Message from the Office of the Vice-Chancellor – Newsletter (2) 4 March 2013

It pleases me to be able to communicate with you yet again on the developments within our university. At our recent Executive Management Committee (EMC) Break-away we had very fruitful and constructive discussions about the current situation and the future of our institution, including consensus around the need to improve communication with the idea of creating a good environment for all to work, teach and learn in. It is to this end that I have started to conduct roadshows with various natural teams in the organization. So far, I have already met with three faculties to share information in an effort to develop a culture of engagement and to promote open and honest discussions amongst us. It is therefore important for me to receive personal feedback from you about the issues that you would like to share with me or bring to my attention to improve our academic and work environment.

As indicated in the previous electronic newsletter, I have set up a confidential email link on the VUT website – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it – which you can use to provide me any feedback that you may wish to bring to my attention.

At the breakaway, the EMC discussed the alignment of strategy, structure, systems, culture (shared values), knowledge and competencies, leadership style and the management of people in order to build a 21^st Century University of Technology.

Amongst the priorities that the EMC identified, which will impact on the university environment, were the following:

• Increase third stream income
• Ensure effective and efficient communication
• Improve registration and examination processes
• Develop an appropriate Campus Development Master Plan
• Institutionalise Transformation and
• Institute effective Governance in all areas of the university (e.g. IT)
• Develop a financial model for the institution
• Revisit the business model to integrate all functions effectively including the resource allocation model
• Finalize the faculty restructuring process
• Revisit the IT infrastructure and services

The Department of Higher Education and Training has approved infrastructure projects for our university for the next three years totaling R235 million. The infrastructure development programme includes expansion of the Engineering facilities, Laboratory facilities, Student Housing and a new Education building and residences.  The first tranche of funds totaling R98, 545 million has already been received to facilitate the necessary arrangements to kick-start the build programme for the next three years.  To extend the impact of the developments, the institution will add a further amount to bring the expenditure to R430 million for the next three years.

Wage negotiations are scheduled to start this week. I wish the team well in their negotiations and trust that the outcome will address institutional needs and the interest of all affected effectively.

There has been much improvement in the general cleanliness and maintenance of the campus. I wish to thank all who are making a contribution in this regard and particularly our service and support staff for their dedication and commitment to ensure that we all enjoy a pleasant environment to work in and for our students to learn. We should all take a cue from this and take personal responsibility for keeping our campus clean and inviting to all our visitors.

On Friday, 1 March 2013, an anonymous email from a gmail account under the pseudonym “morpheme sehloho” has been distributed to many VUT employees. It needs to be re-iterated that management and the trade unions agreed last year that this was not the type of conduct that should be tolerated within our institution. To this end, I met with two representatives of the trade unions to condemn actions of certain individuals who use unethical and illegitimate ways of communication to create an environment of uncertainty, insecurity, disrespect and destroying trust and confidence in the institution.

I believe that by tolerating this kind of callous and careless conduct we are actually degrading our own environment and the ethos of our institution. If there are real issues, facts and substantive concerns, the institution has structures and forums where these can be addressed with dignity and respect. However, half-baked and total untruths, as well as messages designed to sow confusion and dissension should not be tolerated by anyone in this institution. Management is therefore committed to take firm action against anyone who will be found to have engaged in this malpractice.

I trust that we can continue to build on the successes that we see happening in our university as a result of hard work over a long period by all of us. Let us join hands and continue to grow ourselves and our institution.

Best wishes for a productive and profitable week.

Prof Alwyn Louw

Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal

4 March 2013