History and State of VUT

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State of VUT

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History in VUT

Since its inception firstly as the Vaal Triangle College for Advance Technical Education in 1966, then as Vaal Triangle Technikon (1979 – 2003) and then the Vaal University of Technology in 2004, the universitiy has grown in stature as one of the 23 higher institutions of education dubbed universities in South Africa. Its engineering and technology programmes have international status and are accreditated by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). In the last three years, VUT was honoured with the top two awards of Governance and Financial Management for the higher education sector by auditing firm, PriceWaterHouseCoopers. In the same period, the university embarked on an aggresive build and infrastructure programme to meet the needs of its expanded student population.

A brief look at the past will serve to highlight some significnat developments in the life of this institution.

1966: The Vaal Triangle College of Advanced Eduation opens its doors with Mr CAJ Bornman appointed as the first Principal. The College boasts 189 students, 15 members of staff and hostel accommodation for 60 students.

1967: On 22 Septmeber the official opening takes place, and the Advanced Technical Education Act becomes a reality.

1968: The first Department of Commerce is established at the Vaal Triangle College for Advanced Technical Education.

1971: Mr Bornman resigns as Principal and Dr Isak Steyl is appointed as Director of the Institution.

1972: 11 April is a historic occasion with the receipt of automony for the Vaal Triangle College in accordance with the Advanced Technical Education Act. Projects are instituted to expand all existing facilities.

1973: The College finds it impossible to cope with the unexpected increase in student numbers, and the Department of National Education approves proposed extensions. In the meantime, students are housed in temporary classrooms to accommodate the need for extended facilities.

1974: The Van Wyk de Vries Report, investigating all matters pertaining to technical institutions in South Africa, is published,k resulting in far-reaching changes in the future development of the Vaal Triangle College for Advanced Technical Education.

1975: The Construction of new buildings commences, providing students wiht a new library, gymnasium, laboratories, lecture halls and new wing for the Department of Commerce and Management. The College is thus enable to double its student intake and expand the curriculum.

1977: Expansion of facilities contiues, and in addition, the National Higher Diploma in Analytical Chemistry is offered for the very fist time.

1978: Departments of Art, Food and Clothing Technology are established and student enrolment reaches the 3 000 mark. Staff now totals 137. The findings of the Goode Committee of Inquiry are published and qualifications obtained at the College are

investigated. It is recommended that a fifth year of study be introduced to accommodate the training of technologists.

1979: College are renamed Technikons in accordance with the Advanced Technical Amendment Act. The six-year Hierarchy of Qualifications is approved by the Department of Education.

1980: Auditorium 200 is completed and a whole new dimension is added to the existing facilities.

1981: The Vaal Triangle Technikon continues to expand. An additional hostel opens its doors and hosts 140 more students. Vesco donates a further 22 hectares to the Institution to accommodate the massive building expansions approved by the Department of National Education. Courses in Microbiology and Paramedical Sciences are offered for the first time.

1982: One more hostel is completed, housing another 140 students. The Bureau for Student Affairs is established giving students a much needed voice in the management of their affairs.

1983: Act 84 of 1983 is passed by Parliament, giving Technikon Council greater automony. Post designations of senior staff are changed adn eh title of “Rector” is introduced. The Technikon awards its first Diplomas in Technology.

1984: The first Laureatus students register and during the same year a Department of Educational Technology is established.

1985: Building operations commence at the former School of Management and Applied Sciences.

1986: The Gold Fields Library is completed and finally the Technikon boasts a library which satisfies the needs of existing students and staff.

1987: The Vaal Triangle Technikon establishes a satellite campus at Secunda, offering part-time classes only. Building commences on new facilities at the main campus for the School of Art and Design. Student number reach 6 000.

1994: The Vaal Triangle Technikon establishes a new satellite campus at Klerksdorp, called the Northwest Satellite Campus. The Secunda Satellite Campus commences full-time courses in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and marketing. Approval is given to the Technikon to offer degree courses and the first enrolments are accepted.

1995: The Vaal Triangle Technikon establishes two additional satellite campuses at Upington called the Northern Cape Satellite Campus, and at Kempton Park, called the East Rand Satellite Campus. The Secunda Satellite Campus changes its name to the Highveld Ridge Satellite Campus. The first B.Tech degree is awarded.

1996: The Vaal Triangle Technikon adpots a Transformation Charter compiled in consultation with all stakeholders. The academic structure undergoes further changes. Faculties replace the former schools and directors become deans. The first Masters Degree – M.Tech in Electrical Engineering – is awarded. Tokyo Sexwale is elected as the first Chancellor of the Vaal Triangle Technikon.

1998: The 14627 student mark is reached, reflecting the demographics of the South African society. Black student enrolment rises to 63,4 percent. All disciplines offer degree courses which can be pursued from bachelors to doctorate level. The Gold Fields Foundation’s Administration Manager officially opens the Gold Fields Library’s Electronic Classroom.

1999: The new language policy, with English as the official language, comes into operation. The first Doctorates are awarded in the Faculty of Applied and Computer Sciences and the Faculty of Management Sciences. On 30 April the Vaal Triangle Technikon opens its high-voltage laboatory, making it aleader in the field of electrical engineering, with the capacity to serve the power cable research needs of the entire South Africa.

2001: This year marks the 35th Anniversary of the institution. A Technology Station for Composite Materials is established to assist the composite industry in product development and the use of state-of-the-art technology. Student start broadening their knowledged and skills in the Technology Station activities, thus gaining technological skills and real exposure to industry.

2002: A Department of Technology Plannning and Development is established to spearhead the drive by to make greater use of technology. Our champion athletes Chris Harmse won a gold medal at the African Champions in Tunisia and Mbulaneni Mulaudzi won a gold medal at the Commonwealth games in Manchester. Mbulaeni was the first black South African ever to win a gold medal at these championships and he was also the first South African to win a gold medal in track events. On 6 September the first ever Honorary Doctorate is awarded to Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. Three local schools were adopted. The Choir releases a CD, entitled “The Mighty Sounds of the Eaglets”

2003: During this year, the Desmond Tutu Lecture Series was instituted. The inaugural address was given by Judge Albie Sachs of the Constitutional Court. The second address in the series was presented by Clem Sunter, Chairman of the Anglo American Chairman’s Fund. The academic re-direction of the institution towards becoming a university of technology begins.

2004: Vaal Triangle Technikon officially becomes the “ VAAL UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOlOGY”. The university takes occupation of the old Vista Campus at Sebokeng, renaming it “Educity” in the process. “Where the Eagle Soars”, a pictorial history of the Vaal Triangle Technikon was published. Mathews Phosa, former premier of Mpumalanga and current chairperson of the new UNISA Council, presented the annual Desmon Tutu Lecture. The University publishes it first institutional academic journal “Sediba sa Thuto” to serve as a vehicle for young and new academics and researchers to publish thier work. An Institute of Chemical and Biotechnology is established.

2005: Registrations pass the 17 000 mark for the first timel. Vaal University of Technology forges ahead with the transition from a technikon to a university. An institutional delegation of senior managers visist four leading universities of technology abroad to gain more knowledge of this institutional type. The Department of Technology Planning and Development is renamend Technology Transfer and Innovation, signalling the intention of the university to chart its course as a distinctiv institution in the university of technology mode. A technology summit is held to acquaint staff with the characteristics of a university of technology and to identify the “gap” between a technikon and a university of technology. The institute for Sustainable Livelihood is established in November. Dr Martin Hinoul of the

Katolieke Universtiet, Leuven, Belgium presents the annual Desmond Tutu Lecture Series. On 9 May 2005 Higher Education South Africa replaces the South African Universities Vice-Chancellors Association and the committeed Technikon Principals.

2006: VUT celebrates its 40th anniversary. A new academic structure is introduced to provide for the final transition of VUT from its former technikon structure to a university of technology under the banner: Transformation II – from Technikon to University. The Jansen Commission of Enquiry released its report which led to the termination of eh service of the then Vice-Chancellor, Mr A.T. Mokadi. Prof R.H. duPre was appointed as Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal. The institutional forum was establised as a statutory body within VUT.

2007: Prof I.N. Moutlana was appointed Vice-Chancellor and Principal for five years. Prof G.N. Zide was appointed in June 2007. The HEQC Audit Report was released and considered by council. VUT re-establishes partnership wiht a number of its former patrons, benefactors and sponsors.

2008: Prof Alwyn Louw was appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic in February 2008. First cycle of performance Management evaluations was started with the objective of cascading it down to other levels of employees from 2009. The number of registered students reached 17 304. New Research Awards were introduced. Fifteen Masters Degrees and a D.Tech degrees were conferred. The first Transformation workshop was held in July.

2009: The Executive Director: Technology Transfer and Innovaion appointed to raise VUT’s profile as a University of Technology. A Director for Transformation and Equity was also appointed to ensure the recommendations of the HEQC Audit Report are implemented. VUT achieves second position for the second successisve in the Price-Waterhouse Coopers National Governance Awards.