University of Zululand

University of Zululand
Motto Dilligentia Cresco
("By diligence I grow")
Type Public University
Established 1960
Chancellor Sibusiso Ndebele
Vice-Chancellor Ntomb'fikile Mazibuko
Students 6,825
Undergraduates 6,456
Postgraduates 369
Location Mhlathuze, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
Colours Blue, white, black and gold
Nickname Ongoye
Mascot Fish Eagle
Website www.unizulu.ac.za

The University of Zululand (also known as Unizulu) is the only comprehensive tertiary educational institution north of the Tugela River in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Its new status is in accordance with South Africa's National Plan for Higher Education aimed at eradicating inequity and costly duplication. As a result, Unizulu offers career-focused programmes as well as a limited number of relevant university degree courses that have been structured with potential employees and employers in mind.

The university has extended its existing links with a wide array of tertiary educational institutions in the United States and in Europe by establishing partnerships with the University of Mississippi, Radford University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Chicago State University. Unizulu pursues an agenda for scholarly investigation in response to social problems, with community service being systematically integrated into the formal curriculum. The University strives to produce graduates with high-level knowledge and skills and who have been educated for citizenship and for active participation in society. In order to do so effectively, it seeks to cultivate relationships with funding agencies at home and abroad.

History

The University of Zululand was first established in 1960 as the University College of Zululand with only 41 students, 75 percent male and 25 percent female. As a constituent college affiliated to the University of South Africa, it initially catered mainly for the Zulu and Swazi groups.[1]

In 1970 the college was granted University status. Since then the University has continued to expand and has experienced an increased intake of students from other parts of Africa, especially from Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, Nigeria, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

In 1982 the University of Zululand Foundation, administered by a board of Governors, was established to administer the University's fundraising and investment operations.

In 1984 the University Council was granted autonomy with regard to practically all matters relating to the disbursement of the annual subsidy, provision of facilities and the employment of staff.

In 2002 this rural-based institution was declared a comprehensive institution offering both traditional degrees and career-focused programmes.[2] In 2005 the former six Faculties ( Arts; Education; Science & Agriculture; Law, Commerce & Administration; merge to become four Faculties, namely Arts; Commerce, Administration & Law; Education; and Science & Agriculture.

In 2006 the existing Information Technology infrastructure was replaced by a R32,9 million state-of-the art system. And the building of the new student residences for occupancy in 2008 commences.

Controversy

In 2007, the SRC led South African Students Congress introduced new lecture visual aids in lecture halls, however they destroyed some during protests regarding a backlog in student politics.

In 2009 a dispute over the SRC elections between the Inkatha Freedom Party-aligned South African Democratic Students Movement Sadesmo and the ANC-aligned South African Students Congress Sasco a lecture hall was burned down and several buildings were damaged.[3] [4] [5]

Campus

The main Campus is situated in Kwadlangezwa, 19 km south of Empangeni and about 142 km north of Durban off the N2 National Road on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast. Empangeni is the nearest town.

Satellite campuses

While in the past, the university has had satellite campuses throughout the KwaZulu-Natal Province and even further afield. It currently only has a satellite campus, offering mostly certificate and diploma programmes in Richards Bay. It also has a Science Centre, also in Richards Bay, which provides a hands-on science experience to school children from throughout the province.

Ranking

Students

Student enrolment

The University of Zululand is a contact university only, with 8,751 students enrolled in 2007. This total included 8,738 full-time students and 13 part-time students. Of the total, 8,583 were South African citizens, while 75 were from other SADC countries and 93 students from non-SADC countries. Current enrollment is around 15,000 students. .[6]

Campus media

Academic faculties

Programs are offered within four faculties:

Commerce, administration and law

The Faculty comprises six academic departments, viz, Department of Accounting (including Information Technology), Department of Business Management, Department of Economics, Department of Industrial Psychology (incorporating Human Resources Management), Department of Public Administration and Political Science and the Law Departments (Private law, Public law and Criminal & Procedural law). The Faculty participates avidly in community outreach and development programmes.

Education

The faculty consists of six departments, namely, Comparative and Science of Education, Curriculum and Instruction Studies, Educational Planning and Administration, Educational Psychology and Foundations of Education.

Science and agriculture

The Faculty of Science and Agriculture offers various Science Programmes within the departments of Agriculture, Biochemistry and Microbiology, Botany, Chemistry, Computer Science, Consumer Science, Geography and Environmental Studies, Human Movement Sciences, Hydrology, Mathematical Science, Nursing, Physics and Engineering, Science Foundation and Zoology.

Facilities

The university comprises facilities available at the main campus which includes:

Sports and recreation

Sports and Recreation is governed by the Student Services Department which carries out some of the co-curricular services that aim at contributing towards total personal student development and advancement. There are 23 sports codes classified as indoor and outdoor.

Indoor sports include: Aerobics, Basketball, Bodybuilding, Boxing, Chess, Dance, Judo, Karate, Pool, Squash and Table tennis.

Outdoor sports include: Athletics, Cricket, Hiking, Hockey, Netball, Rowing, Rugby, Soccer (Men and women), Softball, Swimming, Tennis and Volleyball.

Organisation

The University of Zululand’s first convocation committee was appointed in 1984 with the late P.C. Luthuli as the first President.

Subsequent Presidents were L.M. Magi, Sisho Maphisa, the late Jethro Ndlovu, Simo Lushaba, Mpho Makwana and Vusi Mahaye.

The current Convocation executive consists of: Bonginkosi Makhathini (President), Godfrey Ntombela (Deputy President), Nomalungelo Gina (Secretary), Gugu-Mapule Mashiteng (Treasurer), Petrus Ngomana (Additional member) and Mondli Ndlela (Additional member).

The first full-time Convocation Officer responsible for operations was appointed in 1998 and the incumbent, Thula Makhathini held the post until 2011. The current Convocation Officer is Sihle Mabaso.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.sarua.org/?q=uni_University%20of%20Zululand University of Zululand Retrieved 31 December 2011
  2. ↑ http://www.sarua.org/?q=uni_University%20of%20Zululand University of Zululand Retrieved 31 December 2011
  3. ↑ "Campus damaged during 'rampage'", iol.co.za, 2009-11-04, retrieved 2009-11-05
  4. ↑ "More cops deployed to trashed varsity", iol.co.za, 2009-11-05, retrieved 2009-11-05
  5. ↑ "Nzimande enters fray after university row", iol.co.za, 2009-11-10, retrieved 2009-11-10
  6. ↑ http://www.sarua.org/?q=uni_University%20of%20Zululand University of Zululand Retrieved 31 December 2011

External links

Coordinates: 28°51′S 31°50′E / 28.850°S 31.833°E / -28.850; 31.833

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