A long-awaited alignment between institutional planning and budgeting took a significant step forward at Mangosuthu University of Technology’s (MUT) three-day Vice-Chancellor’s Planning Lekgotla, where, for the first time, strategic projects were considered for funding upfront as part of the planning process.
The development marks an important shift in how the University approaches planning, bringing closer together what MUT intends to achieve, and the financial resources required to deliver on those ambitions.
Dr Liile Lekena-Bayaga, Director: Strategic Planning, said “This represents an important shift towards more realistic and implementable planning”, adding that the progress reflects the support of the CFO, Bulelani Mahlangu, together with DIPR’s consistent emphasis that “institutional plans must be backed by credible resource commitments.” The CFO noted that, “As this is the first cycle in which MUT has approached strategic-project funding in this way, the process will continue to be refined and strengthened as the University matures its integrated planning and budgeting practices”
Dr Johan van Koller, Senior Director: DIPR, also underscored the importance of the stronger integration of planning and budgeting as a significant development in this year’s Lekgotla. “This is an important step towards ensuring that planning does not end with the identification of priorities and targets. By considering the funding implications of strategic projects upfront, we strengthen the connection between what we commit to in our plans and our ability to implement those commitments,” said Dr van Koller.
The approach is expected to strengthen implementation by ensuring that affordability, resource allocation and institutional priorities are considered earlier in the planning cycle. It also creates a clearer line of accountability between strategy, planning, budgeting and institutional performance.
The shift is particularly significant as MUT moves into implementing IGNITE 2030, its five-year institutional strategy. Through the 2027 Annual Performance Plan (APP), the University is translating the ambitions of IGNITE 2030 into measurable annual targets, interventions, and projects.