Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) has reached a significant milestone following the lifting of the moratorium on developing new academic programmes, opening opportunities for curriculum transformation, postgraduate growth and research innovation aligned with IGNITE 2030.
Addressing Senate on 9 October 2026, Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Rushiella Songca described the development as a turning point for MUT, and paid tribute to everyone whose contributions to the University’s Institutional Improvement Plan made this milestone possible.
Professor Songca said the moratorium had constrained the intellectual potential of MUT’s professors, researchers, deans and heads of departments, limiting their ability to introduce new qualifications and advance emerging fields of knowledge. “These are scholars who should be developing new programmes, pioneering new fields of knowledge and expanding our research footprint. After all, where teaching and learning are vibrant, meaningful research must follow. The two are inseparable,” she said.
Describing the development as a gift to the MUT community, Professor Songca said it restored opportunities for academic creativity and institutional growth. “It is a gift because it gives us something invaluable: the opportunity to imagine, innovate and build.”
The announcement follows MUT’s Founder’s Annual Lecture on 3 October 2026, where keynote speaker Zwelakhe Mnguni challenged universities to develop curricula responsive to industry needs, artificial intelligence and the changing world of work.
Professor Songca welcomed the timing, saying: “We have been handed an opportunity on a platter! Imagine if this moratorium had not been lifted. How would we meaningfully pursue curriculum reform and transformation if we remained unable to introduce new academic programmes?”
She challenged academic leaders to translate this opportunity into innovative qualifications, supported by relevant infrastructure, strategic partnerships and research capacity.
The Vice-Chancellor said the milestone would accelerate IGNITE 2030’s ambitions for future-fit teaching and learning, research, innovation and digital transformation.
Reflecting on her commitment to MUT’s transformation, Professor Songca repeated the words she first shared with staff earlier this year:
“Thulani nizobona! We are on the road to IGNITE 2030!”
She emphasised that the achievement reflected MUT’s collective determination to shape its future.