“VUT opened the 2026 academic year with a decisive State of the University Address, highlighting stability, renewal, innovation and a bold future vision.”
10 February 2026 | Story by: Nontobeko Moimane | Picture by: Peter Masela
4 minutes read time.
The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) officially opened its 2026 academic year with a decisive State of the University Address that reflected institutional renewal, celebrated progress, and set a clear course for performance, accountability and impact as the University approaches its 60th anniversary. This significant occasion took place on 3 February 2026 at a fully packed Desmond Tutu Great Hall.
Welcoming colleagues, partners and stakeholders both in person and via livestream, Programme Director Dr Simphiwe Nelana, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, Commercialisation and Internationalisation, framed the occasion as a moment of collective reflection and renewal. He highlighted VUT’s journey of resilience and evolution, reaffirming the University’s commitment to education, skills development, innovation and societal advancement. “The State of the University Address serves as a moment of collective reflection and renewal, reminding us of our shared responsibility to strengthen governance, partnerships and collaboration as we build a resilient, future-ready institution,” said Dr Nelana, setting the tone for purposeful engagement throughout the programme.
Providing a comprehensive academic overview, the Deputy-Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning, Dr Grace Kanakana-Katumba, presented a synopsis of VUT’s four faculties: Applied and Computer Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Human Sciences, and Management Sciences. She highlighted student enrolments, flagship programmes, research achievements, industry partnerships and community engagement initiatives that demonstrate the University’s growing academic impact. “Our faculties remain the backbone of VUT’s academic project,” said Dr Kanakana-Katumba. “They advance excellence in teaching and learning, drive innovation, strengthen industry relevance and ensure that our graduates are equipped to contribute meaningfully to sustainable socio-economic transformation.”
Delivering the keynote address, Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Khehla Ndlovu reflected candidly on VUT’s transition from institutional fragility to a phase of governed stability, accountability and performance. He emphasised that the academic opening was not symbolic, but a moment of institutional truth. “An academic opening is not ceremonial theatre,” said Prof Ndlovu. “It is a moment of institutional truth, where leadership must account honestly for what was promised, what has been delivered, and what must now be consolidated.”
Over the past year, the University has strengthened governance, financial management and ethical leadership through revised policies, operational risk systems and a functional Ethics Committee. These reforms have supported financial stabilisation, including the adoption of a balanced budget exceeding R2 billion and the implementation of a long-term Financial Sustainability Plan. “VUT has exited a period of institutional fragility and entered a phase of governed stability,” Prof Ndlovu noted. “This did not happen by chance, but through discipline, systems and consequence.”
The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted significant progress in infrastructure development, including campus revitalisation, the reactivation of the Life and Physical Sciences Building, the refurbishment of the Isak Steyl Stadium, the expansion of student accommodation, and the rollout of an Integrated Infrastructure Master Plan. These investments, he said, are essential to student dignity, academic excellence and institutional capacity. He further reaffirmed VUT’s positioning as a hybrid university, embedding flexible and digitally enabled learning as institutional policy, while addressing ongoing investigations with transparency and a firm commitment to accountability and ethical governance.
As part of the programme, the Director of Stakeholder Engagement, Ms Ndumi Lufele, unveiled the new VUT Corporate Blazer, symbolising the University’s evolving identity. The blazer was designed by Ms Rirhandzu Nobunga, a VUT alumna who completed her Advanced Diploma in Fashion Design in 2024, showcasing the University’s commitment to nurturing student talent and innovation.
In his vote of thanks, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Resources and Operations Mr S’celo Mahlalela described the address as a moment of renewal and recommitment to VUT’s purpose and future. He acknowledged the leadership of the Programme Director and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning for setting a values-driven tone for the year ahead. “The State of the University Address reminded us that VUT is more than an institution of learning; it is a community of purpose,” said Mr Mahlalela. “Our progress is shaped not by words alone, but by the collective commitment, discipline and responsibility of our people.”
Adding the student voice, Interim Student Representative Council President Mr Nkosinathi Nkosi welcomed the unveiling of the new academic calendar, describing it as a source of renewed optimism and direction for the student community. He further highlighted the emphasis on student wellness, mental health support and innovative teaching approaches, as well as expanded extracurricular opportunities aimed at fostering a vibrant and inclusive campus life. “The launch of the new VUT blazer adds a fresh, unifying spirit for students and staff alike,” he said. “This framework feels like a launchpad for us all to collaborate, push boundaries and make the most of our university journey.”
As VUT moves into its jubilee year, the 2026 State of the University Address marked a decisive turning point, from recovery to performance, from strategy to execution, and from ambition to lived impact.