Durban University of Technology

Durban University of Technology
The Durban University of Technology (DUT) is a multi-campus university situated in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was formed in 2002 following the merger of Technikon Natal and ML Sultan Technikon and it was initially known as the Durban Institute of Technology. It has five campuses in Durban, and two in Pietermaritzburg. In 2022, approximately 31 991 students were enrolled to study at DUT. The university is one of five technical institutions on the African continent to offer Doctoral Degrees.
History
The Durban University of Technology is a result of the merger, in April 2002, of two technikons, ML Sultan and Technikon Natal. It was named the Durban Institute of Technology and later became the Durban University of Technology in 2007.
KwaZulu-Natal's Indian population began arriving in the 1860s to primarily work as indentured labourers on the sugar plantations. In 1927, those with no formal educational qualifications were threatened with repatriation. This threat stimulated adult classes in literacy, as well as a range of commercial subjects, held in a mission school and a Hindu Institute, but it was not until after the Second World War, and thanks to substantial financial support from the public, that ML Sultan College came into being. It would be another decade, however, before the City Council, now preoccupied with the structures of the first Group Areas Act of 1950, allocated suitable land for a permanent campus.
The Natal Technical College was founded in 1907 and immediately began providing tuition to more than 350 part-time students. The structures of apartheid as it was codified through legislation weighed heavily on this institution as well. In 1955 the college was taken over by national education authorities; and in 1967 it became an exclusively white institution.
DUT Council
Wiseman Madinane is the Chairperson of the University Council.
Brenda Ntombela is the Deputy Chairperson of the University Council.
The DUT student body elects a Student Representative Council annually.
DUT Campuses
Brickfield Campus, Durban
City Campus, Durban
Indumiso Campus, Pietermaritzburg
ML Sultan Campus, Durban
Ritson Campus, Durban
Riverside Campus, Pietermaritzburg
Steve Biko Campus, Durban
Leadership & Operations
Nonkululeko Nyembezi is the Chancellor of the Durban University of Technology. She is currently the Executive Chairperson of Standard Bank Group and was the former CEO of the Dutch mining group, IchorCoal N.V.
The university employs 841 academic staff, 51 percent of them female and 48 percent holding masters and 43 percent doctoral degrees.
Some of the senior members of the leadership team include:
Thandwa Mthembu, Vice-Chancellor and Principal
Vuyo Mthethwa, Deputy-Vice Chancellor: People & Operations
Fulufhelo Nemavhola, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation & Engagement
Azwitevhelwi Nevhutalu, Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching & Learning
Maditsane Nkonoane, Registrar
Nthanyiseni Dhumazi, Chief Financial Officer
The six faculties include:
Faculty of Accounting & Informatics
Faculty of Applied Sciences
Faculty of Arts & Design
Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Management Sciences
Each Faculty is led by an Executive Dean. The academic ambit of DUT resides under the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching & Learning.
DUT Business School
The Durban University of Technology launched the DUT Business School in 2021. The Business School offers its new Masters of Business Administration (MBA) programme, Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (PDBA) programmes, Higher Certificate programmes and a variety of Executive Education and short learning programmes.
The DUT Business School also designs tailor-made, in-house programmes and collaborates with corporate, public and non-profit organisations to develop and capacitate employees in various areas.
Student enrolment
Whilst the Durban University of Technology offers contact learning, DUT is also a member of COIL, which is the Collaborative Online International Learning consortium.
In 2022, there were 31 991 registered students. This includes under-graduates, Masters and Doctoral/PhD candidates.
Rankings
In 2021, the university was ranked by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for the first time in its history. It ranked within the top 500 universities in the world, and within the top 5 in South Africa. It was also the first time in history that the province had two universities rank within the top 5 in the country. In 2022, DUT remained in the Top 5 of all 26 South African Universities, was the number 1 University of Technology in the country and in the top one third globally.
Notable alumni
The university has a large alumni body. Mr Alan Khan was the first President of the DUT Convocation in 2002. Miss Zama Mncube is the current President of the Convocation and Chairperson of the Convocation Executive. She was also the first women President of the DUT Convocation, after being elected to the position in 2022. Presidents of the DUT Convocation, in chronological order, include:
Mr Alan Khan (2002)
Mr Wiseman Madinane (2008)
Mr Siyabonga Vezi (2016)
Ms Zama Mncube (2022)
The university has a list of famous alumni, including:
Gordon Murray - Engineer and designer, McLaren Automotive and Gordon Murray Automotive
Jeremy Maggs - TV news presenter
Alan Khan - radio presenter
Lance Klusener - cricketer
Nthati Moshesh - actress
Celeste Ntuli - comedienne and actress
Black Coffee (DJ) - DJ, record producer, singer and songwriter
Zakes Bantwini - multi-award-winning singer, record producer and businessman
Sarah Richards - sculptor
Schabir Shaik - businessman
Bongiwe Msomi - South Africa national netball team player
Candice Forword - field hockey forward for the South Africa women's national field hockey team
Billy Nair - politician, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa, an Anti-Apartheid Movement activist and a political prisoner in Robben Island.
Berry Bickle - artist
Zwakele Mncwango - politician, Provincial Leader of KwaZulu-Natal Democratic Alliance (South Africa) (DA)
Babalo Madikizela - politician, Eastern Cape MEC for Public Works since May 2019 and a Member of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature since November 2018, provincial treasurer of the African National Congress (ANC) since October 2017.
Mandisa Mashego - politician, A member of the Economic Freedom Fighters, party's provincial chairperson in Gauteng from 2018 to 2020, Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature from 2014 to 2020.
Honorary Doctorates
Mrs P Naidoo, April 2008
Professor E J da Silva (posthumous), April 2008
Mr A Verster, April 2009
Dr M Hinoul, April 2009
Mr J N Kollapen, April 2009
Mr N Soobben, April 2010
Dr I I Sooliman, September 2010
Mr I G Murray, April 2011
Mr B S Biko (posthumous), April 2011
Mr M L Sultan (posthumous), April 2011
Mr R H L Strachan, April 2011
Professor L Nkosi (posthumous), April 2012
Ms W Y N Luhabe, April 2012
Vice-Admiral J R Mudimu, April 2012
Professor N S Ndebele, April 2012
Mr S Nxasana, September 2012
Ms E Gandhi, September 2012
Mr S G Pretorius, April 2013
Mr J Naidoo, September 2013
Mrs L G Ngcobo, April 2014
Mr S E P Peek, April 2014
Mr S G Govender, April 2014
Mr A H Singh, September 2014
Mr D D B Mkhwanazi, September 2014
Mr Joseph Shabalala, April 2015
Mr Richard Maponya, April 2015
Mr Desmond D’Sa, September 2015
Mr Ahmed Kathrada, April 2016
Mrs G T Serobe, September 2016
Mr Kumi Naidoo, September 2017
Judge Navanethem Pillay, September 2017
Dr A M Mlangeni, April 2018
Ms E N Mahlangu, September 2018
Mr J Clegg, September 2018
Mr S Mchunu, September 2018
Mr W Nzimande, September 2018
Mr B P Vundla, September 2019
Professor Z K G Mda, June 2021
Ms Thembi Mtshali-Jones, July 2022
Professor Salim Abdool Karim, May 2023
References
Education in Durban
Public universities in South Africa
Universities and colleges established in 2002
2002 establishments in South Africa