When students embark on their tertiary education journey, they are given a presentation and a tour of the department to better initiate them as to what they can expect as an engineering student. Staff from the Discipline of Mechanical Engineering take part in the guidance process and informational sessions of parents and students for engineering course selection and available teaching/learning facilities. 

When students make that all-important decision on what to study when they leave school it is important that they are informed about the various options. The Mechanical Engineering Department use the University Open Day to give prospective students an idea of what they might expect when pursuing a career as a Mechanical Engineer. 

The Winter School programme provides engineering applicants with an opportunity to learn more about each engineering field. The exposure they receive during the week will help guide them further in their final choice of which path to follow.

Every year the Mechanical Engineering Department hosts an open day where all of the final year projects are put on display for the public and industry to enjoy. Each group is assessed by a panel of judges and is required to present their work to visitors that come to the expo. 

As software and products continuously evolve and improve it is important that students and staff are kept up to date with the latest developments. To that end, the Mechanical Engineering Department regularly hosts training for current staff and students. The training is delivered by the suppliers of the various packages and helps enable the adoption of the latest tools available. 

The Mechanical Engineering staff at UKZN are actively involved in the different associations that involve Mechanical Engineering. These organizations provide a means to influence the greater engineering fraternity as well as engage in several community projects.