A multitude of options

VUT’s four faculties provide a variety of options for students:

Faculty of Applied and Computer Studies
The faculty of Applied and Computer Sciences stands on six vibrant departments, namely, Bio Sciences (Agricultural management, Biomedical Technology, Biotechnology and Community Nursing), Chemistry, Information and Communication Technology and Office Management and Technology, Mathematics, Nondestructive Testing Technology and Physics, as well as Software Studies.

In 2010, Prof Raymond Mabuza, Executive Dean: Applied and Computer Sciences, says the faculty adopted the following principles in order to support the institutional vision of the VUT. “To ensure that this vision works, I am committed to share with openness and sincerity, live my message, know my audience, communicate on others’ level, believe totally in my staff and offer direction and hope.

“I am also committed to attract staff with varied gifts and delegate responsibility based on ability. I desire to attract and lead other leaders, not just followers.”He says the vision that the faculty is proud of is stated as: “a faculty that leads in teaching, innovative applied research and technology application”. This vision goes with the faculty motto: “sharing science and technology”.

The faculty bases its research expertise on the focus areas which include environmental pollution and health, the integration and application of ICT in resource-based education, plant molecular genetics/biotechnology, ICT technologies on transport systems, as well as theoretical, numerical and experimental NDT methods. “For our research to take the right direction, we had devise a research technology road map to address problems that face our beloved country and other African countries. As one of its mandates the faculty is to encouraging its staff to engage in curiosity-driven and discipline-based research,” he adds.

The faculty is the only one in South Africa that offers a nondestructive testing diploma. This technology is concerned with the determination of a material’s quality without damaging its intended application. “The faculty has repositioned itself in order to be the leading faculty in teaching, innovative applied research and technology application by creating and maintaining strong and mutual linkages with local, national and international academic and industry partners.”

Faculty of Management Sciences
Providing Quality Knowledge Transfer
The Faculty of Management Sciences of the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) is set on managing a pro-active and flexible response to the challenges facing institutions of higher learning. This is line with the new legislative framework in South Africa and, in particular, the Higher Education Qualification Framework (HEQF) and the Department of Education (DoE) enrolment benchmarks and requirements. Professor Babs Surujlal, Research Professor/Acting Dean, at the Faculty of Management Sciences says the Faculty of Management Sciences offers 10 undergraduate qualifications and 20 postgraduate qualifications.

It comprises four departments, namely the Department of Accountancy, the Department of Human Resources Management, the Department of Logistics and the Department of Marketing and Sport Management. The Faculty provides academic programmes across a range of campuses (often referred to as sites of delivery) for a diverse range of students. Besides the main campus in Vanderbijlpark, the other sites being serviced are Ekuruleni, Upington, Educity and Secunda. “Challenges such as market competition and globalisation, in particular within the Vaal Triangle, as well as the Institution’s quality management priorities are ongoing issues that need to be addressed.

“The focus of the Faculty of Management Sciences lies not only in providing quality knowledge transfer through teaching and learning, but its drivers are also vested in community engagement, transfer of technology, entrepreneurship and research,” he says. The provision of excellence in knowledge transfer through teaching and learning is a non-negotiable academic responsibility, but it is also a basic responsibility. The measure of success in the changing academic landscape lies fundamentally in the Faculty’s community engagement projects, in its ability to address niche markets, in its entrepreneurial and innovative abilities and in its quest to contribute through research to the body of theory and practice.

Faculty of Engineering and Technology
Cultivating Engineering and Technological Excellence
Dramatic changes in education in South Africa over the past number of years have forced all higher education institutions to revisit and reshape their approach to higher learning. This was no different for the Faculty of Engineering and Technology. The Faculty has taken great strides in formulating a strategy based on best practice in higher education management. This plan aims both to build and improve on past achievements and to assist the Faculty, departments and all staff in meeting new challenges and opportunities.

“Engineering will continue to play a central role in wealth creation and economic development in the country. The role of the Engineering Council of South Africa (Ecsa), as an ETQA of the HEQC in accrediting engineering programmes in South Africa will increase. “We need to ensure that we produce top students that are able to apply their academic and practical knowledge in the industries in need;” says Prof. Maurice Ndege, Executive Dean, Engineering and Technology at VUT.

Ndege says a critical factor is to develop and implement mechanisms in order to improve the communication, mathematical, science, engineering knowledge and professionalism of students. “The projects/assignments given to students include procedural design of well-defined components, systems, works, products or processes to meet desired needs within applicable standards, codes of practice and legislation. Environmental, cultural and safety issues are also addressed.

“Additionally, we facilitate the development of life skills as well as the creative and innovative abilities of students and introduce specific methodologies and techniques to enhance creativity and innovation through individual or group projects/competitions. Importantly, we now promote engineering as a career amongst female students,” he adds.

Faculty of Human Sciences
Inspiring creativity
The Human Sciences Faculty is a very diverse faculty, which brings different departments together, and is aimed at providing a stimulating, supportive and inspiring environment working alongside world-class researchers and benefiting from extensive campus research development initiatives. The Faculty consists of a Communications and Education department, Hospitality, Tourism and PR Management, Legal Sciences, as well as a Visual Arts and Design department.

Professor Riana van der Bank, Executive Dean: Human Sciences, says that the faculty’s mission is to deliver appropriate, diverse, relevant and integrated transformative and industry-required curricula based on research innovation and technology. “We are constantly looking for new subjects that are relevant to today’s market, such as eco-tourism management and heuristic and forensic police sciences. We have also tried to move to a technology education environment, which includes maths and science,” she adds. The Faculty already has a number of flourishing research projects, such as the renowned Institute of Sustainable Livelihoods.