Da Vinci Annual Graduation: 10 September 2015

The Da Vinci Institute for Technology Management is a private higher education provider that contributes towards socio-economic development and transformation. The Institute’s purpose is to cultivate managerial leaders through the core principles of work-based action learning by offering students a personalised journey of self-discovery and co-creation.

The Da Vinci Annual Graduation Ceremony will take place on Thursday 10 September 2015 at The Linder Auditorium, Johannesburg. As The Institute's 15th Graduation Ceremony, it serves to celebrate the accomplishments achieved by Da Vinci students as they arrive near the end of their learning journey, walk across the stage and collect their qualification of which they have sacrificed for and worked tremendously hard for.

This year’s Graduation served to be an auspicious and momentous occasion as the first cohort of Da Vinci BCom students stand in line to graduate. For the first time in history The Da Vinci Institute awarded the BCom (Business Management) qualification to eleven individuals on 10 September 2015. Nine of these individuals are IRCA Global students and started their BCom programme in 2012. The other two individuals are Status Aviation students and started their programme in 2013. 

In addition to this was the graduaton of fourteen PhD students who successfully reached this point after years of commitment and personal growth.

The research topics include the following:

Dr Rashid Abrahams, "A framework for broadband fulfilment and assurance in the telecommunications environment: A South African case study."

Dr Vulumuzi Bhebhe, "Total early stage development of small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs): Creating a sustainability framework for emerging economies."

Dr Jennitha Chinniah, "Data privacy and Energy Distribution Market: Revisiting implications of the Smart Grid Framework."

Dr Marlo De Swardt, "Stategy formulation, performance implementation and performance execution: Developing an integrated framework to enhance organisational performance."

Dr Rean Du Plessis, "The spiritual self of the corporate leader."

Dr Musa Stefane Furumele, "Front-end governance of large water infrastructure investments within developing economies: A South African perspective."

Dr Elliot Kasu, "Ubuntupreneurship within rural communities: Creating community colleages for a developing economy."

Dr Mark Kenneth Marombedza, "The relevance of integrating exogenous and indigenous knowledge systems within an African education system: A Zimbabwean case study."

Dr Winfrida Ndakaiteyi Mhaka, "Rural women entrepreneurship and sustainable development through musha mukadzi: The Case of the Svosve community in Zimbabwe."

Dr Ronewa Mulea, "Competition forces and regulatory constraints within the Information, Communication and Telecommunication (ICT) industry: Developing a repositioning framework for Telkom SA."

Dr Sheila Mavis Nyatlo, "Creating an implementation framework to improve the effectiveness of technology transfer offices at South African Universities."

Dr Rooksana Rajab, "Contributions of the workplace in enhancing the employability of unemployed graduates through work integrated learning (WIL)."

Dr Mary Ritz, "Customer Management: Creating a sense making framework for developing economies."

Dr Tapuwa Sherekete Rushesha, "African entrepreneurship development in emerging African economies: A Zimbabwean Perspective." 

“The Institute is proud of presenting these candidates to business and government alike – they will make a meaningful contribution towards the creation and development of a sustainable socio-economic system.” Dr Linda Sibali, Dean (Academic Development and Research).

Another highlight of the Graduation was the awarding of the 2015 Da Vinci Laureate Award: Social Architecture. The recipient of this award was Public Protector Adv Thuli Madonsela.

This award is conferred by the Council of The Da Vinci Institute for Technology Management on an individual, or groups of individuals, who through insightful leadership and a passion for the development of communities, has made a singular contribution to the re-definition of social systems, with a view to creating an equitable society, self-directedness and embracing unity in diversity.

A Da Vinci Laureate is expected to provide insights into complex systems and to make contributions to society at large. They are also recognised for honourable service to their country through applied engagements. Laureates distinguish themselves by engaging in specific domains within society and thereby contribute to the re-configuration of the social system. Past recipients include Dr Danny Jordan and Dr Ali Bacher.

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