TWENTY Eleven DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF DUT TECHNOLOGY 2 DUT annual report 2011 Front Cover (from left to right) Professor Suren Singh - Head of Department Biotechnology and Food Technology Nokuthula Mchunu - Lecturer and Doctoral student in Biotechnology Professor Kugen Permaul - Professor in the Biotechnology and Food Technology Mchunu, under the co-supervision of Professor Permaul and Professor Maqsudal Alam, has completed ground-breaking research in the sequencing of an industrially important thermophillic fungal genome. 05 Message from the Chancellor 08 Report of the Chair of Council 14 Council Meetings and Attendance 18 Report of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal 25 Report on Internal Administrative/ Operational Structures and Controls 26 Council’s Report on Risk Exposure Assessment and the Management Thereof CONTENTS 28 Council’s Statement on Corporate Governance 34 Report of the Senate to Council 35 DVC: Academic Report 38 2011 Statistics 39 Composition of Senate 40 Financial Aid 41 Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) 45 Centre for Quality Promotion and Assurance (CQPA) 49 Library Report 55 Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) 66 Report of the Institutional Forum to the Council 70 Faculty Reports 70 Accounting and Informatics 76 Applied Sciences 84 Arts and Design 94 Engineering and the Built Environment 104 Health Sciences 108 Management Sciences 118 Report of the Chief Financial Officer 124 Consolidated Annual Financial statements DUT annual report 2011 3 message from the chancellor DUT Chancellor Ela Gandhi, presents His Holiness Dalai Lama with a statue of Mahatma Gandhi 4 DUT annual report 2011 “there was an amazing resurgence of views on climate change; what we can do about it, and seeing young people going out there and getting things done.” Ela Gandhi – Chancellor I write this message with pride about an Institution with which I have Some amazing articles were produced by DUT students in a bid been associated for many years; initially in the 1960’s as a student to encourage recycling. In a competition on the issue of climate of “dress making” as it was known then, and later as a parent of change, students came up with innovative ideas and portrayed them a student, then as a member of an NGO that was given space to in posters and displays in creative styles. This ensured that while not operate on this campus, and recently as the Chancellor. I have just actively being involved in the COP 17, DUT was nevertheless able to come to the end of the chancellorship. express its concerns. For me, among its many other achievements, this institution depicts Indeed a time comes in every aspect of life when it becomes an institution that is making strides towards building a culture of peace necessary to change, progress and achieve. A time has come for and non-violence on its campus. There certainly is willingness and change at DUT as well. As I step out, I do not feel in the least bit eagerness in senior management to move in this direction, and that is apprehensive as I know you have a very competent new Chancellor an important step towards achieving the goal. who will ensure that values necessary for a just society are upheld. The year 2011 was amazing. Apart from the academic achievements During the past year it was a wonderful experience for me to be about which others will be writing, there was an amazing resurgence in close contact with all the different arms of this vast institution; of views on climate change; what we can do about it and how young interacting with some of the most brilliant minds, learning about the people could go out there and get things done. extensive research done and looking at the tremendous potential of this magnificent University. In bidding farewell, I can only say keep Many DUT lecturers and students were actively engaged in the up the good work, build on the positive, deal with the negatives cleanup of the Umgeni Estuary campaign as part of the contribution constructively, but always remember to conserve scarce resources as to Mandela Day service organised by the Gandhi Development we owe it to the next generation. Trust in partnership with DUT. It was good to see the diverse crowd descending on the Blue Lagoon, picking up the garbage and leaving the beach beautifully clean. DUT annual report 2011 5 Like the rest of our country, we too have had problems and have had crises, but the will to overcome these spans across the spectrum from students to the academic fraternity to management. The determination to accept the new order and to make the necessary adjustments in order to grow and transform the University is seen in the corridors of the institution. While no doubt there are rumblings and dissatisfactions, these are not unsurpassable if there is a positive will. For me it has been a beautiful experience to feel the warmth and goodwill around. I have been amazed at the eagerness among so many, to embrace values on which our new democracy has been built and to begin to grapple with the past and embrace the future. These are the building blocks. It is for us to put them together so that our youth can become the torch bearers of the future. It is indeed gratifying to see the effort made to ensure that our students are given employment opportunities by industry and that these students are making strides in the vocations they choose. DUT, despite all the shortfalls, has produced alumni who have excelled in their fields. It is these factors that enable us to confidently say that this University will be an important cog in the machinery of the future! Ela Gandhi Chancellor 6 DUT annual report 2011 Fashion Design Alumni and lecturer - Terrence Bray DUT annual report 2011 7 report of the chair of council 8 DUT annual report 2011 “A five-year Information Technology strategic plan has been developed to ensure that the University is well placed to meet the requirements of its staff and students.” Dr Jairam Reddy – Chair of Council The year 2011 has been stable, active and productive for the Durban Council has introduced a lecture series on the evening preceding each University of Technology. A record number of admissions and graduates, Council meeting in order to apprise members of recent developments the Vice-Chancellor exploring new directions and perspectives and in the higher education sector and related matters. At the June meeting, staff and students winning accolades for their academic, research and Dr Mark Hay, Executive Director of the Higher Education Quality community work were some of the highlights of the year. Committee addressed “International Trends in Quality Assurance: Prospects and Cautions”. At the September Council meeting, Professor COUNCIL MATTERS Gerard Maré of UKZN spoke on “Race Thinking and Thinking about A Council workshop held on 12 March was attended by members of Race” in the new democratic South Africa. Council and invited senior staff members. Arising from the report of Professor Njabulo Ndebele, the external evaluator of Council, a quality Constituency presentations at each Council meeting continued as in improvement plan was formulated. It was pleasing that the overall previous years. In 2011, the following presentations were made: impression of the external evaluator’s report noted that the University • Bachelor of Nursing Sciences Programme - Professor N Gwele “enjoys strong and successful Council governance oversight”. DVC: Academic. • Institute for Water and Waste Water Technology - Institute Also at the workshop an overarching vision and new directions for Director, Professor F Bux. teaching and learning, research and innovation for DUT were presented by the Vice-Chancellor and senior management. In particular, a student- The following Council members were elected for the next four-year centred institution, a curriculum renewal project, building a research term: Senate, Dr L Samuels; Academic Staff, Mr P M Naidoo; Institutional culture and increasing research capacity and the establishment of a Forum, Mr M Estrice; eThekwini Municipality, Cllr W L Mapena; Council Centre for Continuing and Professional Education were noted. appointees, Mr R Harichunder, Ms T Louw, Dr V Reddy, Mr B Singh and Ms M Mogodi-Dikgetsi; Convocation, Mr W Z Madinane and Mr The revised DUT Statute which was approved by Council in early 2011 S H Vezi. In addition Mr N Luthuli was elected as Vice Chairperson of has now been promulgated in the Government Gazette by the Minister Council for the next two years. of Higher Education and Training. DUT annual report 2011 9 STAFF MATTERS The University has embarked on a student registration project aimed The review and evaluation of all levels of staff in the adminstrative and at streamlining processes in the areas of academic registration and the academic sectors at DUT is now being undertaken. The objective is to allocation of student financial aid and housing. rationalise staff grading and align salary levels both to the sector and region as well as meeting the benchmark of the Department of Higher SENATE MATTERS Education and Training. A Remuneration Technical Committee has Council approved the recommendation of Senate for the establishment been established for this purpose under the chairmanship of the Senior of a DUT Industrial Advisory Board as a formal interface for high level Director: Human Resources. advice to the University by leaders of industry. The Vice-Chancellor will chair the board at its bi-annual meetings and will comprise The Labour Management Consultative Forum has been reconstituted. representatives of key industries from KZN and other parts of the It will meet on a quarterly basis with senior management to discuss country. It will meet with Council once a year and the report of its staff matters.