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Mangosuthu University of Technology Annual Report

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a)

Development Grant for Historically Disadvantaged

Institutions

Council considered the Development Grant for Historically

Disadvantaged Institutions offered by the Department of

Higher Education and Training to put in place systems to

develop and sustain the financial health of HDIs and to

strengthen the academic enterprise. Council agreed that

a business plan on how to utilize these funds should be

developed by PSP Icon and submitted to the DHET by 15

April 2015.

b)

Differentiation in Higher Education

Council was informed that a document on differentiation in

higher education had been received from the DHET. This

document would be made available to Council members.

c)

Correspondence with the DHET

A letter was received from the DHET requesting the

University to, by the end of April 2015, provide the DHET

with a list of top five priority projects over the next three

years.

The University had responded to the letter indicating its

concern that the DHET had changed the infrastructure

process. MUT requested the DHET to consider current

MUT funding for five projects whose cost had escalated

from R530 million in July 2014 to R812 million in April 2015.

A Progress and Audit Report 2014/15 that provides the

DHET with progress on all infrastructure projects funded

by the DHET had been submitted to the DHET.

Council received a report on the Meetings of the Minister

of Higher Education and University Chairs of Council

Forum – South Africa (UCCF-SA).

3.8 Internal and External Collaborations

Council noted and appreciated the following

collaborations by the University:

a)

The Circle of Excellence Awards ceremony was

held on Friday, 20 February 2015. The Circle of

Excellence Awards ceremony recognizes academic

excellence at high performing Umlazi high schools.

b)

An exploratory study tour to Tanzania and Kenya

was undertaken by the Vice-Chancellor together

with the DVC: Academic and the Executive

Director: OVC. This visit was to explore possible

partnership opportunities for collaboration with

respect to student development and exchanges

with institutions on the African continent. The study

tour for students to Tanzania and Kenya would take

place around June 2015.

c)

Emanating from this visit, MUT was visited by the

Vice-Chancellor of the Nelson Mandela African

Institute of Science and Technology as well as

students from Arusha who talked to MUT students.

d)

Partnerships and stakeholder engagements

resulted in different partnerships e.g. with Sanlam

and Transnet.

e)

The outcome of alumni activities to establish

relationships has resulted in increasing the alumni

database and it continues to grow.

f)

Technology Station in Chemicals (TSC) – The TSC

contributed to the placement of MUT students for

WIL.

g)

MUT-Transnet MoU.

h)

SANLAM Stakeholders’ Dinner

i)

The Chancellor handed over of a house built by

MUT using green technology building techniques.

j)

The UNESCO Africa Engineering Week started on

28th August and ended on 30th September 2015.

The purpose of the event was to promote the

engineering profession.

k)

The National Science Week was held from the 3rd

to 7th August 2015 at St Lucia where students were

exposed to science in action.

l)

MUT, in partnership with eThekwini Municipality,

celebrated the International Literacy Day on the 8th

of September 2015.

3.9 Financial Matters

2016 INTERIM BUDGET

Council considered the interim budget for 2016. Since

the University was waiting for confirmation of the subsidy

from the DHET, this was not the final budget. The shortfall,

as a result of the zero percent fee increase, amounted to

R39.540 million. On Monday 30 November 2015 a letter

was received from the Minister of Higher Education

and Training confirming that the shortfall amounting to

R39.540 million would be paid to the University in January

2016. The Finance & Remuneration Committee met on

Monday, 30 November 2015 to review the budget and

it recommended that the budget should be revised to

include the shortfall. The Council meeting approved the

2016 interim budget.