About Durban University of Technology Faculty of Engineering
The Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE) has more than 6 000 students enrolled across the departments of Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Survey, Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, Electrical Power Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Town and Regional Planning, Architectural Technology and Mechanical Engineering.
FEBE offers National Diploma, BTech, MTech and DTech courses with focused research in areas including Membrane Technologies for Water Purification, Chemical Thermodynamics, Applied Computational Intelligence, Bio-composites/Nano-materials, Technology Station in Reinforced and Moulded Plastics, the Inlebe Radio Telescope, Real Time Power System Simulation, Renewable Energy, Transportation, Engineering Education, Sustainable Development and Human Settlement.
Our illustrious alumni include Silver Tusk Award recipients, Chemical Engineering graduate Vanitha Engelbrecht, Mechanical Engineering graduate Gordon Murray and Electronic Engineering graduate, Sharoda Rapeti.
Engelbrecht is the first South African Breweries (SAB) employee to receive the prestigious international award for excellence in the Master Brewer examination. She is also the recipient of the Master Brewer-JS Hough Award from the Institute for Brewing and Distilling in the United Kingdom. Engelbrecht completed her BTech in Chemical Engineering Cum Laude from the former Technikon Natal.
Gordon Murray received his honorary doctorate from the Durban University of Technology in April 2011. He is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from the former Natal Technical College. In 1969 Murray left the shores of Durban for Britain, to follow his passion for motor racing and automotive design. What began as a hobby developed into a four decade career in the automotive industry. Murray began working for Formula One racing and car design as a Technical Director of the Brabham Grand Prix Team. As Chief Designer of the Formula One Brabham Team, Murray’s cars totalled 22 Grand Prix wins. After leaving McLaren he embarked on his own business venture and established the Gordon Murray Design Consultancy and unveiled the T25 Low-Carbon City Car in June 2010.
Rapeti graduated with a Higher National Diploma in Electronic Engineering from ML Sultan Technikon. She has 21 years experience in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications industry in South Africa and has earned a multitude of awards. She also holds an MBA and is currently a partner and the director of Technology, Media and Telecommunications at Delloite Consulting.
Another notable alumni is Dr Vince Mdinisa who began his undergraduate studies at ML Sultan Technikon. He spent 14 years service as an academic and left DUT to join Tongaat Hulett’s Technology and Engineering Group.