UKZN to host a virtual spring graduation ceremony

THE University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) will host a virtual graduation ceremony for the class of 2020 on 30 October. 

The decision to host a virtual graduation has been made in accordance with the national lockdown and social distancing regulations to safeguard all South Africans from contracting Covid-19 (Coronavirus).

Normah Zondo, acting executive director of Corporate Relations at UKZN said graduations are significant for not only the graduands as they embark on their careers but also their families who share in their achievements.

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“Graduations are a rite of passage, a ritual that marks a change in life. The university’s annual graduation ceremonies are therefore at the heart of the academic calendar. It is a celebration of many years of hard work. For graduands, it is their proudest moment – a joyous occasion shared with peers, family and friends. In keeping with the time, sadly, we are still precluded from hosting a physical graduation ceremony, however we take the opportunity to gather in a virtual space and celebrate in a whole new and unconventional way,” she said. 

The virtual graduation ceremony will entail the conferring of degrees on graduands who have succeeded in fulfilling their academic requirements and whose names appear on the graduation programme including those students who will receive their qualifications posthumously. 

The virtual graduation ceremony will feature, the Vice-Chancellor and principal, Professor Nana Poku as Acting Chancellor, an address by the Deputy Vice-Chancellors and Head of Colleges and the Deans will convey their congratulatory messages to graduands. Graduands will join via the link: https://virtualgraduation.ukzn.ac.za/. This link will only be active and accessible on 30 October.

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The university is proud to announce that it will be conferring a total of 1781 degree certificates, 1004 of which will be awarded to undergraduate recipients and 777 to postgraduates. There are 483 Masters (thesis) and 202 doctoral graduands. Following the trend of previous years,  57.7 per cent are women graduands who continue to excel with 53,8 per cent to graduate cum laude. Overall there are and 39 cum laude graduands.

“The university is especially proud of the achievements of 15 graduands with disabilities, seven of whom have completed postgraduate studies. One exceptional achiever will graduate with PhDs and six with Masters. There are 176 international graduands, 162 of whom will graduate with postgraduate certificates,” said Zondo.

Overall, 340 degrees will be conferred in the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, 817 in the College of Humanities, 420 in the College of Law and Management Studies, and 204 in the College of Health Sciences.  

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