crucial information about the programmes on offer to help them to make well-informed decisions about their academic journey. Ms Marian Kisten, Manager for CLMS Student Academic Services said they were satisfied with the number of students who attended the Open Days, most of whom had already submitted their applications through the Central Applications Office (CAO).
Ms Tejal Nanan, a Grade 12 learner from Raisethorpe Secondary School, shared her excitement: ‘Attending the Open Day and learning about the Supply Chain programme opened my eyes to the dynamic world of logistics and operations. I can’t wait to develop my skills and become an asset in this field.’
Words: MaryAnn Francis, Sally Frost, Samukelisiwe Cele, Sibonginkosi Mabika, Rakshika Sibran
Photographs: Supplied