Page 54 - UniZulu Annual Report 2020

parameters and powers for itself, the Vice-Chancellor and Management. The Vice-Chancellor, as the administrative head of the Institution, was re-appointed by Council for a second term on 13 August 2019 after consultation with the Institutional Forum and Senate. Ethical codes delegated via the delegation’s framework of Council to the Vice-Chancellor and management for implementation include the Code of Conduct: Staff and Disciplinary Code: Students as well as other ethical policies, all of which are published on the University’s intranet and workshopped to staff and students. Council exercises ongoing oversight of ethics and makes use of protected disclosures or whistleblowing mechanisms to detect breaches of ethical standards.
CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP
Council assumed responsibility for corporate citizenship by ensuring compliance with the Constitution of South Africa (including the Bill of Rights), the law, leading standards and adherence to its code of conduct and policies. Oversight and monitoring of the University’s activities and outputs that affected the status of the University as a corporate citizen were performed by Council in all areas of workplace, economy, society and the environment as contained in the performance assessment report. Council, through its Human Resources Committee, ensures that the University remunerates fairly, responsibly and transparently to promote the creation of value in a sustainable manner.
RISK GOVERNANCE
Council governs risk and opportunity in a way that supports the University in defining its core purpose and to set and achieve the University’s strategic objectives. The University has reviewed the Risk Management Committee, consolidated identified strategic risks, compiled risk registers for respective risk owners in line with the strategic risk framework, formulated a fraud risk management presentation that will be rolled out to relevant departments, and mapped out a process to institutionalise risk management. A compliance framework is in place and is being implemented. Compliance to risk is monitored through ARCC in terms of the approved Risk Management
Strategy. Council can confirm that it maintained a reporting system that enabled it to monitor changes in the Institution’s risk profile and gained an assurance that risk management was effective. UNIZULU has and maintains an efficient and effective process of risk management to manage key risks and accordingly, Council is not aware of any key risk current, imminent or forecasted that may threaten the sustainability of the University.
STAKEHOLDER INCLUSIVITY
Council has led the value creation process by appreciating that strategy, risk and opportunity, performance and sustainable development are inseparable elements. The University’s Strategic Plan (2016-2021) was revised by Council in 2020. Council approves the APP and mid-year reports, as presented by management. All approved plans and policies are delegated to management for implementation, while Council retains ongoing oversight. Council specifically assesses the viability of the University concerning its ability to operate as a going concern on a continuous basis. In the course of making decisions in the best interest of the University, Council has adopted a stakeholder-inclusive approach, which considers and balances the legitimate and reasonable needs, interests and expectations of stakeholders. This integrated Annual Report and Annual Financial Statements, as issued by the University, will enable stakeholders to make an informed assessment of the performance of the University and its ability to create value in a sustainable manner. The report will be published on the University’s website.
TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION
GOVERNANCE
Council governs technology and information in a way that supports the University in defining its purpose and to set and achieve strategic objectives. Council approved numerous policies that give effect to the employment of technology and information. Technology architecture is in place to support the achievement of the University’s strategic and operational objectives. Diagram 7 provides an overview of the governance flow at UNIZILU, while Diagram 8 provides an overview of the entire governance structure.
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