With more than 34400 students, and approximately 1700 members of staff, the Durban University of Technology (DUT) is a leading university of technology proudly located in the beautiful cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg, along the warm east coast of South Africa. Founded in April 2002 through the historic merger of the former ML Sultan Technikon and Technikon Natal, DUT has evolved into a modern, metropolitan, multi-campus university with roots tracing back to 1907.
Today, DUT is recognised nationally and internationally for its excellence in teaching and learning, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and engagement. A proud member of the International Association of Universities, DUT continues to expand its influence across South Africa and the world. In the 2025 Webometrics Rankings, DUT was ranked among the Top 6% of all universities and colleges worldwide, reflecting its academic excellence, research impact and strong global visibility.
DUT’s Philosophy of Education, “Our creativity and innovation shapes adaptive graduates who transform society” reflects the institution’s deep commitment to meaningful impact for societal transformation. Guided by its inspirational and aspirational ENVISION2030 strategy, which is rooted in DUT’s DNA of being ‘people-centred and engaged’ and ‘innovative and entrepreneurial’ and underpinned by its bespoke Living Values Framework, DUT focuses on ‘contributing to the improving lives and livelihoods’.
The University comprises six diverse Faculties:
- Accounting and Informatics
- Applied Sciences
- Arts & Design
- Engineering and the Built Environment
- Health Sciences
- Management Sciences
DUT also includes a Business School and the award-winning Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology (IWWT), amongst other research centres and institutes, reinforcing its role as a hub for knowledge, innovation and societal impact. DUT is deeply engaged with its community and regional ecosystem, while remaining globally connected and relevant.
At DUT, we believe in nurturing talent and empowering people to make a real difference. If you are passionate about contributing to education, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and engagement, DUT offers the ideal environment - Creative. Distinctive. Impactful.
Executive Deans are senior officers of the University and report to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning). In line with the University’s vision and overall objectives, Executive Deans are expected to determine, articulate, implement and lead faculty-based strategic initiatives to enhance the faculty’s academic stature, reputation and performance in teaching/learning, research, innovation and engagement. Key traits of Executive Deans include inspirational, innovative and enterprising academic leadership. It is expected that the Executive Deans will strengthen the faculties’ service ethic to students and its staff and build its engagement with industry, communities and government. As administrators, the Executive Deans are responsible for the academic integrity, administrative management, financial management, human resources and strategic transformational leadership of the faculty.
In summary, the Executive Dean for the Faculty strategically manages the following divisions: -
- Nursing
- Radiography
- Chiropractic
- Emergency Medical Care and Rescue
- Homoeopathy
- Dental Sciences
- Somatology
- Faculty Office
- Community Health Sciences
- Basic Medical Sciences
- Medical Orthotics and Prosthetics
- Biomedical Sciences and Clinical Technology
Minimum Requirements
- A Doctorate in appropriate discipline with a strong research profile that demonstrates leadership.
- A strong record of initiating and managing collaborations and partnerships at local, regional and international levels.
- Proven record of being a respected senior academic leader.
- At least ten (10) years’ work experience in the higher education environment of which five (5) years should have been in a senior academic management capacity.
- Sound knowledge of higher education and the higher education system in South Africa and internationally.
- Relevant higher education leadership and managerial skills.
Key Responsibility Areas
- Develops, research, designs, and reviews faculty and, where appropriate, institutional policies, procedures, plans and systems as required in line with relevant legislation, national standards and international best practices.
- Provides leadership in the formulation and monitoring of faculty-related policies and goals.
- As part of the Institute's academic leadership team, provides input to regional, national and international academic initiatives where appropriate.
- As structural and functional head of the faculty, oversees and monitors the effective implementation of institutional and faculty policies, procedures, plans and systems within the faculty.
- Provides specific, high-level, legally compliant strategic advice on faculty-related academic matters to the DVC: Teaching and Learning and Executive Management as may be required.
- Manages appeals and complaints from students, parents, and employers.
- Manages staff appeals, complaints, grievances, and conducts disciplinary enquiries as appropriate.
- Promotes equity and transformation within the faculty.
- Promotes congenial working relationships between staff in the faculty and with other academic and administrative departments.
- Manages the Faculty office by delegating specific responsibilities to Deputy Dean, e.g. registration, record keeping and qualification procedures.
- Designs, sets up, and monitors effective control systems to promote the smooth and efficient functioning of the faculty, e.g. initiates, promotes and implements new/alternative procedures to enhance academic administration efficiency.
- Embeds ‘stewardship’ in the University’s people who shall live its values and principles and demonstrate an institutional culture that supports the vision and strategy of the University.
- Innovates and implements ‘systems and processes’ that optimize productivity, efficiency, effectiveness and exceptional performance at all levels.
- Assures acceptable levels of ‘sustainability’ in all the areas under management.
- Focuses on the ultimate goal of and impactful DUT that ‘contributes towards the improvement of lives and livelihoods’ of the broader ‘society’.
In pursuance of ENVISION2030, the ideal incumbent:
- Epitomises and demonstrates values- and principles-driven leadership and management, our DNA and The DUT Way.
- Fosters visionary and transformative leadership that is efficient, effective and impactful not only internally, but in our broader society nationally and internationally.
- Embeds systems thinking and management in the implementation of plans and projects, while ensuring
- Takes leadership in ensuring that our education philosophy statement: our innovation and entrepreneurship shapes adaptive graduates that transform society’ is not only enacted across DUT, but is a lived experience among, primarily, academics and students.
- Is creative and innovative, deliberative and decisive, and is a leader, a strategist and a manager.
- Is a seasoned academic leader with a proven record of academic excellence.