Page 18 - DUT Annual Report 2024

the participation of a group of students along with a visiting professor. They engaged in a programme led by DUT, focusing on creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship as the foundational academic themes.
The new guidelines developed and approved by the EMC on 24 October were designed to strategically align our affiliations to associations and networks which will ensure we consolidate our rising influence in these strategic glocal spaces. We held the bi-lateral session with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA), during which we presented our ENVISION2030 together with plans and initiatives emanating from it. The purpose was to socialise the new leadership of the department with our strategy, while we also learnt about opportunities and synergies we could exploit jointly.
There were several other engagements, which are contained in other reports. For instance, the Senate Report shares details on academia-related engagements
that derive from education-related SOs of ENVISION2030. Finally, DUT continued to cement its leadership role in the Universities of Technology sector, as demonstrated by yearly university rankings and its coordination of THENSA programmes on innovation and entrepreneurship
Conclusion
The start of this report referred to some chams that re- emerged last year. This remains a big risk, that may foil realisation of the aspirations of our strategy. This challenge notwithstanding, we continued to consolidate and deepen the advances we have been making over the years. There is much evidence of an Upended DUT across the broadest spectrum, internally and externally.
I am certain that we will continue to further advance and defend these milestones, so that the University is able to realise its commitment to contribute towards improving the lives and livelihoods of broader society.
PROFESSOR T. Z. MTHEMBU
Vice-Chancellor and Principal
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DUT ANNUAL REPORT 2024