8 |
Strategic Plan 2020 – 2025
Our strategy rests on a strategic response to several global and
national drivers for change in higher education.
Global trends shaping higher education
The globally evolving university model is driven by constantly changing
drivers of change. The most significant divers are:
In responding to these trends, MUT is
constrained by the dominant residential
public university model supported by
government – a residential university with
a broad-based teaching and research
institution and deep integration with
industry and business. The other major
constraining factor is the resource base
as MUT is not well-endowed to embark
on a major and drastic change in its
business model. Our strategies outlined
in Section 9 are in line with these
global trends.
National policy context
This plan is aligned to the major
national policy documents aimed at
the development of higher education in
South Africa, with particular emphasis
on those that are aimed to explicitly
address the dual imperatives of
redress and development of historically
disadvantaged universities. It recognises
the imperative of a single integrated and
co-ordinated national system of higher
education that supports a diversity of
institutional and organisational forms,
as outlined in the White Paper on
Higher Education (1997).
Strategic drivers
for change
01
Greater access to knowledge characterised by readily available
content, broadening access to higher education and increased
participation in developing countries.
02
Competition for student markets as well as new sources
of funds.
03
Advances in digital technologies characterised by the rise
of online learning.
04
Use of digital technologies in campus-based learning (blended
learning).
05
Greater industry/government/university collaboration with
implications for the scale and depth of industry-based learning and
the importance of research partnerships and commercialisation.
06
Global mobility characterised by competition for international
academic talent and the emergence of elite global university brands.




