university of kwazulu-natal @ a glance 1

2 university of kwazulu-natal @ a glance

Siyakwamukela eNyuvesi
yaKwaZulu-Natali
Welcome to UKZN

Vision
To be the Premier University of African Scholarship.

Mission
A truly South African university that is academically
excellent, innovative in research, critically engaged
with society and demographically representative;
and is redressing the disadvantages, inequities and
imbalances of the past.

UKZN’s solar car, Hulamin, and team at the Bridgestone

World Solar Challenge finish line in Adelaide, Australia.

university of kwazulu-natal @ a glance 1

UKZN
UKZN is recognised as one of South Africa’s top research-focused
universities. It is one of the largest universities in sub-Saharan Africa,
with five campuses in the two cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg:
Edgewood
Howard College
Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine
Pietermaritzburg
Westville

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university of kwazulu-natal @ a glance 3
Colleges

UKZN is organised on a College model.

The four Colleges are:

The College of Agriculture, Engineering

and Science

The College of Health Sciences

The College of Humanities

The College of Law and Management

Studies.

Public Protector Adv Thuli Madonsela having

her photograph taken with Law students.

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university of kwazulu-natal @ a glance 5
UKZN’s Transformation Charter

The University shall be a place where:

Research, teaching, learning and scholarship are a vocation for all
Race and gender representation is evident in all structures
A socially cohesive and inclusive institutional culture thrives
Good modes of governance are enshrined
The right to freedom of expression is guaranteed
Advancement of the transformation agenda is the responsibility of all.

UKZN boasts the first Black

woman with a PhD in Town
Planning, Dr Hangwelani
Hope Magidimisha.

6 university of kwazulu-natal @ a glance

UKZN international students during a cultural event.

university of kwazulu-natal @ a glance 7

Research

In 2015, funding from the National Research Foundation (NRF) increased

by 24% compared to 2014. The University received approximately
R193 million from the National Research Foundation in 2015 and nearly
R400 million for non-governmental research grants and contracts.

Research Focus Areas

African Indigenous Knowledge HIV/AIDS, TB and Health

Systems Promotion
Agriculture and Food Security Maritime Studies
Biotechnology Social Development and
Energy and Technology for Economic Studies
Sustainable Development Water, Environment and
Gender, Race and Identity Biodiversity
Studies

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In 2016 the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) recognised UKZN’s
achievement of Most Published Output Units in South Africa (1708.61) for 2014, the
third consecutive year the University had attained this distinction.

So if you’re looking for more than just a university, a place where inspiration thrives,
and where academics and students reach new heights every day, then join us at
UKZN.

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InQubate

UKZN’s knowledge- and technology-transfer office, InQubate (UKZN-

IQ), drives the management and commercialisation of the University’s
intellectual property (IP), the growth of student entrepreneurship at the
University, as well as industry-university collaborations.

UKZN-IQ interacts with each of the four Colleges to determine whether

the IP developed within the Colleges is capable of being further
translated into solutions that have direct societal and economic impact.
This could be through the formation of start-up businesses at the
University or licensing of the University’s IP to established businesses.
The Unit aims to provide an alternative revenue generation stream for
the University.

UKZN-IQ’s student entrepreneurship initiative is targeted at stimulating

economic activity and enhancing job creation. Students are given
the opportunity to form start-up businesses within a nurturing
environment at the University, and therefore develop fundamental
entrepreneurial skills.

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UKZN boasts 15 research chairs as part of the South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI).
Of these, seven are women. This is a national intervention aimed at improving research and innovation
capacity at public universities while responding to national social and economic challenges.

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UKZN Research Centres

The African Vision Research Institute (AVRI)

The African Centre for Crop Improvement (ACCI)
The Centre for African Literary Studies
The Centre for Cosmology and Astrophysics
The Centre for Critical Research on Race and Identity
The Centre for Quantum Technologies
The Centre for Smart Materials
The Ujamaa Centre for Contextual Hermeneutics
DST-NRF Centre in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS)

UKZN’s Major HIV and AIDS Research Centres

The Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA)
– a designated DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in HIV Prevention
Health Economics and HIV/AIDS Research Division (HEARD)

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university of kwazulu-natal @ a glance 13
Fact File

UKZN enjoys more than a century of historical academic

advancements. It was formed in 2004 as a result of a merger
between the University of Durban-Westville and the University
of Natal. The merged institution has a total student body of more
than 45 000.

The University was ranked 4th in South Africa and 478th in the world
by the Centre for World University Rankings.

The Academic Ranking of World Universities places UKZN in the

top five universities in Africa and the University is now ranked 47th
according to the ranking of universities in BRICS and emerging
economies by the Times Higher Education rankings.

The University offers approximately 2 000 academic programmes at

both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

UKZN was ranked 435th (4th in South Africa and Africa) in the US
News and World Report Best Global Universities.

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UKZN was also ranked 4th in South Africa and within the category of
400-500 globally by the Academic Ranking of World Universities and
Times Higher Education World.

The Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA),
located on the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine campus, is one
of the largest and most successful research institutes in Africa.

In 2015, the University of KwaZulu-Natal Impi rugby team won the FNB
Varsity Shield Competition for the first time and one of UKZN’s talented
football players, Mr Quincy Ngcobo, played for Golden Arrows Football
Club in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

Vice-Chancellor Dr Albert van Jaarsveld

congratulates UKZN’s Impi rugby team.

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Staff

UKZN employed 3 176 permanent and long-term contract staff in 2015, of

whom 1 363 were academic staff and 1 813, support staff. Women constituted
1 729 (54.44%) of staff. Several women occupy senior leadership positions.

UKZN has developed equity strategies and programmes, including the Equity
Acceleration Programme, a key mechanism for nurturing and developing a
new generation of academics.

UKZN staff pictured at an Onboarding session on the Westville campus.

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 UKZN Celebrates Excellence in Teaching and Learning

Four UKZN academics were awarded Distinguished Teachers’ Awards by the

University Teaching and Learning Office (UTLO).

From left: Dr Suzanne Francis, Professor Albert Modi, Ms Rosemary Quilling and Professor Thabo Msibi.

“ “
The Distinguished Teachers’ programme has helped the University
to grow focus, scholarship and a community of practitioners in
teaching and learning.
– Professor Renuka Vithal, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning

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#TeamUKZN at the 2016 Comrades Marathon

Team UKZN’s staff and students were out in full force to support the ultimate human race,
the Comrades Marathon.

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Academic and Support Staff (2015)
Academic and support staff breakdown
2015

Academic: 1 363
1 363
staff Support: 1 813
1 813
TOTAL: 3 176

Staff by Race (2015)

Race 2015

568
African: 1 236
Coloured: 136
176
1 236 Indian: 1 060
race
Other: 176
White: 568
1 060
136
TOTAL: 3 176

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Students (stats taken on 1 April 2016)
Students registered in 2015

Of the 45 638 students registered in 2015

at UKZN, 948 were postgraduate students.
Women made up 57.88% of the student
body. 19 221 Female: 26 417
students
26 417 Male: 19 221

TOTAL: 45 638

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Student Headcount by College

College 2015
College of Agriculture, Engineering & Science 9 553
College of Health Sciences 6 587
College of Humanities 18 330
College of Law & Management Studies 11 168
Total 45 638

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Composition and Size of the Student Body (2015)

Students by race (2015)

2 154

246

African: 31 420

10 808 Coloured: 1 010

students Indian: 10 808

31 420 Other: 246
1 010 White: 2 154

TOTAL: 45 638

Alternative access programmes cater for learners from socially and

educationally disadvantaged backgrounds; and those who are academically
under-prepared.

The Disability Unit has developed and facilitated a range of services for
special needs students, and 574 disabled students were registered at the
University in 2015.

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Student Funding
In 2015, 80% of funding recipients were African students, of whom 54.25%
were women, and 67.70% undergraduates.

FUNDING RECIPIENTS IN 2015

54.25% 67.70%

A total of R287 million was awarded to students as LOANS administered by the

National Student Financial Aid Scheme of South Africa (NSFAS), including final-
year student funding and UKZN loan funding. An amount of R452 million was
awarded in BURSARIES (sourced from corporate, NSFAS administration, social
responsibility and deceased estate funds); and R139 million in SCHOLARSHIPS
(UKZN, National Research Foundation and deceased estate funds).

LOANS R287 million

BURSARIES R452 million
SCHOLARSHIPS R139 million
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International

The University is a multicultural environment. In 2015, it was home to 3 074

international students from 84 countries. While most full-time students are
from the SADC region and the rest of Africa, UKZN also attracts full-time
students from China, India, Europe, the USA and elsewhere.

The University’s international partnerships with institutions in 39 countries

provide opportunities for global academic exchanges, which enhance both
scholarship and the overall student experience.

UKZN’s major exchange partners are:

1. University of Calgary – Canada
2. Nipissing University – Canada
3. Tampere University of Applied Sciences – Finland
4. University of Erlangen-Nuremberg – Germany
5. Michigan State University – USA

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university of kwazulu-natal @ a glance 25
Alumni
Andrew Birkett
The University has more than
175 000 graduates in 120 countries,
representing one of South Africa’s
largest alumni bodies. UKZN
graduates hold prominent positions
in government, industry, academia,
civil society, the media and the
sporting world.

Zakes Bantwini Oregan Hoskins

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Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng Phyllis Naidoo

Fée Halsted-Berning Dr Blade Nzimande

university of kwazulu-natal @ a glance 27

Business
Lwazi Bam CEO, Deloitte SA
Steven Barnwell Managing Executive, Vodacom KZN
Guy Brazier Regional Leader, Deloitte KwaZulu-Natal
Dumile Cele CEO, Durban Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Justin Chadwick CEO, Citrus Growers’ Association
Shabir Chohan CEO, Albaraka Bank Ltd
Warren Clewlow Chairperson, Barloworld SA
Kuseni Dlamini Former CEO, Old Mutual: SA and Emerging Markets
Keith Fuller Chief Risk Officer, Standard Bank Group: Personal and Business Banking
Lebo Gunguluza Group Chairman, The Gem Group
Phakamani Hadebe CEO, Land Bank
Philip Hourquebie CEO, Ernst & Young
Sol Kerzner International Hotelier
Craig MacKenzie Owner of Java Brands and Founder of Debonairs Pizza
Partner, ICONIQ Capital; Financial Advisor to prominent business icons
Divesh Makan
including Mark Zuckerberg and Lakshmi Mittal
Andrew Makenete Executive Director, Manama Hole Holdings and Ensorox
Former Chairperson, BHP Billiton SA; former Chair of Council, UKZN;
Vincent Maphai
member of the National Planning Commission
Andrew Marshall CEO, Nampak SA
Sipho Maseko Group CEO and Executive Director, Telkom
Sibongiseni Myeni President and CEO, SeniNhle Occupational Health Services (Pty) Ltd
Ben Ngubane Former Chairperson, South African Broadcasting Corporation
Alan Olivier CEO, Grindrod Group
Stephen Saad Group Chief Executive, Aspen Pharmacare Holdings
Abegail Tsautse Managing Director, Tsautse Bayi Inc

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Civil Society
Director of the US-based Panthera organisation’s Leopard
Guy Balme
programme in Africa, formerly Director of Panthera’s lion programme
Yasmin Essop
HoD, Community Safety and Liaison, KwaZulu-Natal
Bacus
Executive Director, African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of
Vasu Gounden
Disputes (ACCORD)
Former parliamentarian, human rights and gender activist,
Pregs Govender
and SA 21 ICON
Winnie Kubayi Director of the Centre for Criminal Justice, KZN
Bulelwa Mbolekwa Chairperson, KZN Blind Society governing board
Fatima Meer (late) Activist, academic and author
Andrew Muir Director, Wilderness Foundation
Kumi Naidoo Former Executive Director, Greenpeace and SA 21 ICON
Phyllis Naidoo
Activist and lawyer
(late)
Rt Rev Michael
Former Anglican bishop
Nuttall
Former Chairperson-rapporteur of the UN working group on
Jeremy Sarkin
enforced or involuntary disappearance
Shoprite Checkers Woman of the Year 2002 and rural community
Beauty Sekete
upliftment campaigner
Imtiaz Sooliman Founder, Gift of the Givers, and SA 21 ICON
Andrew Philip
Conservationist
Zaloumis

university of kwazulu-natal @ a glance 29

Education and Science
Quarraisha Abdool Associate Scientific Director, CAPRISA honorary professor in the
Karim School of Nursing and Public Health, UKZN
Salim Abdool Karim Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research, UKZN
Penelope Andrews President and Dean, New York Law School
Saleem Badat Former Vice-Chancellor, Rhodes University
Ahmed Bawa Vice-Chancellor, Durban University of Technology
Mark Brown Honorary researcher, School of Life Sciences, UKZN
Hoosen Coovadia Member of the National Planning Commission
Cheryl de la Rey Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of Pretoria
Colleen Downs UKZN’s top published female researcher, School of Life Sciences
Professor of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, and
Gill Farrant
SA 21 ICON
Ela Gandhi Activist and former Chancellor, Durban University of Technology
Adam Habib Vice-Chancellor, University of the Witwatersrand
Trevor Letcher Emeritus Professor, School of Chemistry and Physics, UKZN
Former Medical Research Council (SA) President, UKZN’s founding
Malegapuru
Vice-Chancellor and member of the National Planning Commission,
Makgoba
new national Health Ombudsman
Ntombifikile
Former Vice-Chancellor, University of Zululand
Mazibuko
Phumla Mnganga Former Chair, UKZN Council
Ephraim
Former Chancellor, Medical University of South Africa (Medunsa)
Mokgokong
Mamphela First Black woman Vice-Chancellor in South Africa (University of Cape
Ramphele Town), former World Bank Director, and founder of Agang SA
Mvuyo Tom Vice-Chancellor, University of Fort Hare
Johannes van UKZN’s top published researcher and Director, UKZN Research Centre
Staden for Plant Growth and Development

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Government
Shaun Abrahams National Director of Public Prosecutions
Ina Cronje Former KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Finance
Siyabonga Cwele Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services
Zanele Gasa Member of the National Planning Commission
Malusi Gigaba Minister of Home Affairs
Trueman Goba Member of the National Planning Commission
Robert Godsell Member of the National Planning Commission
Pravin Gordhan Minister of Finance
Philip Harrison Member of the National Planning Commission
John Jeffery Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development
Dianne Kohler-
South African politician and former journalist
Barnard
Reginald Lubisi Director-General in the Office of the President
Thembekile
Auditor-General of South Africa
Makwetu
Mduduzi Manana Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training
Ben Martins Former Minister of Energy
Zwelini Mkhize Former Premier of KwaZulu-Natal and (current) UKZN Chancellor
Former Shadow Minister, Water and Environmental Affairs for the
Gareth Morgan
Democratic Alliance
Pakishe Aaron
Minister of Health
Motsoaledi
Blade Nzimande Minister of Higher Education and Training
Joseph Phaahla Deputy Minister of Health
Mohamed Enver
Deputy Minister of Basic Education
Surty

university of kwazulu-natal @ a glance 31

The Judiciary
Selby Baqwa Former Public Prosecutor, South Africa
Trevor Gorven Judge of the High Court, KwaZulu-Natal
Sbu Gule Global, and South Africa, Chairman of Norton Rose Fulbright (legal practice)
Mogoeng Mogoeng Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa
Khayelihle Mthiyane Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal, Department of Justice
Sandile Ngcobo Former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa
Christopher Nicholson Retired KwaZulu-Natal High Court judge
Chiman Patel Former Judge President, KwaZulu-Natal
Navanethem Pillay Former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Leona Theron Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal, Department of Justice
Chancellor, Durban University of Technology; former Judge President,
Vuka Tshabalala
KwaZulu-Natal
Zakeria Mohammed
Retired judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa
Yacoob
Raymond Zondo Judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa

Literature and the Arts

Zakes Bantwini Musician
Fée Halsted-Berning Artist and Ceramicist; founder of Ardmore Ceramics
Christopher Hope Novelist and Poet
Mark Killian Music Writer for the film, Tsotsi
Mazisi Kunene (late) Poet, Writer and Scholar
Lara Logan Chief foreign affairs correspondent, CBS News
Kerishnie Naicker Former Miss SA
Concord Nkabinde Winner of the 2006 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz
Alan Paton (late) Author

32 university of kwazulu-natal @ a glance

Literature and the Arts
Devi Sankaree-
Investigative Journalist and Columnist
Govender
Trish Taylor CEO, Urban Brew Studios
Barbara Trapido Author
John van de Ruit Author

Medical
Sibongiseni Dhlomo MEC for Health, KwaZulu-Natal
Ronald
Former Special Advisor to the Minister of Health
Green-Thompson
Letlape Tebogo
Former Chairperson, South African Medical Association
Kgosietsile
Parliamentarian; eldest daughter of Nobel Peace Prizewinner and former
Albertina Luthuli
ANC president Chief Albert Luthuli
Bongani Mayosi Professor of Medicine, University of Cape Town
Frank Mdlalose First Premier of the renamed KwaZulu-Natal province
Sibusiso Mhlambi Chairman and Managing Director, Icembe Medical (Pty) Ltd
Diliza Mji Medical Surgeon and South African Businessman
Rhulani Clifford Mkasi Former MEC for Health, Mpumalanga
Medical doctor and Chairman of the Board of trustees, ASHA Trust; wife of
Tshepo Motsepe
Cyril Ramophosa and sister of Patrice Motsepe
Ayanda Ntsaluba Group Executive Director, Discovery Limited, and Chair of Council, UKZN
Virendh Somers Cardiologist, Mayo Clinic

university of kwazulu-natal @ a glance 33

Sports
Former professional rugby player (London Irish Rugby Club) and
Richard Bates
Maritzburg Varsity coach
Tommy Bedford Former Springbok Rugby Captain
Andrew Birkett Six-time winner of the Dusi Marathon
Oregan Hoskins President, South African Rugby Union
Former provincial team rugby player who captained the first Natal team
Craig Jamieson
ever to win a Currie Cup (1990)
Paula Newby-Fraser Eight-time Ironman Triathlon World Champion
Skonk Nicholson (late) KZN school rugby icon and coach
Shaun Pollock Former South African national cricket team captain
Jonty Rhodes Former South African Test and One-day International cricketer
Ron Rutland Explorer who cycled through Africa and Europe as the ‘Fat kid on a bike’
Shaun Tomson Former world champion professional surfer
Singles and doubles gold medallist at ICF Masters Canoe Marathon World
Marion Young
Championships

The University is also proud of its

association with the late Steve Biko and
the late Strini Moodley, founders of the
Black Consciousness Movement. Their
studies at the University were cut short
as a result of apartheid.
Strini Moodley Steve Biko

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university of kwazulu-natal @ a glance 35
Community Engagement

The University has committed itself and its resources to the common
good of society. More than 350 outreach strategies are managed by UKZN,
ranging from HIV and AIDS projects, upgrading the skills of science and
mathematics teachers, to food security and community tourism projects.

Pupils from Bonela Secondary were on hand to witness the official launch
of ‘Science4U’, UKZN’s new Mobile Science Lab, which was sponsored by the
Japanese Embassy.

36 university of kwazulu-natal @ a glance

 “ Umuntu umuntu ngabantu
I am because we are
“
Design and layout: Artworks

UKZN Physiotherapy students had Cato Crest kids moving with a fun-filled
educational programme that taught them the importance of exercising and
eating healthily.
 Publications Unit
Corporate Relations Division
Tel: +27 (0)31 260 7958
Private Bag X54001, Durban, 4001, South Africa

Disclaimer:
Information was collected at different times during the compilation of this UKZN @ a Glance publication.
Compiled in April 2016.

www.ukzn.ac.za