TUT launches smart campus

By: Ofentse Seanego

The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) has launched a Smart Campus as the world moves towards the fourth industrial revolution (4IR).

The Smart Campus is part of the university’s Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW), an ideation hub for global public-private collaboration and invention designed to respond to the requirements of the rapidly-changing world of work brought about by technological advances.

Chairperson of the TUT Council, Tilson Manyoni, said two societal principles guided the IFOW – education as the greatest equaliser in society and that technology is the Future of Work.

“The time has come for a leading Black university to step into the space created by technological advancements and harness the opportunities it presents to benefit society. We are all here to witness it all – A true South African story. We are urging the industry to come on board and be part of the mega initiative at TUT, home to more than 60 000 students, predominately from historically disadvantaged backgrounds,” he said.

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Manyoni added that the Smart Campus would see the existing campuses focusing on a particular aspect of technological advances. At the same time, a new building in the heart of Pretoria will be home to research and innovation.

According to the plan, the campuses will be set up in the following manner:

*Proposed TUT Giyani Campus – Digital Agriculture Centre
*Proposed TUT Sekhukhune Campus – Green Economy Centre
*Ga-Rankuwa Campus – Financial Inclusion (Fintech) Centre
*Soshanguve Campus – 5G Innovation Centre
*eMalahleni Campus – Hydrogen Centre of Excellence
*And Pretoria – The state-of-art TUT Technology Hub

Manyoni added that the strategic objectives of the IFOW are to engage in high-impact research and facilitate industry-funded and directed research in the areas of 4IR and Future of Work. It will also develop 4IR technologies that solve local problems while optimising the use of TUT resources to serve the industry better in the area of 4IR.

“We want to provide an ideational platform for strategic dialogue and thinking on 4IR among different stakeholders in South Africa and internationally. We will also forge strategic relations with the industry and Government to enhance work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities and funding for students,” he said.

Manyoni added that the university wants to influence curricula development endeavours and pedagogical practices to centre 4IR technologies in the university’s instructional offerings while building capacity and capability for 4IR technologies at TUT; and generating new businesses in areas of 4IR technologies.

“As a progressive institution of higher education, TUT aims to contribute innovatively to the socio-economic development of South Africa and Africa. We are going t offer a portfolio of relevant, recognised and career-focused programmes aimed at producing well-rounded graduates who are attuned to the needs of the economy,” he said.

Other key features of IFOW will be driven by:
*Third-stream revenue Innovation
*University entrepreneurial approach
*Public-private partnership model
*New skills and re-skilling
*Fostering student entrepreneurship
*Optimising our talent pool
*Sharing value

Black universities have been struggling with third stream revenue generation compared to the previous white institutions amid dwindling government funding for tertiary institutions. To mitigate that, the university created the Tshwane University of Technology Enterprise Holdings (TUTEH). It is going to be used as a case study to see how best to assist those institutions that are heading in the same direction.

Gauteng Premier David Makhura said the government was fully behind the institution’s direction and its pioneering venture.

“As the Gauteng Government, we are proud of the great work coming from this institution, and we fully support the initiative by the Tshwane University of Technology. This institute is important to all of us, and I must emphasise the significance of partnerships in this regard. I urge business to come on board and support TUT in all measures possible,” Makhura said.