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Strategic Plan 2020 – 2025
The second feature of the academic
identity will be strategic growth of the
postgraduate profile through niche
areas of research in selected Areas
of Collaborative Academic Excellence
(ACAEs) cutting across Faculties
and Departments to incubate new
academic areas aimed at:
• Creating an environment
conducive to collaboration,
creativity, and critical
engagement. This will entail the
adoption of a workload model
and development of infrastructure
for the development of research.
• Providing a focus for the
growth of postgraduate student
enrolment.
• Achieving excellence
in multidisciplinary and
interdisciplinary research.
• Engaging with emerging fields of
knowledge and scholarship.
• Responding to needs linked
to eThekwini’s growth and
development opportunities and
the imperatives of the National
Development Plan.
• Strengthening our ties with the
social, economic, political, and
cultural communities around us.
This academic identity is implemented
through a University framework outlined
in the Senate approved document
“The Academic Identity of Mangosuthu
University of Technology: Concept
Document” which outlines the University’s
teaching and learning philosophy and
the desired attributes of MUT graduates.
The key attributes of a MUT graduate are
summarised as:
Having a sound disciplinary
knowledge, being intellectually
curious and able to see learning as
a lifelong process.
Being adaptable, innovative and
able to apply knowledge to solve
problems.
Having good basic skills and
competencies, including the ability
to communicate effectively in English.
Being employable and
entrepreneurial.
Being a team player who respects
others, being socially and
environmentally responsible, and
can lead with integrity.
Programme and Qualification
Mix structure
This academic identity will be
underpinned by a Programme and
Qualification Mix that has a pyramid
structure in terms of student enrolment. It
is broad at the base with enrolments for
the Diploma and thins successively with
enrolments for the Advanced Diploma,
the Postgraduate Diploma, and Masters
and Doctoral qualifications.
MUT as a research-informed
University of Technology
This academic identity of MUT calls for
a special focus of the research function
with a particular agenda aimed at
strengthening the academic identity as
well as providing scope for the broader
focus of pursuing scholarly activities and
knowledge for its own sake. The research
function is fundamental for all universities
in the creation of knowledge and its
dissemination.
Research always influences both the
content and teaching of courses, but in
different ways, depending on institutional
arrangement and prioritisation. The
agenda of being a research-informed
University of Technology will be
strengthened through the following
institutional arrangement. Firstly, the
professions, business and industry will
inform teaching so that applied research
and industry exposure are critical
for learning and student experience.
Secondly, the curriculum will be work-
integrated to provide experiential learning
and exposure to professional practice.
This arrangement will ensure that learning
is research-inspired and integrated.
Therefore, for MUT, the research function
will seek to inform teaching rather than to
shape it.
MUT in the Post School
Education and Training
(PSET) System
The differentiated role of MUT within the
PSET System as a research-informed
university will contribute to the national
technology and innovation agenda.
MUT enrolment and programme design
process will therefore be sensitive to
the important role of the TVET sector as
a change agent for social, economic,
technological and national development
through its role of directly influencing
the quality of the workforce through
the provision of skills and the social
integration of disadvantaged groups into
work and the labour market. Our PQM
will therefore, where possible, provide
articulation pathways for the TVET sector
through the provision of Higher Certificate
and Advanced Higher Certificate
qualifications.