Newly Launched ICT Alumni Chapter Provides Support Network for Graduates

In support of the Faculty Alumni Chapter launch on 15 June 2023, faculty alumni returned to the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FoICT). A total of 200 graduates, from various sectors of the industry, participated in the launch. These include Computer Science, Computer Systems Engineering, Information Technology, Informatics and Multimedia Computing. This chapter is dedicated to supporting the university’s mission of advancing knowledge and preparing future-ready graduates as well as supporting the network of graduates.

Newly Launched ICT Alumni Chapter Provides Support Network for Graduates

With the only specialized faculty of Information and Communication Technology in Southern Africa, TUT can specialize in several areas of ICT thanks to its unique position. For this reason. Those working in the ICT industry, students, alumni, and companies operating in the ICT sector were even more impressed with the FoICT Alumni Chapter launch.

A significant milestone has been reached in the history of the ICT Faculty with the launch of the ICT Faculty, according to Dr Etienne Van Wyk, Executive Dean of the Faculty.

An Alumni Chapter supports the Faculty’s commitment to excellence in the rapidly expanding field of information and communication technologies. We share a legacy with our alumni. As representatives of our institution’s values, academic excellence, and commitment to growth and innovation, they embody the essence of our institution’s values. The alumni community has officially been formed today. It is our hope that it will be vibrant and active in the future,” he said.

“We plan on using this chapter to bring together our esteemed alumni who have excelled in the ICT domain, as well as to share their knowledge and experiences and have an impact on society and the industry,” he said.

Students eager to step into these leaders’ shoes and make their mark will be inspired and motivated by the collective wisdom, expertise, and accomplishments of FoICT’s Alumni.

In addition to Tshegofatso Manakana, senior software engineer and architect, the Faculty’s prominent creative heads were guests at the launch, including Wonder Ndlovu, Head of Innovation at Mbula Research and Development; Lesley Ncube, Founder and CEO of Thatha; and Wonder Ndlovu, Head of Innovation at Mbula Research and Development.

“Our achievement as a chapter is not merely determined by our individual success, but by our collective ability to change society for the better,” he said.

Using their skills and knowledge, he urged them to bridge the digital divide, create opportunities, and empower those without ICT access.

An important component of the University’s commitment to maintaining active networking, partnerships, and productive collaborations between the University, its alumni, and ICT community in general is the establishment of the ICT Alumni Chapter, said Dr Eric Pule, Director of the Advancement and Partnerships Office (APO).

By creating an alumni chapter of FoICT, we will be able to provide a platform for mutual collaboration and engagement, and knowledge and skills sharing as well. Additionally, alumni play an important ambassadorial role in representing their alma mater well in the workplace and in society.”

TUT Alumni should also join hands to support and contribute to TUT’s sustainability, as many universities worldwide rely on and survive on alumni support.

Three Faculty Alumni Chapters have been successfully launched by TUT’s Alumni Relations Office (ARO) since 2022. In the beginning, there was an alumni chapter for the Faculty of Arts and Design, followed by one for the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment. The Faculty of Economics and Finance Alumni Chapter and the Faculty of Humanities Alumni Chapter will be launched by the end of 2023, according to ARO.