ALLI Masters Students Graduate

25 May 2022

The 16th of May 2022 marked a significant day for the Master's degree graduates of the Albert Luthuli Leadership Institute. The 2021 students from the institute's two master's programmes, MPhil in Development Practice (MDP) and MPhil in Responsible Leadership (MRL), came from all over South Africa to attend their official Graduation Ceremony at the University of Pretoria.

After the graduation ceremony, the students were invited to attend the inaugural ALLI Graduation Celebration. This event was created with the purpose to spoil the graduates and celebrate their accomplishments with them and their loved ones. The graduates were able to bring their guests from the graduation ceremony with them to the event and were welcomed by a set-up fit for the occasion. The beautiful Future Africa Campus played its part to endorse the feeling of victory and success amongst those attending.

With a drink in hand, the graduates, guests and ALLI staff were finally able to engage with one another after a long and hard year of virtual studies. Professor Derick de Jongh officially welcomed everyone in attendance and told the story of how the institute evolved over the past ten years. Prof de Jongh also thanked the guests of the graduates and commended them for supporting the graduates throughout the past year. Next to say a few words was Dr Pieter Conradie, the MRL programme lead, who thanked his graduates for being vulnerable and for sharing their stories with him through their autoethnographic journey. Dr Yolande Steenkamp, 2021 programme lead for the MDP, then explained how both programmes attract a certain type of student - individuals with the desire to make a difference and leave the world a better place - and that it was evident from those in attendance that this statement was true yet again.

The evening had one final surprise when Prof de Jongh, together with the respective programme leads, handed out special ALLI Certificates of Achievement to the graduates of both programmes. Benevolence Moeng and Jasmine Darkey were announced as the top students for the MRL and MDP programmes and also each received the 2021 Top Achievers Award.

The Graduation Celebration has long been a vision of the institute, and with reduced regulations, it was finally possible in 2022 and we look forward to 2023.