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Mangosuthu University of Technology Annual Report
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Table 1.13. Goal 11: Become a centre of innovation and a preferred provider of technology solutions to Commerce,
Industry, SMMEs and the Community
Key Performance Indicator
Actuals for 2015
2015 Targets
Q1
MID-
Year
Q3
Year
Mid-
Year
Year
End
Objective 11.1: Create opportunities for innovation at MUT
11.1.1 Number of industry-based projects
6
6
6
6
6
6
Objective 11.2: Ensure that MUT becomes a preferred provider of technology support and development for
commerce, industry, SMMEs and the community
11.2.1 Number of students involved in technology
transfer projects
20
22
25
25
22
22
11.2.2 Number of external trainees who have benefitted/
will benefit from MUT technology transfer projects
16
41
47
108
7
90
1.4.3 STATEMENT ON UNDER-ACHIEVEMENT
OF CERTAIN GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND
TARGETS
1.4.3.1 Enrolment performance in 2015 against
ministerial approved targets
ACCESS
In terms of access, MUT scored slightly below its set target
of 10 500 headcount enrolments for 2015. However, the
slight under-enrolment falls well within DHET’s variance
target of 2 percent under or over-enrolment. The reasons
for the slight under-enrolment was due mainly to potential
students not meeting minimum entry requirements,
especially in Mathematics. The under-enrolment with
regard to FTEN targets was also mainly as a result of
low numbers of 2014 school leavers that met the entry
requirements for Mathematics. This was a national
problem and affected most universities.
SUCCESS
With regard to both its Success and Graduation rates,
MUT has managed to exceed the targets it set for itself
for 2015. The Success rate target was exceeded by 3%
(the target was 80% and MUT achieved 83%) while the
Graduation Rate target of 21% was exceeded by 0.6%.
EFFICIENCY
MUT has managed to achieve its 2015 target of 13% of I/R
staff with Doctoral degrees. However, MUT did not succeed
in appointing the targeted number of permanent I/R staff
which had a negative effect on the permanent I/R Staff/
Student FTE ratio. MUT has experienced some challenges
in attracting I/R staff with the required qualifications and
experience. MUT is planning in 2016 to make a concerted
effort to fill all vacant I/R positions.
RESEARCH OUTPUT
MUT has not succeeded in achieving its research output
targets for 2015. Some of the main reasons for that
under-achievement are, among others, high teaching
workloads for I/R staff and the absence of Masters and
Doctoral students at MUT. MUT’s plans to introduce
Masters and Doctoral programmes in its PQM in the near
future, will help to improve the situation. Furthermore,
the strengthening of the Research portfolio at MUT with
the appointment of a DVC for Research, Innovation and
Engagements, will further help to improve MUT’s research
output.
1.4.3.2 Non-Achievement of Strategic Goals
In addition to the above cases of non-achievement of
targets, the only other main area of under-achievement
with regard to strategic goals, was in the area of third
stream income which relates to Goal 10 of MUT’s
strategic goals (Establish sustainable resource bases for
the university). Although MUT has succeeded in keeping
within its targeted annual budget versus expenditure
variance of 3% and has ensured that it did not receive
any adverse audit findings for 2015, MUT has not met its
target of R 2 million for the generation of third stream
income in 2015. Due to escalating salary and operational
expenditure, MUT is compelled to increase its annual
income by means of third stream sources. Possible
reasons for the under-achievement was the absence of a
clear strategy for the generation of third stream income.
MUT has in the meantime developed a strategy for the
generation of third stream income in the course of 2015
and plans to launch the strategy in 2016.