Page 17 - DUT Annual Report 2024

and the United Nations Development Goals. We pursue this commitment to transform societies and economies for improved, sustainable human dignity through three SOs, namely, Engaged University, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Adaptive Graduates.
DUT’s approach to the development of society and consequent improvement of lives and livelihoods is not about technical skills to grow the economy at the expense of humanity. No other university in South Africa and only a few internationally have values-based, impact-oriented and balanced scorecard-aligned strategy maps as their main strategies. On this score, our LVF and a plethora of initiatives around it arguably make DUT one of the best in the world in this field. This is how impact is made through painstaking and unstintingly focused work. There is no doubt that DUT is very Different from what it had been. There is no doubt it has emerged as a strong force to reckon with nationally and internationally.
In 2024 DUT celebrated a year of remarkable achievements, earning prestigious awards and climbing up the national and global rankings. The University was recognised with the National Research Foundation (NRF) Focused Research Advancement Award, a testament to its ongoing commitment to impactful research and innovation, in line with its ENVISION2030 strategy. DUT’s influence on the global stage also grew with the prestigious Petersburg
World Club International Expert Award, acknowledging its contributions to BRICS research. Adding to these accomplishments, DUT made a positive leap in the Times Higher Education Sub-Saharan Africa University Rankings, securing 11th place continentally and 5th place nationally, highlighting the University’s dedication to excellence.
Beyond research and rankings, DUT continued to excel in other key areas. The University was recognised for its outstanding communication efforts, winning three awards at the 2024 Marketing, Advancement and Communication in Education Awards. Its impact in technological innovation was also celebrated globally, with the DUT Arm Engage Robotics Student Club earning international recognition for its Zulu-speaking humanoid robot. Entrepreneurship continued to thrive, with one of DUT’s students winning the Guangzhou International Sister-City Universities 2024 Global Start-up Competition in China.
Early in the year we hosted several international universities, including Flensburg University of Applied Sciences, the German University Consortium for International Cooperation, a consortium of about 40 German universities, significantly those that are technologically focused, the Duale Hochschule Baden- Württemberg, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, and the French CMQE Industrie du Futur. The Intercultural Week at Flensburg University of Applied Sciences featured
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