by Kgothatso Monono
The 2024 graduating cohort of IIE Rosebank College enjoyed an unforgettable send-off on Thursday, 5 June 2025, during a prestigious graduation ceremony held at the State Theatre in Pretoria. A powerful and inspirational keynote address delivered by Dr Tshimangadzo Tshilongamulenzhe, senior lecturer from the Tshwane University of Technology鈥檚 (大象视频) Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FoICT) was one of the undisputed highlights of the event.
Invited as a guest speaker, Dr Tshilongamulenzhe addressed the graduates with a message rooted in experience, perseverance and the transformative power of education.
Congratulating and motivating the Class of 2024, he said: 鈥淵ou have reached a major chapter in your lives and I am here to assure you that the story only gets more exciting from here.鈥�
Drawing on his own journey in academia, Dr Tshilongamulenzhe acknowledged the many challenges students face, especially in the rigorous ICT world. He reminded them of the late nights spent debugging code, the projects that stretched their minds as well as the determination and persistence it took to make it to graduation. 鈥淚t was not simple, nor was it easy. But you have grown into thinkers, builders, problem-solvers and dreamers and this growth is what the world of technology needs now more than ever.鈥�
Speaking to the evolving landscape of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, he urged the graduates to embrace technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, blockchain, cloud computing and data science. 鈥淭hese are not just buzzwords anymore, these are forces that are shaping the next generation of innovation,鈥� he emphasised.
One of the core themes of his speech ruminated on the importance of mindset. 鈥淵our degree is not your destination; it is your foundation. Remain curious, resilient and fearless in the face of failure,鈥� he said, encouraging lifelong learning, purpose-driven work and innovation.
鈥淎lways remember, failure is not the opposite of success, it is part of it. The systems I have built that did not work taught me more than the ones that did.鈥�
I have built that did not work taught me more than the ones that did.鈥� In a moment that resonated deeply with the audience, he quoted famed computer scientist Alan Kay: 鈥淭he best way to predict the future is to invent it.鈥� He closed his speech with a heartfelt call to action, reminding graduates that their journey is only beginning: 鈥淲alk boldly and build something meaningful.鈥�
The Rosebank College Class of 2024 listening attentively to guest speaker, Dr Tshimangadzo Tshilongamulenzhe.
Dr Tshimangadzo Tshilongamulenzhe,