MUT has scaled up its dedication to human rights, marking a major milestone on 14 August 2026 by training 50 volunteer students as dedicated human rights champions. Led by the Department of Accounting and Law within the Faculty of Management Sciences, the MUT Human Rights Project stems directly from a collaborative engagement held with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) on 4 August 2025.
Devani Delomoney of the Department of Accounting and Law emphasised that the initiative is designed to foster ethically grounded, environmentally responsible graduates equipped to make meaningful contributions to society. “This project is a key response to Goal 5 of the University’s strategy,” said Delomoney. “It aligns with the commitment to create an ‘Engaging, Inclusive and Supportive Environment,’ specifically under Strategic Objective 17 (SO17), which seeks to ‘Advance transformation and inclusive culture.'”
Delomoney confirmed that the initiative has officially transitioned into a live project and will be registered under the University’s official programmes by the Community Engagement and Development Directorate (CEAD).
Operating under the joint leadership of the SAHRC and the Accounting and Law Department, the newly trained student champions will tackle critical human rights issues and challenges experienced by students across the campus community. Their core focus areas will include combating gender-based violence (GBV), addressing discrimination, and protecting student dignity. Working in their capacity as volunteers, the students will report their findings and operational challenges directly to the Human Rights Commission.
While the inaugural cohort of 2026 student volunteers are drawn exclusively from the Faculty of Management Sciences, the University has confirmed plans to expand the project across all other faculties starting in 2027.