Unisa online - Pro Vice-Chancellor hosts summit

Various delegates who attended the Summit

The Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mandla Makhanya hosted a PVC Summit themed “Towards a New Institutional and Academic Identity: Revision, Rehabilitation and Rebirth” from the 27th until the 29th of July 2008. The workshop allowed for the participation of members of Management and Extended Management, Dean of the various Colleges, as well as a large group of academics to actively participate in strategic and operational planning within the academic cluster. In Prof Makhanya’s address, he stated that “If we intend unleashing the enormous potential of the University of South Africa, if we are indeed serious about the role that our Institution can and must play in the growth and development of our country and this Continent, then we simply must commit hearts and minds to the project of UNISA’s Institutional and Academic Identity, putting aside our differences and drawing on the huge reservoir of intellectual capital that resides in our institution.”

Role of ICT and innovation within the higher education landscape

Various presentations were also made on Africanisation, Scholarship, Multi- Inter- and Transdisiplinarity as well as the role of ICT and innovation within the higher education landscape. These presentations were complemented by two international speakers, Dr O’Hara and Prof McDougall, who both addressed the importance of establishing curriculums that are built on a rich and relevant context as well as the role of application of theory within the higher education.

The purpose of this initiative, from the Pro Vice-Chancellor is to build an academic offering in which curriculum reform and development continuously take place with due recognition of Africanisation, Scholarship, Multi-Inter- and Transdisiplinarity through the active utilisation of innovation and ICT, thereby creating a competitive edge for UNISA within higher education.

A facilitator during the workshop directs a discussion about “Africanisation”

L-R Prof JC Henning, Director: Library Services listens attentively as Prof Setati speaks during the workshop