Page 64 - UniZulu Annual Report 2020

Diagram 5: Sustainable Development Goals
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
1NO POVERTY
2 ZERO HUNGER
As a rural University that is expanding in the vibrant economic area surrounding Richards Bay, UNIZULU holds responsibilities to both its historic culture and vibrant future. It takes its position to sustain, document and learn from the former and to contribute and benefit from the latter very seriously. The University’s Council recognises and embraces the University’s responsibility in the transition to a sustainable future. Council is committed to ensuring that the University’s activities – be they research and innovation, teaching and learning, community engagement or operations – advance it to a place that is better for humanity and the planet in general. All the amazing work of staff and students that occurs across research, teaching and community engagement/outreach and operations cannot be captured, however, the selection presented in this report provides a high-level overview of activities within UNIZULU that are setting the University on a path to a more sustainable future for all.
UNIZULU’s 2020 SUSTAINABLE
INITIATIVES
Sustainable Goal 1 – No Poverty
More than 80% of UNIZULU students come from disadvantaged backgrounds. To contribute to HE accessibility of poor students, UNIZULU once again abolished all upfront administrative payments and registration fees, and students were
registered regardless of their financial circumstances in 2020. UNIZULU also makes several bursaries available to poor students and the Vice-Chancellor’s bursary scheme is specifically targeted at assisting extremely poor students to obtain a quality education. In addition, UNIZULU’s student accommodation is affordably priced. The decision by Government to fund education for students with a combined family income not exceeding R350 000 assisted UNIZULU students greatly during the year under review. In addition, the government also provided funding for the fee and residence increases for all students whose family income is less than R600 000 and who registered for the first time before 2018. Previously, this was called a Fee Gap Grant that had to be claimed by the University and was earmarked. From 2019, this was allocated into the normal block grant
3 GOOD HEALTH ANDWELL-BEING
9 INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
15 LIFE
ON LAND
4 QUALITY EDUCATION
10 REDUCED INEQUALITIES
16 PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG
INSTITUTIONS
5 GENDER EQUALITY
11SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES
6 CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION
7 AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY
8DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
13 CLIMATE ACTION
14 LIFE
BELOW WATER
17 PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS
12 RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION
AND PRODUCTION
1NO POVERTY
UNIVERSITY OF ZULULAND ANNUAL REPORT 2020
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