Project Pegasus takes flight

Project Pegasus (Phambili), a new initiative aimed at ensuring the University's medium- and long-term financial sustainability, was launched earlier this week.

The launch event, which was held at the Bellville Campus, was attended by the Executive Management, union representatives and staff members from various campuses and was also live streamed to the University community.

Prof Driekie Hay-Swemmer, Executive Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, welcomed attendees and said the launch of Project Pegasus was a very important day in the history of the Institution.

"This project symbolises management's commitment to ensuring that CPUT will be sustainable for many decades and for many generations to come."

Vice-Chancellor, Prof Chris Nhlapo, said higher education does not operate in isolation.

"Many of the ongoing challenges faced by South African societies are also sweeping over the higher education community. As we always say, we are a microcosm of society."

He said Project Pegasus was about efficiency initiatives, frugality and tightening the belts.

"As an institution, we are saying every cent matters given the situation that we find ourselves in locally, nationally and globally."

He made a clarion call to the University community to speak out and report wastage, whether it's energy or water wastage as well as abuse of university property like vehicles.

"The future depends on what we do today. We cannot fold our arms when we see the rand becoming weaker, when we see that the economy of the country is ailing."

He said everyone will have to act responsibly to ensure the university's future.

Dr David Phaho, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology Innovation and Partnerships, provided an overview of the project and outlined the case for change.

Phaho said a large part of CPUT's income was spent on human resources while there have also been steep cuts in terms of subsidies to public universities. This is coupled with above average increases in the cost of utilities, along with other factors.

Phaho said the project was approved by ManCom to implement identified and necessary actions to ensure CPUT's financial sustainability in the medium- to long term.

"The top priorities for the project this year include fiscal prudence (doing more with less), entrenching an ethics and compliance culture, improving operational efficiency and effectiveness, improving the operational human capital process, student engagement and leveraging technology enablers."

He emphasised that Project Pegasus was not about reducing the staff headcount but about ensuring that "we achieve more outputs relative to our staff complement".

A question and answer session, facilitated by Dr Garth van Gensen, Director of the Marketing and Communication Department, allowed for audience members to ask questions and make suggestions regarding the project.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.