THE countdown has begun for four Durban University of Technology (DUT) students who will be jetting off to Copenhagen, Denmark, to attend the 2023 Next Generation City Action Conference from June 27 to July 7.
The Next Generation City Action Conference is a global youth initiative that engages selected young students from diverse backgrounds to challenge existing practices and contribute with their innovative solutions towards sustainable and inclusive futures in industry, academia and the public sector.
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Three of the students, Londiwe Ngomane (27), Sinovuyo Kraai (23) and Siyasanda Xaba, are engineering students from the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment. The fourth student, Zime Nxumalo (20) is an Information Communications Technology (ICT) student, under the Faculty of Accounting and Informatics.
Ngomane from Fairbreeze, Tongaat, who is currently enrolled for her Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, said she was ecstatic when she found out that she was selected for the conference after applying online.
“I couldn’t believe it when I was selected. To this day, I am still in shock. I think the only time I am going to believe it is the day that I am on the flight and I see us leaving South Africa. I cannot wait to be part of the conference. It deals with the sustainability of the Earth – making sure that whatever you have now can be used in the future. We are improving the technology that we have now so that it can help us in the future,” said Ngomane.
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Xaba (29) from L-section, Umlazi, is currently doing her Advanced Diploma in Electrical Power Engineering. She expressed her gratitude to the DUT Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, Prof Keolebogile Motaung, for informing her about this conference.
“I was super excited when I saw an email informing me that my application for the conference was successful. At home, they are also excited for me as a few years ago I missed an opportunity to go abroad, and now I am getting this amazing opportunity. I am looking forward to networking, and I have confidence in my team that we will do well in the competition,” said Xaba.
Passing his congratulatory message, Prof Sudesh Rathilal, Deputy Dean: Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at DUT, said: “A very big congratulations to our budding entrepreneurs on being selected to represent South Africa at a congress in Denmark. This is an exciting initiative, and we wish you all the best in presenting well – for yourselves and for DUT – on the international stage, not forgetting our Green Engineering Research Group.”
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