VUT_Report 2018_Finale

VAAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
ANNUAL REPORT 2018
bracket classified as “poor and working-class category”. This
category of students may be unable to access government
funding due to poor academic performance. We continue
to work hard on intervention measures as part of academic
support to ensure struggling students do not stay longer in the
system and are supported to succeed.
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About 8 811 of our students were funded through NSFAS and
1041 funded by private companies and other governments
during 2017. A total of 9 852 were fully funded for the reporting
period. Our total enrolment for this period was sitting at 19
218. It is estimated that about 45% of our student population is
considered cash paying and some may be falling within the
University Salary Costs
The University’s salary bill has reached a concerning level and
Management had undertaken to freeze vacancies at the total
cost of R 100 million. In terms of the DHET norms on salaries
versus income, Universities are advised not to exceed 63% of
the overall state funding. Our estimates at the beginning of
2017 indicated that we were already above the norm. Further
assessment indicated that, while there has been a sharp growth
in the contracts appointment budgets, our operational budget
has been managed effectively. Several measures have been
put in place, these include the directive given by Council at its
last meeting to conduct a review of the University’s salary bill.
Price Waterhouse Coopers was appointed to implement Council
directive. A complete report on the review of the salary bill was
submitted to Council in 2017.
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As part of the strategy review, we are closely looking at sustainable ways of managing the risk of increasing salary bill. Both Council
and Management are committed to ensuring financial stability and sustainability of the University.
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