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M U T

S P I R I T

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J A N U A R Y - M A R C H 2 0 2 0

A key aspect of MUT’s Strategy 2025 is its goal of

entrenching itself as an anchor in the community of Umlazi,

in order to develop the township. Playing a key role in

this is the annual Circle of Excellence (COE) awards, a

prestigious event through which the University recognises

and encourages the top-performing Umlazi Township high

schools based on their Grade 12 results in the previous

year. By extension, the COE awards also affirm the hard

work and dedication of the teachers. Zama Sishi, Director of

Stakeholder Relations in the University’s Department of Marketing and Communications,

said the event sends a strong message that the toil of teachers to transform society

through education is not in vain, and that the University cares about the schools. “We are

proud to be offering the Circle of Excellence awards for the seventh time this year. It is

encouraging to see that our township schools have embraced the spirit of competition in

pursuit of excellence,” said Sishi.

MUT anchors the community

2020 Circle of Excellence awards reinforce MUT Anchor

Strategy – and Umalusi takes note

MUT STRATEGY 2025 IN ACTION:

Excellence in community

engagement

(Goal 3)

Over the years the COE has grown in stature to the

point that it features strongly in the calendar of the

University and the schools themselves. From the

time it was initiated, the COE has served as a strong

link between the schools and the University. The

underlying philosophy is that there should not be any

gulf between high school education and university

education; the two systems must be joined. The COE

has helped to close this gap, thanks to the sterling

leadership of the Department of Marketing and

Communications, which drives the COE every year.

The noble role of the COE in both the school and

university systems has been highlighted by the support

the event has enjoyed from the local Department of

Education since its inception. This support has given

the event the image that it deserves, and over the

years it has attracted the attention of some major

players in the education sector. In 2020 it was attended

by none other than Dr Mafu Rakometsi, the Chief

Executive Officer of Umalusi, the quality assurance

body for General and Further Education and Training.

Dr Rakometsi said he was “truly humbled” by being

Dr Mafu Rakometsi at the COE