CUT Annual Report 2015

Message from the
Vice-Chancellor and Principal
Each year, Central University of Technology (CUT), like any other
organisation, faces a new set of exciting challenges. The year
2015 was a year of renewal at both the governance and strategic
management levels.
From the governance perspective, the CUT Council witnessed
membership changes as a result of the end of the terms of office
of some members, the appointment of new ministerial appointees
and other Council appointed members. Furthermore, Dr Boet
Troskie, a founding member of CUT, resigned as our Chancellor
Judge Mahube Betty Molemela was elected as the new Chancellor.
From the strategic management perspective, according to our
Strategic Plan, 2015 represented a midpoint in the timeline of
implementation of our Vision 2020. This compelled us to revise
our Strategic Plan: 2016 – 2020, so as to respond to the new
challenges our University and our region face, and, consequently,
to infuse a number of new innovations that are required to meet
these challenges.
During the first phase of the implementation of Vision 2020 (2010
– 2013), the university focused on improving effectiveness and
efficiency in its operations, thus ensuring fitness for purpose and
building a strong and solid foundation. In doing so, we initiated
a number of projects, aimed at re-imagining, unmaking, making
and remaking our University, so that it could become a first-rate
university of the 21 st century.
As we commenced with the second phase (2014 – 2017) of our
advancement as a university, our focus shifted to matters related
to building a transformed, deliberative and value-driven university
that not only focuses on inputs and processes, but also on more
of the ultimate outcomes of our work, which should reverberate in
the broader society. CUT is well poised to seize current and future
opportunities, and to increase our impact regionally, in broader
South Africa and in the world.
Our Vision 2020 is founded on the principles of innovation, impact
and outcomes, socio-economic development, and equity with
excellence. In order to realise this vision, it is important that these
principles occupy the centre of CUT’s commitment to help society
address the most significant socio-economic challenges facing our
future. On the basis of these principles, CUT will establish a robust
culture and programmes in innovation and entrepreneurship
education and training.
The 2015 academic year heralded another successful year in the
history of this fledgling university, as we continued to innovate and
grow new areas of excellence on a broad front. A few examples
should be appropriate.
In 2015, the NRF awarded the NRF Excelleration Award 2015 to
CUT as the most improved university in research performance over
the recent years. In 2014/15, our Centre for Rapid Prototyping and
Manufacturing (CPRM) continued to move from strength to strength,
setting new standards of achievement, and propelling the university
to even greater success. In August 2015, CUT was awarded the
South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Chair in Medical
Product Development through Additive Manufacturing (or 3-D
Printing Technology) by the Department of Science and Technology
(DST) and the National Research Foundation (NRF). The NRF
will support this chair over the next ten years, at R1,67 million per
CUT ANNUAL REPORT 2015
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