“VUT’s Faculty of Engineering and Technology celebrates research and academic excellence at the Recognition Awards Ceremony, highlighting innovation, collaboration, and societal impact.”
21October 2025 | Story By: Qhawekazi Memani| Picture: Peter Masela.
2 minutes read time.
The Faculty of Engineering and Technology (FET) at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) celebrated excellence in teaching, research, and innovation at its Recognition Awards Ceremony, held on 15 October 2025 at the Emerald Resort & Casino, Tsogo Sun. The event paid tribute to exceptional academics, researchers, and professional staff whose commitment continues to strengthen the faculty’s contribution to higher education and society.
In his opening remarks, Professor Khalid Abou-El-Hossein, Executive Dean of FET, expressed heartfelt appreciation to staff and students for their unwavering dedication.
“The collective efforts have positioned FET as a hub of innovation, research productivity, and academic distinction,” he said, emphasising that the faculty’s success is grounded in collaboration, resilience, and visionary leadership.
Dr Speech Nelana, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation, Commercialisation and Internationalisation, commended the faculty for its growing research footprint and urged continued pursuit of impact-driven scholarship.
“We need to be transformative in terms of inclusivity, equity, and capacity building,” he said. “Keep striving, not only for answers, but for meaningful impact.”
He further underscored the importance of collaborative research, shared infrastructure, and strategic funding as critical enablers of sustainable innovation.
Awards were presented by Professor Alfayo Alugongo, from VUT who congratulated recipients for their outstanding dedication, scholarly excellence, and contributions to technological and societal advancement.
Delivering the congratulatory message, Dr Grace Kanakana-Katumba, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, inspired attendees with a story of perseverance and belief in research.
“If you have a strong conviction and you keep going, believing in your work, one day your innovation will shape the future,” she said.
Dr Kanakana-Katumba also acknowledged the collective effort behind each success story.
“This celebration does not only belong to you; it belongs to everyone who contributed to making it happen,” she noted. “Keep being creative, curious, and committed to advancing research that builds a smarter and more sustainable future.”
Anchored in VUT’s Strategy 2033+ under the Innovation and Impact strategic pillar, the ceremony reaffirmed the faculty’s pivotal role in advancing innovation-led research and fostering solutions that address societal challenges. Through sustained excellence in research, technology development, and industry collaboration, FET continues to drive the university’s strategic vision of relevance, impact, and sustainability.
The ceremony concluded with renewed energy and optimism, highlighting the faculty’s mission to foster collaboration, scholarly excellence, and transformative innovation in engineering and technology, shaping a future where research and education drive real-world impact.