Prof MS Makhanya (Unisa, Principal and Vice Chancellor)
The College of Education was very honoured that Prof MS Makhanya (Unisa, Principal and Vice Chancellor) graced the launch of the College’s Mentorship programme with his presence. In her welcoming address Mrs F Patel from Unisa Human Resources said: “Prof Dzvimbo is passionate about the good that comes out of a mentorship programme”.She also stressed that not everyone can be a good mentor but that most people find that it works well. Mentors say the experience changed their thinking. The mentees often are more successful in getting their articles published, as they are better prepared when they submit. The experience can cement a friendship where both parties feel it adds value to them. Unisa is fortunate in that top management supports such mentorship programmes in the university.
Prof MS Makhanya addressed the CEDU mentees and mentors next. He reminded them that the young faces of today are the faces of the leaders of tomorrow. Mentorship is not a new concept to humanity and its roots go back a long way and can be traced to Homer’s Odyssey where Telemarchus is developed by his mentors. Everyone has examples and can name a handful of people who had a good impact on them. A mentor is a trusted, experienced person who in a mutually agreed arrangement, agrees to guide a less experienced person to help develop them. This kind of investment of one onto another builds sustainable development for their institutions and it is a very gratifying experience. The process leads to well rounded individuals in society and mentees can become more valuable to their organisation.
Prof KP Dzvimbo (Executive Dean, College of Education) and Prof C Meier (co-ordinator of the mentorship programme)
A mentor is not just an “ATM” that you can draw from, they can assist a mentee to learn to fly independently and achieve true growth. CEDU would like to see healthy collegial academic relationship which creates independence. It is a mutually agreed relationship where a mentee can trust their mentor and the mentor must feel comfortable with sharing their wisdom. It will also be a networking experience as mentees can also tap into mentor’s large networks through this process.
Prof Corinne Meier, who co-ordinates the mentorship programme in the College of Education, presented Prof Dzvimbo with a set of guidelines saved on CD. In her speech she likened the process as mirrored in the words of Benjamin Franklin “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn”. Prof Eleanor Lemmer and Dr Vivien Manyike have been in a mentorship relationship for some time now. They are an excellent example of a very successful partnership and what it can achieve. Prof C Meier challenged all mentor pairs to outdo them in the next few years. Prof VI McKay next presented the various mentorship pairs and handed them each a certificate to confirm their mentoring agreements.
 Dr SL Naidu, Prof FJ Pretorius and Prof MM van Wyk |
 Prof Eleanor Lemmer and Dr Vivian Manyike |
 Mr BA Segoe, Prof VI McKay and Prof JM Dreyer |
 Dr A Dicker and Dr A van Schalkwyk |
 Attendees of the CEDU mentorship programme launch |
 Dr M Gumbo and Prof KP Dzvimbo |
