Page 63 - DUT Annual Report 2020

DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY ANNUAL REPORT 2020
COUNCIL STATEMENT ON SUSTAINABILITY
“We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on nearly every aspect of business operations. What has emerged is that there is now, more than ever, a need for business resilience as a central component of sustainability, to become agile in the face of the unexpected.What has also become clear is the importance of partnerships – no entity can face disruption caused by a pandemic on its own.
Sustainability is strongly encapsulated in the University’s ENVISION2030 strategy. DUT is acutely aware of the ‘triple context’ – Society, Economy and Environment – within which it operates, and sees its commitment to these contexts as a long-term project. These pillars, with their multifarious influences, serve to remind us of why we exist. Hence, considerations of economic viability, social equity and environmental protection remain paramount to DUT, as encapsulated in ENVISION2030. ENVISION2030 is formulated as a strategy map, with the four Perspectives of Stewardship, Systems and Processes, Sustainability, and Society. The first two are those that effect and enable, while the Perspectives of Sustainability and Society are those that have an influence and impact both internally and externally. The Perspective of Stewardship points to our collective responsibility as mindful custodians of our resources to be present for future generations.
As we embark on the ENVISION2030 journey, the University recognises the need for planning for the unexpected; as such DUT has recognised the importance of scenario planning to develop various scenarios against which the continued relevance of ENVISION2030 is tested. The outcome of this important strategic thinking process will help with both the approach to and management of resource allocation and risks thereof in our deliberate quest to solidify the University’s liquidity for years to come.
The Enrolment and Efficiency Plan, our contract with the Minister of Higher Education and Training, guides our activities towards ensuring access to and through higher education, as well as the successful completion of our students’ academic commitments, while working
to ensure both the efficiency and effectiveness of the system. Progress towards meeting these objectives, including student success, are presented in the Senate Report. A focus on enrolment and efficiency targets, particularly those of improving our enrolment management, improving the success of our students, and improving the qualification levels of our academic staff, are key towards securing the University’s financial sustainability while contributing to society and economic growth. We have seen increases, year on year, in our staff who have doctoral qualifications, from 23% in 2017 to 31.4% in 2020.
The University thus views its role as not solely limited to the needs of the labour market, but also as extending to the need for societal transformation as a whole. Our emphasis on graduate attributes, as well as infusing the curriculum with modules in ‘General Education’ in our re-curriculation processes, to use a single example, acknowledges our commitment in this regard. The merits of such interventions are evident when our graduates make a contribution to the economy and in the leadership qualities they take into society for the purpose of fostering ideals such as social justice and ethical behaviour.
Our focus has shifted from solely enskilling our students ‘for the workplace’, to developing their problem- solving skills and acumen to initiate and/or respond to change. Through the enhancement of current and new programmes, which focus on entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial thinking, DUT is poised to make a substantial contribution to the economy at local and regional levels.
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