NMU students capped in 2022 graduation

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GEORGE NEWS & VIDEO - Students at the Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences at Nelson Mandela University were capped in a graduation ceremony this morning, Thursday 7 April.

It was the first of three graduation sittings to take place today and tomorrow at the Eden Place conference centre.

Graduates at the two other faculties, the Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology; and the Faculty of Science, are also receiving their qualifications in the 2022 ceremony.

In total, 396 students are graduating of whom five are master's and six doctoral students.

The 2022 graduation is spread over a number of sessions due to Covid safety measures. The sessions are being live-streamed.

Congratulating the graduates at this morning's session, Vice-Chancellor Sibongile Muthwa said it is the first graduation ceremony held in two years.

She said the students have proved their ability to succeed despite a myriad of difficulties, including the coronavirus pandemic, disruption of in-class learning and socio-economic challenges.

"In March and April 2020, we had no idea how deeply the coronavirus pandemic would affect and change every aspect of our lives, how many lives we would lose and how long the virus would be in George. I think back to how quickly students and staff adapted to online learning and research, to learn from home, often far away or in your residence homes. And you triumphed. For this, I salute you."

She said the university's community-based ethos across all disciplines aims to cultivate civic minded graduates who can compete globally, but who also have deep compassion to change the lives of vulnerable under-served communities in the country.

"In our quest of living up to our motto of changing the world, we continue to seek various ways in which higher education institutions such as ours can be a force for good. We hope we have succeeded in this and that through your diverse encounters and experiences here at Mandela University you are now prepared for life and a future world of work as conscious, compassionate, responsible and ethical professionals and leaders."