Over two days, on 28 and 29 October, the University’s senior leadership attended a management Lekgotla for crucial deliberations. The managers were tasked with a significant responsibility: to carefully choose the outputs, outcomes, activities, and targets that would pave the way for the Next-Level MUT Strategy.
The goals of this Lekgotla were to ensure that senior management’s voices resonated in unison as they advanced the institution’s vision, mission, and goals. Dr Liille Lekena-Bayaga, the acting Senior Director: Directorate of Institutional Planning and Research (DIPR), set the stage for this ambitious endeavour. She introduced the university’s values, encapsulated in the phrase “My-MUT.” Each letter represents a core value that would guide MUT’s strategic journey forward:
- M for Mastery: A commitment to excellence in all endeavours.
- Y for Yearning for Growth: An insatiable desire to learn and improve.
- M for Mutual Respect: Fostering an inclusive and supportive environment.
- U for Ubuntu: Emphasising community and interconnectedness.
- T for Transparency: Maintaining openness in communication and processes.
As Dr Lekena-Bayaga articulated these values, she emphasised their significance. Values, she explained, were the very foundation of organisational behaviour aimed at creating a sense of unity among employees as they worked towards shared objectives.
During the discussions, the team acknowledged the greatest achievement of all: getting the institutional strategy approved by Council. This is no small feat. It was therefore easier for the team to present how the key performance indicators, outputs, and activities would align with the strategic objectives and goals of Vision 2030.
The road to this moment has not been easy. Over the past year, the DIPR team had sifted through mountains of data, navigating the pain, uncertainties, and unpredictability of the work in progress. Joined later by a dedicated team of volunteers, they set in motion an institutional engagement plan with many points for reflection by everyone at MUT, leading to final approval. MUT has developed a well-thought-out strategy that speaks to the heart of the institution without spending millions to get thought leaders to develop it. It is a people’s strategy, with at its helm a one-year-old in office, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nokuthula Sibiya, who assumed the role of Chief Strategist.
When the discussions concluded, Dr Lekena-Bayaga paused to pay tribute to the tremendous efforts and commitment of the DIPR team, who had risen to the occasion, pouring their heart and soul into the process.
She also paid tribute to MUT and to all those who contributed to this significant development. To put some joy and inspiration, Professor Sandiso Ngcobo, nominated to thank the participants on behalf of management, said, “We as management take this as a moment of triumph and are very proud of the work you have undertaken to this point. It’s a wrap!” There was a momentous applause, though it was not clear whether he had said “we as management” or a genuine achievement. No matter, there is a renewed energy and clarity, and the university is ready to embark on its transformative journey, united under the banner of “My-MUT.”