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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.