The Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) is standing on the precipice of a transformative era as the Marketing and Communications (MarComms) department completes its high-stakes “refuelling session” to launch the IGNITE 2030 Strategic Plan.
Moving beyond mere administrative preparation, the MarComms team gathered from 17-18 February 2026 for an intensive off-campus retreat to recalibrate their operations. The goal: to ensure every tweet, press release, and campus event directly fuels the University’s long-term ambitions and the Institutional Improvement Plan (IIP).
Mbali Mkhize, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, described the session as an intentional effort to move the University’s mission from paper to practice. “The implementation plan is aligned to MUT Vision 2030, mission, values, goals, and strategic objectives,” Mkhize explained. “We methodically unpacked each component of the Vision and mapped out clear communication interventions.”
The team focused on a “cascading” model of planning, a method where the broad goals of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal’s Office are broken down into specific, measurable actions for every department. Zama Sishi, Director: Stakeholder Relations, noted that this hands-on approach helps staff understand their responsibilities by connecting daily tasks to the “big picture” outcomes of IGNITE 2030.
With the formal development phase concluded by the Department of Institutional Planning and Research (DIPR), the baton has been passed to MarComms to drive the “roller coaster” of stakeholder engagement.
The department has confirmed a full state of readiness for the official launch, emphasising that this strategy will be felt, seen, and worn across the campus:
- Brand Visibility: IGNITE 2030 T-shirts have arrived for staff and student ambassadors to foster a visible culture of unity.
- Governance Support: Printed copies of the Strategic Plan are being prepared for Senate members to ensure leadership is equipped for oversight.
- Student Ambassadorship: Specialised campaigns are ready to empower students as the primary spreaders of the IGNITE 2030 message.
The MarComms team is determined to avoid the “launch and leave” trap. By combining intentional storytelling with visual branding, the division aims to embed the strategy across every faculty and department.
“We saw an opportunity,” the team shared, reflecting on the handover from DIPR. “Never again should we as a university be found wanting when it comes to cascading the strategy.”
As the countdown begins, the atmosphere at MUT is one of “strategic take-off.” With MarComms laying the foundation, IGNITE 2030 is no longer just a document; it is a movement ready to spark a new era of collective action and institutional pride.
This memo template is designed to help various departments at MUT follow the “cascading” model established by the MarComms team. It allows HODs and Directors to report how their specific activities contribute to the broader IGNITE 2030 mission.