2006 Annual Report

The year 2006 started with all the main structures, policies and procedures necessary for a merged institution in place. Academic leadership, the Executive, and student leadership all worked towards the enhancement and support of the Vision and Mission of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).

During the course of the year, two important documents were finalised and approved; the Statute of the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the Constitution of the Student Representative Council (SRC). After the merger, the University operated in terms of the Higher Education Act and the Standard Institutional Statute. 2006 saw the culmination of a long consultative process for the Statute of UKZN.

The Statute was approved by the Department of Education and was gazetted. This had significant implications for UKZN. For example, the Statute makes provision for the Composition of Senate. The new Senate is constituted with the main functions of Senate in mind; shows a shift in terms of representation in terms of race and gender; and is more effective and efficient. The SRC Constitution was approved by
Council. The Constitution provides a model for student leadership and
representation in a multi-campus institution.

Mindful of the slow pace of transformation at UKZN and the plight of African staff which has been compounded by a low retention rate, Council strongly supported the proposal to convert African staff employed on two year rolling contracts to permanent positions. This proposal was implemented within the parameters of the existing Employment Equity Policy.