The College advocates African and global scholarship, transformation, academic freedom and academic responsibility.
The College's main focus is teaching, research, outreach, national debates and commentary on contemporary issues.
The College's primary objectives include enhancing research and teaching capacity within both faculties, mentoring promising young researchers and scholars, and utilizing world recognized researchers and social scientists.
Specific social issues such as HIV/AIDS, poverty, illiteracy, quality of life, environmental issues and violence continue to inform specific programme areas and partnerships.
As a College in a newly merged university, our immediate focus in 2005 is on building the ethos, structure and governance, quality academic programmes and collaborations globally.
In addition, the College adopts an entrepreneurial approach to generate revenue and sustain academic programme.
Operational Principles
It provides leadership and efficient management of programmes through its governance and delivery structures.
It also offers general and professional qualifications in Humanities or Art, Education, Development & Social Sciences.
The College is an academic home to 50 vibrant research, teaching and learning centres. Centres such as the Centre for Creative Arts(CCA), continue to put arts at the centre of the core business of Humanities. The Centre for Literary Studies (CALS), focuses on developing African studies as a trans-disciplinary programme thus setting UKZN on the path of becoming "Premier University of Scholarship" and the "University of First Choice" in African Studies.
It is imperative that an African University should prioritise African Studies, with CALS as its recognizable "African Face". The Centres objectives will be best realized through interactions with various academic units and schools.