About this Department:
A university cannot be separated from its location. MUT is proudly embedded in Umlazi, and is conscious of its place and purpose: community engagement, development and upliftment.
The Community Engagement and Development Directorate therefore has undertaken a number of programmes to involve the Umlazi and wider community in its projects:
- Encouraging MUT staff and students to develop and implement Community Engagement project proposals;
- Creating networks that link MUT staff and students with community groups and structures;
- Organising training sessions that address identified community needs;
- Partnering with external stakeholders to celebrate special days such as International Mandela Day, Arbour Day, National Science Week, International Literacy Day and World Food Day.
- Organising and implementing an annual Community Engagement Day that is the centre of a number of community-based outreach projects, culminating in the annual Community Engagement Excellence Awards in November.
Partnership Projects:
- Constant engagement with SASUF (South Africa/Swedish University Forum) on a number of collaborative projects
- Establishing a working relationship with Ethekwini Municipality for potential internships and placements
- Setting up a Digital Centre on campus in collaboration with the Moses Kotane Institute which will serve the Umlazi community
- Through the Dexter and Matu Zama Agricultural Academy, training communities in agricultural best practice, promoting environmental awareness and sustainable use of natural resources, co-ordinating transfer of technological skills, promoting entrepreneurial skills, sharing results of collaborative research and assisting the Academy in implementing the research findings.
- Placing MUT students in Service-Learning and Work Integrated Learning programmes with the Empangisweni Trust. Planned projects include field crop production, vegetable production, fruit production, piggeries, livestock feedlots, small stock and broiler production. Further projects include food processing, aquaculture and game farming, green technology and agricultural applied research. An education programme for schools (to train teachers and learners to create food gardens) is in development.
- Further practical field-work and training to provide work experience to unemployed graduates through Agri-SETA
Our Vision
“Our vision as the Community Engagement and Development Directorate is to be a catalyst for community engagement and development, creating mutually-beneficial links between MUT and the Umlazi community for the benefit of both. We start by identifying needs within the community, then create and maintain relationships with all stakeholders in order to find ways to meet those needs, and develop programmes of teaching and learning, research and innovation, in order to uplift the community.”
Prof Busisiwe Nkonki-Mandleni
Director: Community Engagement and Development Directorate (CEAD)
Tel: 031 819 9413 | Email: mandleni@mut.ac.za
Community Engagement at MUT is the mandate of the Community Engagement and Development Directorate (CEAD). The Directorate coordinates and supports all MUT Community Engagement and Development projects.
- Supporting the MUT community with the development of their Community Engagement project proposals
- Linking the MUT community with relevant community groups and structures
- Organizing training sessions that address identified community needs
- Coordinating various community development projects and
- In partnership with external stakeholders, coordinating the celebrations of special days such as International Mandela Day, Arbour Day, National Science Week, International Literacy Day and World Food Day.
Special national and international days have been celebrated annually such as Mandela Day (in July) arbour day and International Literacy day (in September). We also host Community Engagement day annually. We hosted inaugural Community Engagement Excellence Awards in November 2016. We have been involved in the National Science Week that is celebrated between the end of July to the first week of August each year.
Launch of the National Science Week (NSW) | NSW Students 2023 |
Community Engagement Excellence Awards |  |
Launch of the Ministerial Special Project |  |  |
Community Engagement day |  |  |  |
Mandela day
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International literacy day |  |  |
IRDCE has initiated partnerships with the following organisations:
Dexter and Matu Zama (DMZ) Agricultural Academy is in partnership with MUT-IRDCE in an effort to train communities on the identified needs, promote environmental awareness and sustainable use of natural resources, co-ordinate technology transfer and promote entrepreneurial skills, share results of research conducted collaboratively, assist the academy in the implementation of research findings.
Empangisweni Trust is in partnership with MUT- IRDCE with a purpose of placing MUT students for Service-Learning and Work Integrated Learning. Planned projects are field crop production, vegetables production, fruit production, piggery, livestock feedlots, small stock and broilers. Food processing, aquaculture and game farming are additional projects. Green Technology (Energy management), Reverse Engineering and agro mechanical, applied research. Education programme for schools (intervention in the form of workshops/ trainings for teachers and community upliftment programmes are part of the partnership agreement although the MOU is not finalised.
AgriSeta is in partnership with MUT- IRDCE with a purpose of exposing unemployed graduates in Agriculture to a hands-on experience in the field of agriculture.
Community Engagement and Development Project concept template
Community Engagement Bulletin 2018
Conceptual Framework for Community Engagement
Guidelines for Community Engagement Projects at MUT
Monitoring Tool for CE Projects- CEAD Representative
Monitoring Tool for Community Engagement Projects