Page 68 - UniZulu Annual Report 2020

Sustainable Goal 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy
UNIZULU’s Department of Chemistry conducted techno-economic feasibility studies for uMhlathuze Municipality to forecast the amount of green electricity that could be generated from the municipality’s eight wastewater
treatment plants (WWTP). Advanced models/statistical as well as mathematical formulae were used for forecasting. The results obtained showed that all WWTPs were feasible, but not all of them were economically viable for biogas generation. Also, the results showed that should the municipality opt for WWTP-Biogas Technology Systems, they would save approximately R3 000 000 per annum from each WWTP. Unfortunately, the University does not make use of renewable energy at this stage, however, future planning includes investments in clean energy.
Sustainable Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth
The mission of UNIZULU is ‘To produce globally competitive graduates, relevant for the human capital needs of our country, by providing quality education that upholds high standards of research and academic excellence’ is intrinsically
linked to the employability of its graduates. Employability of graduates has thus increasingly become a measurement of this purpose. Initiatives to enhance the employability of students/graduates are broadly related to relationships with employers (through work-integrated learning and niche area development), curriculum development (with a focus on graduate attributes) and student recruitment. UNIZULU also continuously conducts surveys to investigate post-university activities and the employment status of its graduates. To enhance University-industry partnerships, relations and the quality of engagement and placement of graduates, the University approved several policies on Community Engagement, a WIL and Service Learning Policy, a Graduate Attributes Policy as well as a Policy and Framework on Student Entrepreneurship. These policies
7 AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY
UNIVERSITY OF ZULULAND ANNUAL REPORT 2020
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8DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH