CUT Annual Report 2013

REGIONAL INNOVATION FORUM (RIF)
The launch of the Free State Regional Innovation Forum was held on 9 May 2013 at the Hotel School Atrium of the CUT.
The organising committee comprised representatives from CUT and UFS, whereas funding was appropriated jointly from
CUT, UFS and DST. Approximately 100 delegates from various sectors in the province, including academia; national and local
spheres of government; business support; and the broader community, attended the event.
Teaching and Learning Activities
The objective of RIF is to create platforms for deliberation
amongst various contributors to the innovation value chain,
in order to initiate projects aimed at improving the economic
status of regions. The Free State Province was amongst the
first provinces to implement this initiative, and the DST has
appropriated funds to CUT with the expectation that higher
education, government, and formal as well as informal businesses
participate in the process.
The forum was instrumental in the forging of an active collaboration
between CUT and UFS pertaining to the establishment
of a Free State Science Park, as well as the establishment
of an Institute for Continuing Education at CUT. The
collaboration spans membership on various committees, and
the sharing of knowledge and information on aspects such
as policy; commercialisation and legal approaches. CUT and
members of RIFFS held a number of discussions with Mangaung
Metropolitan Municipality regarding participation in
the N8 corridor project. To this effect, the development of
an ICC, tertiary institution and business park is of particular
significance. CUT’s involvement in these entities has been
discussed, in particular considerations into the provision of
services (ICC); the occupation of facilities (business park);
and the extension of the main campus to the corridor area.
Discussions have also included the utilisation of the Cecelia
Park land and the possible construction of a bridge across
President Brand Street.
The Teaching and Learning section contains relevant statistics, referring to and containing information on the student
headcounts, enrolments, and details on CUT student performance in 2013. The information presented for groups
defined in terms of Higher Education Management Information Systems (HEMIS).
Statistics
Student headcount data for 2013
HEADCOUNT
CALENDAR YEAR
CESM CATEGORY11 2012 2013
BUS/MAN
Headcount 3 325 3 396
Mr Imraan Patel, Deputy Director-General
from the Department of Science and Technology
said at the launch, “the benefit of innovation
has the potential to address issues
of inequality, poverty and unemployment,
by developing a unified vision and identifying
areas of strength and capability within the
region.”
Prof. Henk de Jager, Deputy Vice-Chancellor
of Academic and Research at CUT;
Mr Imraan Patel, Deputy Director-General
from the Department of Science and Technology;
Prof. Corli Witthuhn, Deputy Vice
Chancellor of Research at the University of
the Free State
EDUCATION
OTHER HUMANITIES
Percentage 26.1% 25.8%
Headcount 1 956 2 038
Percentage 15.4% 15.5%
Headcount 1 857 2 080
Percentage 14.6% 15.8%
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