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Mangosuthu University of Technology Annual Report

24

The student affairs directorate at MUT organises various

events to promote student inclusivity and unity. These

include students’ social cohesion workshops aimed at

promoting active but peaceful student political citizenship.

Collaborations

MUT actively engages with peers in the sector, particularly

among the UoTs. The University is a member of the

Southern African Technology Network (SATN) of which the

Vice Chancellor of MUT is the current chairperson. MUT

hosted a well-attended SATN conference in 2014, the

networking and collaboration potentials in this platform

are quite enormous.

Various other areas of collaboration and partnerships exists

at MUT, at the faculties, there is ongoing collaboration

with professional bodies for review and accreditation

of respective programmes in order to conform with

professional standards and produce graduates that meet

industry requirements in terms of skills for work-readiness.

MUT has had rewarding relationship with Engineering

Council of South Africa.

Our marketing and communications directorate as well

as other directorates such as the corporative education

directorate constantly engage with our external

stakeholders maintaining positive relations.

Generation of Alternative Funding Streams

Generation of third stream remains a challenge to MUT

as well as other UoTs, of course the historical antecedents

to this is quite explainable. During the previous era of

Technikons, the main mandate and focus was mainly

teaching. In this present era as Universities of Technology,

activities are now required to be diverse to reflect the

new status. At MUT, the University is looking at ways of

improving generation of alternative income, one of which

is the development of third stream income strategy in

2015. In 2015, the newly created division of Research,

Innovation and Engagement became operational with the

appointment of Prof Z Dlamini as the DVC for this new

division. It is hoped that these initiatives will improve the

generation of alternative income in the near future.

It is however pleasing to note MUT exceeded its realistic

target of number of alternative income projects in 2015

even though MUT did not succeed in meeting its target of

total income from third stream sources of R 2 million. MUT

only generate a total amount of R1 432 772.

In conclusion, MUT council is providing required oversight

for prudent management of resources in light of the wider

financial constrains in the sector brought about by the

contracting economy and the #fees must fall campaign.

Even with these constrains, MUT could be adjudged as

relatively sustainable.