The University of Zululand (also known as Unizulu) has been designated
to serve as the only comprehensive tertiary educational institution
north of the uThukela River in KwaZulu-Natal. 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 and courses that have
been structured with potential employees and employers in mind.
Partnership with local and global communities
In order to ensure that it remains in touch with national and
international trends and practices, the University of Zululand
is determined to maintain and augment its network of links with
peers and partners that include business, industry and government
institutions - on the home front, but also in Africa and further
abroad. For this reason it 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.
Education for informed learning and development
As a change agent, the University of Zululand believes that education
must serve to hone critical skills to the point of discipline
and habit, which is a requirement in the acquisition of an intellectual
capacity that is directed at understanding and achievement. Unizulu
believes that the ultimate goal of education is not simply learning,
but informed learning that leads to positive action.
The University of Zululand's approach
In becoming a comprehensive university that offers a mix of university
courses and career-focused programmes that cater simultaneously
for the needs of industrial stakeholders and the rural community,
the University of Zululand believes in combining the best features
of 'entrepreneurial' and 'alternative' education. This will enable
it to carry out the redistributive and reconstructive development
functions of Higher Education in the RSA. As an 'entrepreneurial
university', the University of Zululand will strive to develop
a more entrepreneurial and outward-looking culture in order to
take advantage of opportunities ? particularly in the business/industrial
sector. It will also strive to expand its academic activities
in the fields of research, teaching and community service in order
to develop the capacity to generate more income and to develop
niche areas. In doing so, it will broaden access for youth as
well as adults, while emphasizing management and leadership, rather
than mere administration - thereby enabling the institution to
become more businesslike.
The University of Zululand (also known as Unizulu) has been designated
to serve as the only comprehensive tertiary educational institution
north of the uThukela River in KwaZulu-Natal. 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.
Academic facilities
On the academic front the University of Zululand offers excellent
facilities for a wide range of studies within the faculties of:
* Arts
* Commerce, Administration and Law
* Education, and in
* Science and Agriculture
A wide range of departments within these four faculties offer
numerous outcomes-based academic programmes in a modular system
aimed at preparing students for a professional qualification and
eventual employment. Monitored by ongoing assessment, adherence
to a coherent qualifications framework leads to higher levels
of articulation and transfer between different higher educational
institutions.
Quality Promotion
The University of Zululand?s Quality Promotion Unit is aimed at
promoting quality in the institution by means of practical support,
advice and policy development. In accordance with the requirements
and recommendations of the Higher Education Quality Committee,
the emphasis is on improving teaching and learning which, together
with research, form the primary focus of external quality.
Facilities for learning and leisure
Facilities in aid of learning include the Academic Literacy Unit,
a Computer Supported Education Unit (with the Hewlett-Packard
Computer Academy rated among the best in the country), and a Personal
Computer Support Facility. The Centre for Guidance and Counselling
assists students in all aspects of university life while a Sport
and Recreation section offers some 17 codes of sport and leisure.
A wide range of student societies stimulate interest in areas
that include academic, cultural and religious needs. The Cecil
Renaud Extramural Division on the main campus offers after-hours
classes, while there are also other extramural teaching facilities
in numerous centres, including Richards Bay, Ulundi, Vryheid,
Mkhuze and Piet Retief, which bring the University closer to students'
doorsteps.
The University of Zululand Foundation
The University of Zululand Foundation was created to act as a
catalyst to add value to the human capital represented by students,
benefactors and other stakeholders. Together, these equal partners
for progress pursue the university's quest for excellence. The
main task of the University of Zululand Foundation is to raise
and invest funds in support of a wide array of projects, with
emphasis on community service.
Fact Sheet on Richards Bay Campus
• A total of 689 jobs have been created in Phase 1 since the start
of the contract.
• It is estimated that 800 jobs would be created in Phase 2 portion
of the development.
• The local economy has certainly benefited from this contract
in that 84% of all of the work force have been people from local
area and 61 % of all of the sub-contractors employed are locals.
• Grinaker-LTA/Met Builders have maintained a 100% safety record
in winning the MBA Regional and National Health and Safety competition
on this contract. There were NO Lost Time Injuries on this site
since its start in January 2009.
• The project maintained an excellent Environmental Management
Plan requirement and achieved a high standard of job creation.
Richards Bay campus project has developed the skills in the area
and met BEE target set by the client.
• Phase 1 of the project is estimated at R100 million.
• Phase 1 building in total will have lecture seating for 1 050
students as well as an additional 250 computer stations. The building
will accommodate 45 academic staff and 10 administrative personnel.
• Phase 1 building will house business and management courses
and Human Movement Science component will be housed on the first
floor.
• Phase 2 of the project would cost R300 million after its completion.
• The Phase 2 building shall house science & technology, engineering,
instrumentation to enable learners and students to take advantage
programmes that fits with a knowledge economy.
Prospective Students