media releases - Acceptance speech by Judge President Bernard Ngoepe

JUDGE PRESIDENT BERNARD M NGOEPE

CHANCELLOR OF UNISA

ACCEPTANCE SPEECH: ACADEMIC OPENING ASSEMBLY

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA

28 June 2010

Towards the beginning of 2009 the University of South Africa launched a seminal institutional publication entitled Five Years transformation 2004 – 2009.  In the Chancellor’s Message in the publication, I said the following:

Back in 2004, in year one of the newly merged Unisa, and as Chancellor-elect I stated: “It is a rare privilege to be able to participate in the closing of one chapter and then share in the opening of a new one, particularly one as vibrant and dynamic as that of the new University of South Africa.”  Unisa remains as innovative, vibrant and dynamic as ever – a university which all of us who are associated with, can be justifiably proud of.

I am pleased to be able to say that those sentiments ring as true today as they did more than five years ago. The progress that was so clearly articulated in the Five Years Transformation publication is so significant as to be more aptly defined as “quite radical transformation.”  It is my belief that what has been achieved by this institution must surely provide an example for emulation by those who are tasked to drive change characterised by innovation, industry and most importantly, sound and ethical governance.

And just as one chapter ended and another began back in 2004, so we find ourselves on another similar threshold now, in 2010.  Not only are we on the brink of a new decade, which from a global socio-economic perspective is bound to be marked by a dedicated focus on issues relating to sustainability. At our own institution, we will be having a change of guard.  Most significantly we will be bidding farewell to our Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Barney Pityana, who has so ably and powerfully led this mega-institution through an extremely complex merger, to become a financially secure and well governed university that is well respected in the higher education domain.  And once again this change of leadership is happening at a time in our history when the role of higher education is under intense scrutiny – not only in terms of its quality and its ability to deliver suitably qualified graduates, but also in terms of its role and function.  This speaks to issues of institutional autonomy and academic freedom, to the role of the intellectual in social discourse, and more fundamentally to the role of education in the socio-economic development of our country.

Clearly, in such a dynamic environment, higher education needs to assert itself as the foremost driver of socio-economic development in our country and to a certain extent, our Continent.  It continues to be regarded as a public good and a facilitator of socio-economic development. Currently though, higher education is faced with serious challenges and difficulties relating to virtually all its aspects; problems such as lack of resources and funding. Indeed, public funding has dropped over the years.  Dynamic leadership is therefore required to tackle these challenges. 

Ladies and gentlemen, I submit that higher education will continue to produce quality graduates because of institutions such as the University of South Africa, because of the dedicated efforts of academics and support staff such as yourselves, and because of the leadership and the executive management and Council of Unisa.  What this means of course, is that the entire university will need to get firmly behind transformation efforts that are aimed at improving Unisa’s academic enterprise - in its totality. There can be no doubt that Unisa’s lion’s share of students in South Africa means that it has a pivotal role to play in socio-economic development; a serious responsibility that speaks not only to our professional integrity as educators, but also to our social responsibility.

It is this understanding of the crucial role of higher education in nation building that informed my decision to accept with humility, the nomination of the Council of the University of South Africa for a second term as Chancellor.  Over and above all my other responsibilities as Chancellor I will continue to be committed to the Unisa Foundation, the Alumni and the annual Chancellor’s Fundraising Ball. Indeed there are many reasons why I consider it a privilege to continue as Chancellor of this University.

It is therefore my honour and pleasure to accept a second post-merger term as Chancellor of the University of South Africa. I thank the Council of Unisa for the confidence that they have shown in me. I look forward to yet another chapter in Unisa’s history that will evidence the same kind of progress over the next five years, that has characterised the first five years of Unisa’s transformation.  I thank you.

ENDS.