03 June 2025 | Story: By: Nontobeko Moimane | Photo: VUT
4 minutes read time.
The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) is ushering in a new era of academic excellence and transformative leadership with the appointment of Dr Mukondeleli Kanakana-Katumba as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning. An accomplished academic, experienced administrator, and proud engineering technologist, Dr Kanakana-Katumba’s journey is as inspiring as the vision she carries for the institution.
Dr Kanakana-Katumba holds an academic background in Industrial Engineering and is professionally registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). Her career spans over a decade in industry and more than 17 years in higher education. Having steadily risen through the ranks from a Consultant; Process Engineer; Quality Engineer, Six Sigma Black Belt; Senior Quality Engineer; Product Manager and Safety Rep; Part-Time Industrial Engineering Lecture; Continuous Improvement Manager / Project Manager; Head of Department and Lecturer; Assistant Dean of Teaching and Learning; Acting Executive Dean Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment; Deputy Dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology and Executive Dean Faculty of Engineering and her new role at VUT marks a significant milestone.
Her passion for education was ignited while working as a project manager at the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC). “I was responsible for capacitating SMMEs through systems improvement training,” she recalls. “Witnessing those businesses grow through knowledge application was incredibly rewarding,” she added. That same passion drives her mission: empowering students and equipping them for industry and life.
As she steps into this pivotal role, Dr Kanakana-Katumba brings with her two bold visions. “I believe Teaching and Learning must be the cornerstone of VUT’s academic project and to position VUT as a collaborative innovation hub that benefits the institution, the wider community, and the country,” she says. Her strategy is clear: produce competent, innovative, and technologically empowered graduates ready to confront societal and industrial challenges.
She is determined to strengthen curriculum relevance through project-based learning, work-integrated education, and the adoption of digital tools. “We want to create inclusive learning environments and foster a culture of lifelong learning,” she affirmed.
This ambition aligns closely with VUT’s 2033+ Strategic Plan, where academic excellence is a primary goal. Under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor Professor Ndlovu,
Dr Kanakana-Katumba is eager to help steer the university toward becoming a transformative academic hub for South Africa and beyond.
Dr Kanakana-Katumba acknowledges the opportunities and challenges ahead in an era defined by technological disruption. “The expansion of digital platforms is reshaping education,” she explained. While innovations like artificial intelligence (AI) promise to enrich learning experiences, they also demand a rethinking of pedagogy, assessments, and academic integrity.
“Our task is to integrate these innovations ethically and inclusively, ensuring no student is left behind,” she mentioned.
Her immediate priorities are developing academic staff capacity to elevate teaching quality, improving student success and retention rates, and embedding educational technologies into the classroom experience. She added that: “We’ll work closely with Teaching and Learning leaders to implement structured development programmes and enhance digital literacy for staff and students.”
Another exciting initiative on her agenda is a comprehensive curriculum review, which aligns academic offerings with industry demands, integrates African epistemologies, and incorporates decolonisation frameworks and multilingualism, ensuring graduates are globally competitive and locally relevant.
Dr Kanakana-Katumba’s leadership philosophy is simple yet profound: “Keep pushing boundaries.” In her words, continuous personal and professional growth is essential in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape. “I believe in challenging the status quo, innovating, and cultivating a culture of lifelong learning.”
A firm believer in the power of collective effort, Dr Kanakana-Katumba intends to foster collaboration across all university sectors. “We’ll create inclusive, transparent platforms where staff, students, alumni, industry, and support units can co-create solutions,” she said. This includes interdisciplinary project teams, industry-sponsored student initiatives, and alums mentorship programmes.
As she embarks on this new chapter, Dr Kanakana-Katumba extends a heartfelt message to the VUT family: “Let’s embrace collective responsibility and transformative action. Each of us, whether academic, student, support staff or external partners, has a vital role in shaping the future of our institution. Together, let’s lead the change we want to see.”
With a track record of visionary leadership and a heart deeply invested in human development, there’s no doubt that Dr Kanakana-Katumba’s tenure promises to be a transformative one for VUT. Welcome to the maVUTi Family Dr Kanana-Katumba.
