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CUT recognizes the need for an integrated approach to advancing sustainable development as both an organizational and academic commitment informed by its core values of customer service, integrity, diversity, innovation and excellence. Our commitment therefore is to work towards achieving sustainability on our campus in our day-to-day activities, teaching and learning, research, community engagement, operations and student life. We encourage you to learn more about CUT`s commitment to sustainability by reading our Sustainability Policy and other information presented on this site. Please join CUT as we aspire to have sustainable development as a central characteristic of our university.



Vice-Chancellor's Statement

Award

Unesco award handed to
the VC by Prof. Holzbaur

The Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) has decided to implement sustainable development as central to its strategy and everyday operations. This is not something new, but the consequence of our responsibility for the region, the country and the world, as well as our Vision 2020, which is to make CUT an "isle of innovation" that will help to shape the future. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the sense of responsibility to the society and its future will be our guideline in following the principles of sustainable development as stated at the world conference on this subject held in Johannesburg in 2002.

It has been decided to implement sustainability in the university and to convert CUT to a university of sustainable development within the next five years. This is not to be a marketing label, but will change the way of operation, thinking and acting inside and outside the campus.

Within its fields of activity, the following four major areas have been identified in which CUT will be active in fostering socio-economic development and the protection of resources and the environment:

  • Analysing and optimisation of operations and all activities that may have a direct impact on the economic and social life on campus and on the consumption of energy and resources, as well as the environmental quality of the campus. Students and staff will be supported in projects contributing to the creation of a green campus.
  • Optimisation of the direct impact on the community and region, local schools and regional education by the direct interaction of staff and students and by organisational support for local and regional organisations at any level with respect to sustainable development.
  • Education for sustainable development is considered to be the most important potential impact of a university in this regard. Methods and contents of teaching and learning will be reconsidered and where necessary adapted to enable and encourage students/graduates to act in support of sustainable development.
  • There will be engagement in research to support sustainable development. Research activities will be enhanced in fields that are relevant to the impact on a livable future by the university, its students and the community it serves. The knowledge created at CUT will support sustainability by means of publications, knowledge transfer, incubation and projects.

Prof. T Z Mthembu
Vice-Chancellor and Principal