The Durban University of Technology (DUT) in collaboration with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) hosted an engagement partnership discussion workshop at the Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology (IWWT) boardroom, Steve Biko campus on Friday, 4 October 2024.
DUT academics and KZN EDTEA officials organised the dynamic dialogue which focused on promoting development and growth in various sectors of the KwaZulu-Natal economy. The aim was to look at being a catalyst for economic transformation and sustainable development, which would lead to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the institution. Giving the purpose of the engagement discussion was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, Professor Fulufhelo Nemavhola. He thanked all DUT academics and the EDTEA representatives for availing themselves for this crucial engagement discussion.
“I do believe that we are going to have a fruitful engagement discussions around DUT projects that we are currently working on and which are aligned with your (EDTEA) sector,” he said.
His welcome led to the dynamic presentation delivered by Mr Nhlakanipho Nkontwana who focused his talk on EDTEA’s overview, looking at its strategic mandate and opportunities.
He gave a snapshot into some opportunities for new institutes and looked at empowering future innovator projects and funding figures for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education development which looks at enhancing the quality of STEM education resulting in a rise in student enrolment and academic success rates.
He spoke on the blueprint for new research centres which can enable applied research, fostering innovation and enhancing engagement.
He also looked at re-engineering DUT’s third stream income business model which can achieve enhanced outcome while reducing resilience on government funding.
Adding to the conversation and relaying the aspects of the DUT ENVISION2030 strategy that is aligned with EDTEA’s functions was the Senior Director: Institutional Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr Kavita Beemsen.
She delved into the DUT-KZN EDTEA alliance where EDTEA’s vison, mandate and ENVISION2030’s aspirations meet. She looked at DUT and EDTEA’s collaboration in action since 2021which saw the development and delivery of the KwaZulu-Natal Social Economy Development Programme (KZN SEDP).
“A total of 50 social entrepreneurs completed the programme over the three-year period (2022,2023, and 2024),” she said.
Dr Beemsen further spoke on the ENVISION2030 aspirations and KZN EDTEA functions in terms of critical junctures in areas of economic, tourism and environmental services.
Giving insight into the KZN Social Economy Development Programme was DUT’s Operations Manager, Mr Mogandren Govender, who explained on the submitting a proposal to EDTEA in August 2020 and was subsequently awarded funding in July 2021.
“DUT and EDTEA signed an MOU valued at R5 680 500,00 in August 2021. The purpose of the MOU was to train 45 social entrepreneurs on the KZN social economy development programme and developing a virtual community of practice.
He relayed progress in the training which in year one (2022), there were 16 candidates who were selected and 15 had completed the programme.
“In year two (2023) – 20 candidates were selected and 19 completed the programme. Year three (2024) 17 candidates were selected and 16 had completed. We have exceeded the target of 45, with a total of 50 candidates being trained over the three- year period,” he added.
Govender explained more on the virtual community of practice application which over a period of three years was developed and a design for the platform was developed and implemented. Govender excitedly indicated that the platform was now piloted with learners from the programme.
Other robust presentations included the innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Manager, Ms Nontokozo Ngobo who spoke on the esteemed entrepreneurial innovation nerve centre of the university. She shared on the overview of the role that innobiz plays in nurturing and growing student entrepreneurs at the innobiz DUT.
She explained on the numerous programmes that have been designed to sharpen the entrepreneurial acumen of the students who pass through the Centre’s doors.
Ms Ngcobo explained how through a diverse selection of programmes, the Centre is able to nurture student entrepreneurs with a pre-incubation period, followed by an incubation period and eventually a post incubation period. She expressed the need for the injection of funding for the innobiz Centre that will contune in its quest to help student entrepreneurs under the tutelage of the innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation to receive training and industry specific incubation.
Other presentations included on DUT’s strategic focus and key initiatives as well as a look into the infrastructure development at DUT by the Senior Director: Real Estate Management, Mr Thabani Mhlongo.
Prof Nemavhola who delved into his talk spoke on some key points, one being on the issue of funding and spoke of the university is looking on how to self-sustain itself going forward.
“As far as the research institutes are concerned, we are really aligned in what we want to do and what we are actually proposing as the way forward. We want to focus on hydrogen technology, looking at production, storage and transportation. This sector requires a lot of technicians, engineers and scientists to be trained in order for South Africa to realise its potential,” he said.
In terms of the food research institutes, Prof Nemavhola said there is a lot of potential in this focus area. He explained that more research is required in order to ensure that the university is part of this space. The talks continued into discussions into areas for collaboration as well as action points and the framework for partnerships.
Prof Nemavhola closed the engagement discussion with his concluding remarks thanking DUT academics and the EDTEA representatives who had participated in this robust discussion and indicated that he looked forward to further collaborations with DUT and EDTEA.
Pictured: Attendees at the DUT/EDTEA event.
Waheeda Peters
