Page 10 - KZN Business Sense 3.5

KZN

KwaZulu-Natal
Business Chambers Council
UKZN – ENABLING A BRIGHTER FUTURE

T he University of Foundation is seeking long-term academics, stakeholders, society (B-BBEE) spend. As a nonprot public sector and private sector

partners who will enable the
and the various strategic projects
organisation, the UKZN
KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
partners.”
has positioned itself to be
students. UKZN is also seeking
so donations are tax deductible.
the University of Choice for continued success of its disabled of UKZN. Foundation is a section 18A entity “As UKZN, we rely on your
students with disabilities. At the donors to support the short-term Of importance is that the In addition, spending may be generosity to facilitate the many
University’s spring graduation in annual needs of the DSU, which Foundation strives to cultivate a claimed for B-BBEE scorecard projects we are currently engaged
September, 15 graduates with would include consumables, strong relationship with donors, points under procurement, skills with. It is common knowledge
disabilities received their degrees. equipment and assistive which typically consists of trusts, development, enterprise that an investment in education
technology for its students. In corporates, high net worth development, supplier yields the best results for
One of the students, Mr Lungani addition, the providing of on individuals, alumni and the development and social economic communities and society at large.
Mthethwa, graduated from UKZN campus support for disabled public. is relationship is well development code series. We call upon every member of the
with a Masters in Social Science students requires an injection of coordinated through regular University community as well as
degree. An inspiration to other funds for the conversion of correspondence via the in-house Prof Singh said, “UKZN does the broader society to support
disabled students, Mthethwa said: learning materials and providing newsletter as well as through the not operate in isolation, but UKZN eorts to ensure that
“e secret behind my success is transcription services. UKZN Foundation website. functions within and is inuenced students with a wide range of
praying and working hard. One of by the communities it serves. We disabilities can study at UKZN
the most valuable lessons I have e UKZN Foundation is the e Foundation provides a one realise that to Inspire Greatness as without any hindrance or
learned is not to compare myself ocial fundraising arm of the stop shop for donors as well as our purpose suggests, means disadvantage owing to their
to anyone. I encourage students institution. e primary function undertakes all donor reaching out to communities and disabilities.”
not to let their disability stop them of the Foundation is to provide an administration functions, inuencing the change we want to
from achieving their goals. Believe ecient and eective fund-raising including providing tax certicates see in them. is will only be https://www.ukznfoundation.org/home
in yourself, everything is possible.” service that benets all its and paperwork for Broad-Based possible through meaningful
stakeholders, including students, Black Economic Empowerment partnerships with our alumni,
While disabled students
automatically qualify for full
funding from NSFAS to nancially
access higher education, the
increased enrolment of students
with diverse disabilities has
necessitated the reconguration of
the campuses to ensure equity of
access to learning places and
spaces.

e Disability Support Unit
(DSU), which is located within the
Division of Student Services, is
tasked with the responsibility of
operationalising a disability
support service that responds to
the needs of a diverse cohort of
students with disabilities. e
DSU, with oces located on all the
campuses, supports the colleges to
adequately empower sta and
students to navigate the barriers
associated with having a disability.
e DSU, in collaboration with
UKZN departments, is responsible
for developing and facilitating a
wide range of services for support
of disabled students e.g. academic,
accommodation, nance, access
etc.

At a recent function, the UKZN
Foundation Trust Executive
Director, Professor Anesh Maniraj
Singh said that the DSU requires
11 million rand to mobilise
nancial resources to meet and
address the various needs of the
students with disabilities which
include revamping and retting
buildings and campus spaces to
improve mobility and address
other challenges. Critical enablers
for the establishment of inclusive
learning for students with
disabilities across the University
have been identied as follows: the
removal of physical barriers;
erecting of accessible ramps and
routes; furniture and ttings to
support students with diverse
disabilities; access to assistive
technology; accessible ablution
facilities and highly visible
directional and information signs.
Consequently, the UKZN

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