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Mangosuthu University of Technology Annual Report

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to pay the prescribed fees and depend mostly on NSFAS

funding. In addition they need various forms of academic

and social support.

The University has put in place various academic, social

and health programmes to support students. These

include the Pre-Tech programme for Engineering students,

the four-year Extended Curriculum Programme, the

Study Skills programme, the Students-at-Risk Programme,

a one-on-one Counselling Service, the Peer support

Programme, the Sisterhood Programme for women

students, the Pregnancy Resource Programme, the HIV

Support Programme and the Disability Programme.

As a University of Technology, MUT has established firm

relationships with a number of industries in the Durban

area and beyond. These relationships assist in providing

opportunities for students to go through Work integrated

Learning (WIL) and to find employment. In spite of the

disadvantages experienced by the University and its

students, many of the students achieve success in the

fields of Engineering, Natural Sciences and Management

Sciences.

TENDER MANAGEMENT

The University Council is working tirelessly to improve

systems and accountability pertaining to University tenders

as this impacts on the governance of the University. The

Tender Committee is directly involved in the tender

process and makes recommendations to Council. In 2015

the Tender Committee held eight (8) meetings on various

University tenders. The Committee’s responsibilities are

to:

• Review tenders and expressions of interest on all

procurement activity in excess of the University’s

procurement thresholds

• Advise Council on Query discrepancies

• Request for supporting documentation, more

information or clarification if necessary

The committee technically scrutinizes bids in accordance

with the tendered specifications and the Tender Policy.

MUT‘s Supply Chain Management Policy is under review.

A number of activities regarding the review of the policy

have been followed including relevant consultation with

Auditors to make sure that the University follows relevant

regulations as well as legislation.

The Bid Evaluation Committee established by the

University continues to:

• Review recommendations provided by the

Tender Committee for all tender processes and

where required, amend, reject or endorse any

recommendation(s)

• Provide recommendations for all responses to

tenders to the Council.

3.5 Policies

SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT (SCM) POLICY

A workshop was held on 31 March 2015 to discuss the

SCM policy as per EXCO recommendation. The revised

SCM policy was considered by Council which suggested

that a comparison between the MUT Statute, the Higher

Education Act and the SCM Policy and its delegation

of Authority should be considered. After deliberations

the meeting agreed that a special Council workshop

be convened to consider the following documents:

Delegation of Authority, SCM Policy, MUT Statute and the

Higher Education Act. Council members were requested

to read them and make comments thereon before the

special Council workshop that will be scheduled in July

2015.

POLICY ON FRAUD AND OTHER IRREGULARITIES

Council considered the Policy on Fraud and other

Irregularities and resolved that the revised policy should

be considered by the Audit & Risk Committee before it is

re-submitted to Council.

QUALITY ASSURANCE POLICY

Council approved the revised Quality Assurance Policy.

LEARNING ASSESSMENT AND MODERATION POLICY

Council approved the revised Learning Assessment and

Moderation Policy.

RESEARCH POLICY

Council approved the revised Research Policy.

LANGUAGE POLICY

Council approved the revised the Language Policy.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT POLICY

Council approved the revised Community Engagement

Policy.

RESEARCH ETHICS POLICY

Council approved the revised Research Ethics Policy.

FINANCIAL AID POLICY

Council approved the revised Financial Aid Policy.

CHARTER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF

COUNCIL (EXCO)

The meeting approved the Charter of EXCO.

CHARTER FOR THE PLANNING AND RESOURCE

COMMITTEE

The meeting approved the Charter for the Planning and

Resource Committee.