No construction yet at University of Mpumalanga

NELSPRUIT – The University of Mpumalanga is on course to start operations in January 2015, despite construction not having started yet. Dr Blade Nzimande, minister of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), signed a record of intent with premier Mr David Mabuza in March for construction to commence in September.

Although this hasn’t started yet, Mabuza said, during a question-and-answer session in legislature, that it will commence before the end of this year.

The university is to be built on land which belongs to the Lowveld Agricultural College, that is located next to it. Both the college and Siyabuswa College are to be incorporated into the university in 2015.

According to Dr EL van Staden, chief director of academic planning and management support for universities at the DHET, the college was currently under the administration of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Administration. The ruling party made the decision at its conference in Mangaung last year for all agricultural colleges to be brought into the DHET’s fold. FET Colleges have already been incorporated into the national department. President Jacob Zuma announced the university’s name earlier this year.

Van Staden said the college will continue to function as it does now, next year, before its functioning and budget allocation will move to the DHET once the incorporation is announced. The University of the Witwatersrand has also been appointed to manage the development and establishment of the university.

Fields of study will remain agriculture and biodiversity, linking with food security, natural resource management, nature conservation, plant and animal sciences, technology and wildlife management. The difference is that where the diplomas and certificate courses the college currently offer are levels six and five in terms of the national qualifications framework (NQF), adding degree courses and post-graduate qualifications go up to NQF level 10 in the case of doctorates.

The university is expected to offer qualifications up to doctorate level upon its completion in 2024, when it will also accommodate 15 000 students. Initial intake, which is to start next year, is expected to be 140. Degrees in teaching will also be offered at Siyabuswa College.

According to Van Staden, they are currently doing an audit of the instructors. “Some already have master’s degrees,” she said. “We also have a commitment from the university to implement a developmet programme for staff members who don’t meet the minimum requirements.”