DUT Conduit Aug/Sept 2021

volume 21 no. 2
DUT Boasts Possibly the Only Staff- and Student- developed Solar Photovoltaic Project at a SA University
Page 3
the university newspaper
Prof Sheena Kumari’s Journey at IWWT and her COVID-19 Research
Page 4
Aug/Sept 2021
Dr Sucheran Chooses to
let Adversity Fuel her Determination
Page 5
INSIDE
THIS ISSUE
1
DUT REMAINS TOP FIVE AMONG SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES AND NUMBER ONE IN THE
COUNTRY FOR CITATIONS
Alan Khan, Noxolo Memela and Simangele Zuma
The Durban University of Technology (DUT) has retained its Top 500 global rating in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022, which were announced in London recently.
DUT was also named in the top five of all South African universities for the second consecutive year. DUT was ranked first in South Africa and 12th in the world in the Citation category. The rankings were announced by Mr Phil Baty, Chief Knowledge Officer of Times Higher Education.
Being listed on the largest and most diverse global rankings that included and evaluated 1 662 universities from 99 countries shows performance consistency at DUT, as this is the fourth instance that Times Higher Education has recognised the international standards at DUT. In September last year, DUT was named as one of the top five universities in South Africa and ranked in the Top 500 globally in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. In March this year, DUT was ranked in the Top 100 universities in Emerging Economies by the Times Higher Education Emerging Economies World University Rankings 2021. Then, in June 2021, DUT was ranked second in South Africa and 102nd in the world by the Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 2021.
The Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Thandwa Zizwe Mthembu was ecstatic with this outcome as DUT navigates this competitive terrain. He expects the University to reinforce excellence, especially around its recruitment of excellent scholars who will help contribute to the core business of the University.
DVC Research, Innovation and Engagement Professor Moyo indicated that the University was still performing above its weight and that the Times Higher EducationWorld University
Rankings 2022 will help ensure that DUT becomes more visible nationally, on the African continent and in the world and it will help to strengthen the University’s research and innovation agenda.
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings is trusted worldwide by students, teachers, governments and industry experts and the annual list is highly respected and credible. The ratings are calculated by the standardised performance indicators that measure an institution’s performance across five areas: teaching, research, knowledge transfer, citations and international outlook.
DUT is extremely proud of its performance and remains committed towards providing a world-class teaching and
learning experience, offering quality academic programmes and undertaking relevant and valuable research, investing in innovation and building an entrepreneurial university that is creative, distinctive and impactful. This recent global accolade is a huge achievement for DUT since it speaks to the University’s ENVISION2030 strategy – of improving lives and livelihoods. Innovative curricula and research is also one of the enabling strategic objectives of ENVISION2030. A special thank you is extended to the DUT Council, DUT management, staff, students, alumni and all of our quad-helix partners for their valuable contribution towards this success!