media releases - Unisa Academic Opening Ceremony

The Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of South Africa (Unisa), Professor Mandla Makhanya will address Unisa staff during the official academic opening ceremony of the university on Wednesday, 8 February 2012.

Professor Makhanya will use the 2012 opening ceremony to outline to staff the strategic direction the university will be taking; as well as announcing any changes in the structure and operations of the university.

The university will also use this occasion to announce and present awards to the winners of the Chairperson of Council Awards for Excellence. These awards, instituted in honour of the serving Chairperson of Council, are given annually to deserving staff members in recognition of their excellent performance, accomplishments and achievements.

Seven staff members will be announced as the recipients of the 2012 Chairperson of Council Awards in the following three categories:

• Outstanding contribution to Unisa
• Excellent service to the community
• Excellent overall job performance

Professor Makhanya will also use this occasion to announce the Accelerated Professional Excellence (APEX) initiative, which is aimed at identifying and rewarding meritorious performance. The APEX initiative has been introduced to ensure that the performance expectations that are agreed for employees at Unisa will assist employees to align themselves with Unisa’s social mandate, its institutional identity and its core values of integrity, social justice and fairness, and excellence.

Unisa cordially invites members of the media to the official opening ceremony. The event details are as follows: