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Strategic Plan 2020 – 2025

Founded by legislation in 1979 as a Technikon to offer

technical and vocational education at tertiary level

and transformed into a University of Technology in

2007, MUT has transformed itself to be a university

focused on offering technological, career-directed

educational programmes with an emphasis on

innovative problem-solving research and engaging

with government/business/industry and communities

as end-users. MUT’s many programmes provide

access and opportunity for large numbers of

historically-disadvantaged and underserved students,

many of whom are the first in their families to

attend university.

MUT is located in Umlazi, a township on the

east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

located south-west of the city of Durban.

Umlazi is the fourth largest township in

South Africa. Although townships are historic

sites of Apartheid’s spatial planning, their

continued development through investment

by government and private entities is central

to economic redress and broader economic

growth within South Africa. This location

gives MUT a unique intermediary position of

being integrally involved in the mix of social,

developmental and economic investments

made into the Township, from which it

contributes and draws in providing access to

higher education. Durban is the busiest port in

the country and is home to the biggest sugar

terminal in the world. It is a major tourism

centre because of its warm subtropical climate

and extensive beaches. The Mercer Quality

of Life ranking places Durban first among

South Africa’s cities. The city forms part of

the eThekwini metropolis which is one of the

most rapidly growing regions in the country.

It is also home to two other public universities

which are much larger than MUT. Over the

past few years, the city has established itself

as the convention centre of South Africa and

is now well equipped for the entertainment of

visitors.

Within this context, MUT plays a critical role

in national and regional development by

providing the rich knowledge base, innovation,

and workforce required to grow and sustain

the quality of life for an increasingly diverse

and rapidly changing society. The University

has achieved remarkable success over its

relatively brief history and has developed a

greater capacity to meet its responsibilities

to the communities it serves. Academic

programmes are offered in three Faculties: the

Faculty of Engineering; the Faculty of Natural

Sciences and the Faculty of Management

Sciences.

MUT past

and present

MUT plays a critical role in national and regional development

by providing the rich knowledge base, innovation, and

workforce required to grow and sustain the quality of life for

an increasingly diverse and rapidly changing society.