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2017 Annual Report of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

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2017 Annual Report of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2017 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURG INCORPORATING REPORTS OF SENATE AND COUNCIL In terms of Section 42 of the Higher Education Act (No 101 of 1997), as amended, the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits) submits to the Minister of Education the following general report of its proceedings and of the management of the University for the year ending 31 December 2017. This Annual Report meets the requirements of Chapter 3 of the Implementation Manual for Annual Reporting by public Higher Education Institutions. The University is cognisant of, and acknowledges the general principles of governance as outlined in the King Report on Governance, of Government Gazette 37726, 9 June 2014 for South Africa, and the King code of Corporate Governance (King IV). See definition in Reporting Regulations. The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, acknowledges the growing emphasis on the need for integrated reporting as recommended in the King IV. The importance of the concepts of integrated sustainability and social transformation are supported by Wits and is included in its 2022 vision document. In terms of good governance the Annual Report of the University has incorporated integrated reporting. An Integrated Report for the University of theWitwatersrand for the year ended 31 December 2017, has accordingly been submitted. CHANCELLOR, VICE-CHANCELLOR AND PRINCIPAL (CHAIR OF SENATE), CHAIR OF COUNCIL AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2017 Chancellor Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Ernest Moseneke Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Adam Habib Chairperson of the Council Dr Randall Carolissen Compiled by Nishi Sooful, Manager: Communications & Publications | University of theWitwatersrand, Johannesburg | Private Bag 3 | Wits | 2050 | Telephone: +27 (0) 11 717 1216 | June 2017 | Website: www.wits.ac.za CONTENTS SECTION 1 SECTION 4 1.1 Council administration 1 4.1 The University Forum (UF) 167 1.2 Meetings of Council 5 SECTION 5 SECTION 2 5.1 Senior Executive Team 171 2.1 Introduction 7 5.2 Achievements of the administrative structures and resources (Personnel and Systems) 171 2.2 Matters of significance considered by Council during 2017 9 5.3 Human Resources Transformation management initiatives 179 2.3 Self-assessment of Council 19 5.4 Strategy and Strategic Achievements - 2.4 Operational information 28 Institutional positioning and strategic 2.5 Engagement with society 44 planning initiatives 181 2.6 Operational sustainability, financial health, funding 5.5 Institutional transformation and workplace equity 183 sources and material changes 62 5.6 The extent to which equity targets in the workplace have been realised: Wits’ Employment 2.7 Significant student data and relevant statistics including Equity Plan 189 realisation of Transformation Targets 64 5.7 Quality of information available to management 2.8 Facilities and major capital works and programmes 100 and the administrative process 190 2.9 Events (Including functions and conferences) 106 5.8 Statement of self-assessment of the 2.10 Division of Student Affairs 114 Vice-Chancellor and Principal in attaining the objectives set for the period under review with a summary 2.11 Student representation on committees 123 detail of realised achievements 191 2.12 Working with industry 126 5.9 Institutional Scorecard 193 2.13 Significant changes that have taken place with SECTION 6 regard to technology 128 6.1 Governance of Information Technology 195 2.14 Statement on Corporate Governance 129 6.2 Report on internal operational structures and controls 197 SECTION 3 6.3 Report on risk exposure, assessment and the management 3.1 Meetings of the Senate 135 thereof 198 3.2 Membership of the Senate 136 SECTION 7 3.3 Changes to the academic structure 136 7.1 Report on Annual Financial Review 199 3.4 Significant academic developments 136 Report of the Audit Committee for the year ended 3.5 Limitations on access to certain courses 136 31 December 2017 202 3.6 Significant developments and achievements in Consolidated and Separate Annual Financial Statements 205 instruction and research 137 ANNEXURES 273 3.7 Financial aid report 166 Annexure A - Annual Performance Plan 2018 3.8 Changes in tuition fees charged 166 Annexure B - 2017 Institutional Score Card 3.9 Instruction: Levels of academic progress in different Annexure C - Employment Equity Report disciplines and levels of study 166 Annexure D - Wits Scarce and Critical Skills 3.10 Student registration and composition of the Annexure E - 2017 Council attendance student body 166 About Wits The University of the Witwatersrand remains a leading, high-level skills required to address the challenges that internationally ranked, research-intensive University, societies face today, but also working to equip graduates ranked in first place on the continent in two1 major with the skills to tackle problems of the future. Researchers international rankings. at Wits are developing life-saving vaccines, finding the genes that cause cancer, developing precision medicine, Committed to research and academic excellence, Wits tackling diabetes and malaria and improving the accuracy continues to generate high-level scarce skills for a globally of TB testing. Others are working to change policies like competitive world, whilst contributing to the socio- the implementation of a sugar tax or working to create an economic upliftment of the country and the continent. At HIV-free society. the forefront of a changing society, Wits is committed to social justice and advancing the public good. Some of the most highly cited and visible researchers ranked in the top 1% in the world are The 2017 academic year is highlighted based at Wits. Some seek to shed as a pivotal year in which the some light on our past. The new University community truly Centre of Excellence in early embraced the integration Human Behaviour is one of technology throughout such example, as are the the institution, including discoveries related to in its teaching, Homo Naledi, Little learning and research Foot and even a lost programmes. The continent under advent of the Mauritius. Fourth Industrial Revolution, the The future of mining transformation of is another key the higher education, research thrust and the future of work several milestones and the interaction in digital mining, between humans and deep level exploration, technology featured big data analysis, high on the agenda this mechanisation and safety year. were showcased at the Wits School of Mining Engineering’s In addition to the technological 120th year celebration. The new revolution at Tshimologong, Wits’ Energy Leadership Centre and the new digital innovation precinct in Southern Centre for Inequality Studies Juta Street, Braamfontein, the University has based at Wits are also relevant examples of the invested R500 million in an ICT upgrade, adopted a new University’s commitment to being locally relevant and cutting edge research strategy, and introduced innovative globally competitive in key areas. blended learning options, including a digital campus, new online courses and high tech classrooms. Wits is “App’tly” Rising More than 8 700 students who graduated from Wits, who according to the latest THE Global Employability Survey are From new discoveries in quantum communications, light the most employable graduates on the continent. and bandwidth to major global breakthroughs in astronomy, electronics and physics, Wits researchers compete globally and impact locally. Technology is increasingly being used Research with the edge in research into smart cities, elephants, aardvarks and sungazers. Research output at Wits University has increased by almost 45% in the last four years, with over 85% of Wits’ academics Wits students created Brainternet and developed a publishing in quality, international journals. Researchers R2000 bionic prosthesis to give amputees a hand. The are at the forefront of creating new knowledge and the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct is the new tech 1Academic Ranking World of Universities (ARWU) and Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. hub of SA, where virtual reality, artificial intelligence and The insourcing of approximately 1 500 workers is augmented reality are being explored simultaneously by complete, and a Workers’ Charter has been developed for software engineers and digital creatives. An emphasis the employees of retailers on Wits’ campuses. Three calls on transdisciplinary research has been entrenched to to name or rename Wits’ places and spaces have been inspire, innovate and incubate new ideas and disruptive issued with numerous buildings, spaces and boardrooms technologies for the 21st Century, including two unique renamed in recent months. degrees in game design. Significant progress has been in the transformation of the curriculum across the University. A substantial baseline Digital Teaching and Learning survey reflects significant student, alumni and employer participation in curriculum redesign, including input from There has been a significant uptake in the development industry and professional bodies, and the adaptation of and use of digital content in teaching and learning. curricula to market and national needs. Wits has developed a series of short online courses, professional courses via its digital campus and was the first A Language Board has been established to spearhead the African university to introduce six Massive Open Online University’s Language Policy. As they are replaced, all official Courses on the Harvard-MIT founded
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