VISION MISSION

VICE CHANCELLOR’S MESSAGEEngineering laboratories so that the engineers producedthrough the engineering programme will be relevant tothe needs of industry.We are happy to report that the Swaziland ElectricityCompany has contributed E3,000,000 worth of laboratoryequipment for the Engineering Department this academicyear. The Company has pledged that next year, it willcontribute about E2,000,000 worth of laboratoryequipment for the Engineering programme.For a number of years the University has had inadequateinternet bandwidth of 1.5 Mbps, and instead of at least10Mbps to meet its requirements.To address thischallenge, the University engaged the Swaziland Post andTelecommunications Corporation (SPTC) to considercontributing to the University by increasing the internetbandwidth through offering reduced rates. We are pleasedto report that SPTC has indeed acceded to our requestby contributing E5, 697,576(i.e., E1, 899,192 per annum)through service discounts for the internet bandwidth fora period of three years starting this year.It is indeed pleasing to also report on the annual sponsorshipprovided by the Swaziland Water Corporation Servicesamounting to E64, 000for scholarships under InstitutionalAdvancement.The benefi ciaries of this fi nancial assistanceare students coming from well-performing studentsfrom poor backgrounds. On the other hand, the RoyalSwaziland Sugar Corporation (RSSC)contributes E60,000 annually for infrastructure development. We are verygrateful to these Corporations.The University believes that another key strategy forstimulating and reviving the Swazi economy is to educate,train, mentor, coach, and nurture the Small and MediumEnterprises (SMEs). With this view, the Universityestablished the Entrepreneurship Business DevelopmentCentre (EBDC) in 2009 in response to the national call todevelop and promote the small and medium enterprisesin the business sector.Since then, with the assistance of the CommonwealthSecretariat and the University of Edinburg,a NeedsAssessment and a Strategic Plan have been completed.The University will use the needs assessment results, theEBDC strategic plan and the PPP strategy to capacitatetheCentre andthe SMEs. The University is extremely gratefulto the Commonwealth Secretariat for the fi nancialsupport towards the EBDC.In 2012, the University of Swaziland will be celebrating its30th Anniversary. Indeed the University has evolved fromhumble beginnings in 1982 offering fewer programmes infewer faculties as shown below. In 1982, student enrolmentwas 1,064, but the enrolment in 2010 was 5,556 students,an increase of 522%. In 1982, the University offered8 Bachelor’s degrees, 10 Diplomas, and 3 Certifi cateprogrammes. Currently, the University is offering 21Bachelor’s degrees, 6 Diplomas and 10 Certifi cates.In1982, the University conferred 105 Degrees. In 2010 theUniversity conferred 1,617 degrees.The table below compares 1982 statistics with those of2010 to indicate progress made.In conclusion, the success of the University in attainingits objectives rests on sustained fi nancial support fromGovernment.Table comparing 1982 and 2010 statistics1982 2010ProgrammesNumber of Studentsand GraduatesCertifi cates 3 10Diplomas 10 6Bachelors 8 21Masters 0 10Student Enrolment 1, 064 5,556Degrees Conferred 105 1,61711REPORT OF THE VICE CHANCELLOR