VUT_Report 2018_Finale

VAAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
ANNUAL REPORT 2018
Social And Environmental
Sustainability
Our Social and Environmental Sustainability approach is integral
to the broader institutional strategic direction. Through this
effort, the University expressly commits itself to the continuity,
primarily of the academic project of the University. The following
are sustainability activities which are aligned to the broader
institutional strategy:
1. The University continues with the re-curriculation project.
Thus far, several new programmes have been implemented.
The new cohorts enrolled in the new programmes are in
their second academic year. The re-curriculation project is
considered part of our commitment to the sustainability
of teaching and learning. With ever complex and changing
economic environment, Universities are expected to develop
and provide fitting student graduates to the economy. We
thus believe that continuous re-curriculation enables us to
constantly evaluate relevance and fitness of purpose of all
our offerings.
2. Quality teaching, learning and research relies heavily on
adequate infrastructure. Through our Campus Master Plan,
we have articulated our desired growth points to complement
the needs for teaching, learning and research.
Over the years, Vanderbijlpark Campus which is the seat of
the University has grown substantially. The impact of growth
on quality teaching and learning is considered substantial as
well as a risk for University sustainability. We have thus set our
focus and priorities on the growth path for the University. These
includes the recently acquired Quest Conference Centre as well
as prioritization of the Science and Technology Park in Sebokeng
as our future growth points. The construction of the new Faculty
of Education facilities is already underway in Sebokeng.
of the project will go a long a way to meeting our “Green
Initiative” commitments.
• With the support of the Local Government SETA, our
Centre for Renewable Energy has been engaged with
several local municipalities on waste-water treatment
solutions. The increasing scarcity of water is considered
one of the University’s sustainability risks.
4. To ensure continuous development of staff and opportunities
for growth, the University has, as part of its strategic focus,
adopted the Institutional Transformation Plan which is
considered the guiding map amongst others for: policy
review and development, training and development, student
support, and community engagement. The plan also expresses
the University’s overall commitment to transformation.
Given the complex nature of the sustainability challenges, the
University will have to consider several measures which may
include the review of the organizational efficiency and
effectiveness models, financial sustainability models as well as the
development of new models for the future of our sites of
delivery.
We are committed to ensure sustainability of the University.
PROFESSOR IL RENSBURG
ADMINISTRATOR
3. With the increasing cost of energy as well as associated
environmental risks, the University has adopted the
following initiatives:
• Through the campus master plan, the University has adopted
the “Green Initiative”. This initiative commits the University
to ensure all its future infrastructure projects will be “Green
Initiative” compliant with decreased reliance on coal-driven
energy and more aligned to alternative renewable energy.
• We have already initiated a pilot project on solar energy
support. The project is coordinated by the Faculty of
Engineering. We anticipate that the successful completion
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