A NNUAL R EPORT UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURG for the year ended 31 December 2007 Wits gives you the edge. www.wits.ac.za 2007 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 submits to the Minister of Education the following general report of its proceedings and of the management of the University for the year ended 31 December 2007. This Annual Report meets the requirements of Chapter 3 of the Manual for Annual Reporting of Higher Education Institutions. CHANCELLOR, VICE-CHANCELLOR AND PRINCIPAL (CHAIR OF SENATE), CHAIR OF COUNCIL AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2007 Chancellor Honourable Justice Dikgang Ernest Moseneke Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Loyiso Gordon Nongxa Chairperson of the Council Honourable Justice Edwin Cameron Produced by the Academic Administration Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Private Bag 3, Wits, 2050 * Telephone: +27 11 717-1222 * June 2008; Website: www.wits.ac.za Annual Report of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg For the year ended 31 December 2007 Table of Contents Page About the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 4 Section one Council administration 7 Section two Report of the Chairperson of the Council 9 Matters of significance considered by Council during 2007 10 Operational information 12 Engagement with society 23 Operational sustainability, financial health, funding sources and material changes 37 Significant student data and relevant statistics including realisation of transformation targets 38 Facilities and major capital works 71 Events (including functions and conferences) 74 Division of student affairs 77 Student representation on committees 83 Working with industry 84 Significant changes that have taken place with regard to technology 92 Statement on corporate governance 94 Reporting Structures to Council and Senate 94 Section three Report of the Senate to the Council on teaching, research and extension 100 Section four Report of the Institutional Forum to the Council 141 Section five Senior Executive Team 143 Report of the Vice-Chancellor 144 Section six Report on internal operational structures and controls 146 Section seven Report on Annual Financial Review 148 Consolidated Annual Financial Statements 152 Page 2 Annual Report of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg For the year ended 31 December 2007 ANNEXURES Annexure A Employment Equity Report Annexure B Report of the 2007 objectives of the Council Annexure C Human Resources Report Page 3 Annual Report of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg For the year ended 31 December 2007 ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND, JOHANNESBURG (WITS) OVERVIEW its University is an urban university excellence in learning, teaching and W situated in Johannesburg. The research. University has distinctive capabilities to THE UNIVERSITY’S STRATEGIC contribute to the development of South OBJECTIVES AS OUTLINED IN THE Africa through research and the production WITS 2010 STRATEGIC PLAN ARE of skilled, critical adaptable graduates. SUMMARISED AS FOLLOWS: With more than 100 000 graduates in its 85-year history, Wits continues to be a • To develop our reputation as a premier academic address in Africa. research driven university and hence enrich our undergraduate teaching; VISION • To develop graduates with high level By 2015 Wits will have consolidated its and scarce skills to meet the needs of status as an intellectual powerhouse in the society in the sciences, engineering developing world. To this end, Wits will and technology; seek systematically to enhance its status in the world rankings of universities. We • To develop strategic partnerships that aim to be ranked in the top one hundred will make Wits an active, committed, universities in the world by 2022, our creative, innovative force that centenary year. advances the public good; MISSION • To become the university of choice for excellent individuals and in so doing The fundamental role of any university is attract top academic leaders from all to promote freedom of enquiry and the sectors of our society and other search for knowledge and truth. Wits has countries; built a reputation by establishing itself at the industrial and commercial heart of • To achieve a position of financial South Africa as a centre for education and strength by developing sustainable research of the highest quality. Wits’ third stream income supplemented by mission is to build on this foundation in a building our reserves and endowment way that takes account of its funds. responsibilities within South Africa today; and to maintain and enhance its position as a leading university in the Republic, in Africa, and in the world by sustaining globally competitive standards of Page 4 Annual Report of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg For the year ended 31 December 2007 WITS AT A GLANCE • Wits has over 34 research entities, ten of which are Medical Research Council • The University is structured into five units. It is also home to 12 NRF Chairs Faculties which collectively comprise in Geosciences, Electrical and 35 Schools. Information Engineering, History and • The University library system Chemical and Metallurgical comprises two main libraries and 14 Engineering. divisional libraries. Students have ACHIEVEMENTS access to 740 000 book volumes, 25 000 journal titles and a host of new • Wits has 15 ‘A-rated’ scientists (based electronic resources. on a stringent evaluation of an individual scientist’s research record • Wits comprises seven major ‘clusters’ over five years). These scientists are spread over 400 hectares in international leaders in their disciplines. Braamfontein and Parktown: East & West Campus, Sturrock Park, the • The Wits Business School was ranked Education Campus, the Management 45 th in the UK-based Financial Times Campus, the Health Sciences Campus Survey for Executive Education and the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Courses in 2007. Centre. • The Wits MBA programme was voted • The University has 20 residences the best in South Africa for seventh which accommodate 18% of the consecutive years in the Financial student population. Seven residences Times annual survey. It was also rated are on the main campus while the rest as the top Business School for four are off campus. consecutive years (2004 – 2007) in the Sunday Times Top Brands Survey. • Wits has two commercial companies, Wits Enterprise and the Wits Health • Wits is ranked as one of the top 1% Consortium, offering a vast array of universities in the world in seven tailor-made solutions for the public and defined fields of research according to private sectors. the 2007 ISI international rankings. • Wits is the proud home of three new ACCREDITATION Centres of Excellence (CoE) - the • The 40-year-old Wits Business School Department of Science and is fully accredited by the South African Technology (DST)/National Research Council for Higher Education and Foundation (NRF) CoE for Biomedical received the prestigious International TB Research, the DST/NRF, CoE in Accreditation by the Association of Strong Materials and the Department of MBAs (AMBA) in 2005 . Trade and Industry National Aerospace Centre of Excellence. Page 5 Annual Report of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg For the year ended 31 December 2007 • Wits’ undergraduate engineering • Wits’ professionally qualifying degree in degrees are recognised by the quantity surveying is accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa. In South African Council for the Quantity terms of the Washington Accord signed Surveying Profession and the Royal in June 2000, of which South Africa is a Institution of Chartered Surveyors, UK, signatory. Official recognition of degree while the construction management programmes has been approved by the degree is accredited by the Chartered professional engineering accrediting Institute of Building. bodies in the USA, Canada, Australia, • The Wits Actuarial Science Programme New Zealand, the UK, Ireland and (leading to BSc or BEconSc followed Hong Kong. by a BScHons) provides exemption • Wits’ professionally qualifying from 12 of the examinations required architecture degrees are accredited by for qualification as a professional the South African Council of Architects, actuary with the Edinburgh Faculty of the Royal Institute of British Architects Actuaries or the London Institute of and the Commonwealth Association of Actuaries. Architects. Page 6 Annual Report of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg For the year ended 31 December 2007 SECTION ONE COUNCIL ADMINISTRATION 1. COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP The following is a list of members of the University Council for the year 2007. Position Incumbent Other positions/achievements Chair The Honourable Justice E Cameron BAHons (Stell) Judge: Supreme Court of Appeal LLB (Unisa) BCL MA (Oxon) Secretary to the Council Dr D Swemmer BAHons MA (Pret) DLitt et Phil (Unisa) TTHD (JCE) Members ex officio The Vice-Chancellor and Principal: Professor L Nongxa The Vice-Principal: Professor Y Ballim Appointed by the Vice- A Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Chancellor Professor B Bozzoli Appointed by the Minister Mr D Cooper Chair: Standard Bank, Liberty Group of Education and Tiger Foods Dr M Sefularo Member of Parliament and Former MEC for Health (Vacancy) Elected by the Executive Dr I May KStJ BScHons, MSc PhD MBA Director: