Unisa online - Innovation the context in which learning thrives

Prof Molamu carrying the Unisa mace Prof Makhanya, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa and Prof Pityana

"What kind of service are we rendering to our stakeholders? Are we growing students who will add value to our economy? Are we developing our skills and qualifications in order to show continuous excellence in academia? Are we providing the kind of service that will engender a sense of pride and belonging in this most wonderful of institutions?" With this series of soul-searching questions from the Chairperson of Council, Dr Matthews Phosa, the academic year got off to a rousing start at the official opening function on 28 January 2009 on the Muckleneuk campus. In his address, Prof Barney Pityana, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, emphasised that the occasion gave staff an opportunity to reflect on the achievements and failures of the university and map a course for the year ahead. "Unisa is an institution dedicated to innovation," he said. "Innovation is driven by experimentation, sometimes trial and error, curiosity and inquisitiveness, and pushing the barriers of the unknown. We believe that that is the context in which learning thrives. Learning takes courage, and discovery means unlocking one’s power to be excited by the new and unusual." Prof Pityana emphasised that 2009 would be the year of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) at Unisa. The Unisa Council has approved the Unisa ODL Policy and Plan, and the ODL Task Team, led by Prof Dele Braimoh, Director of the Institute for Open and Distance Learning (IODL), is hard at work on the implementation of ODL. The establishment of a comprehensive and integrated tutor system will be an exciting feature of this. Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane, delivered the keynote address. She noted that the vision of Unisa to be the African university in the service of humanity resonated with the vision of the city to be an African capital city of excellence that empowered its community to prosper in a safe and healthy environment. Dr Ramokgopa stressed the need to generate knowledge relevant to local social and economic needs. She concluded with a challenge for her listeners: "Look at the silos we are in, look at the solutions we are generating, look at better and more appropriate knowledge needs for our society, our city, our country, our continent, that will enable us to say, indeed, that this is the African century."

The academic opening also served to showcase staff who received Chairperson of Council and Excellence in Tuition Awards. According to Dr Divya Singh, Deputy Registrar and Programme Director, these are people who, by their example, have shown what it is to serve and inspire. "They have made a striving for excellence in all that they do a part of their very own personal ethos."

Chairperson of Council Awards

The Chairperson of Council Awards for Excellence have been instituted in honour of the serving Chairperson of Council. The awards give recognition for the excellent performance, accomplishments and achievements of members of staff. The criteria for nominations are based on

• excellent overall job performance
• outstanding contribution to Unisa
• excellent services to the community
• distinguished leadership
• integrity and impeccable character
• achievement of A rating status by researchers

Front from left: Ms Rosemary Negota, Dr Elsje Cronjé; Ms Annemarie Davis, Ms Dalize van Heerden, Ms Poppie Khoza & Prof Rosalie Finlayson Second row from left: Ms Judith Pollock, Ms Elize Symington, Dr Wendy Ross, Prof Mokgaga Mphahlele & Prof Elmarie Sadler Back row from left: Dr Sam Ngwenya, Prof Coenraad Visser & Mr Vinesh Balmakund

Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane

Dr Matthews Phosa, the Unisa Chairperson of Council, presented the awards to the following members of staff:

• Dr Elsje Cronjé, Department of Psychology, for her excellent service to the community
• Prof Coenraad Visser, Department of Mercantile Law, for his distinguished leadership
• Mr Vinesh Balmakund, Directorate of Student Admissions and Registrations, for his excellent overall job performance
• Ms Judith Pollock, Office of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, for her excellent overall job performance
• Prof Rosalie Finlayson, Department of Human Resources Development, for her excellent overall job performance
• Prof Elmarie Sadler, Department of Auditing, for her distinguished leadership
• Dr Sam Ngwenya, Department of Finance and Risk Management and Banking, for his excellent overall job performance
• Ms Poppie Khoza, Corporate Communication and Marketing, for her excellent overall job performance
• Mr Stanley Nhlapo, Midlands: Learner Support, for his outstanding contribution to Unisa (in absentia)
• Prof Mokgaga Mphahlele, Department of Chemistry, for his excellent overall job performance
• Ms Rosemary Negota, Language Services, for her distinguished leadership

These awards reward excellence in the design and development of study material and give recognition to the time and effort spent in this pursuit. They were presented by Prof Rita Maré, Vice-Principal: Academic and Research, to the following members of staff:

• Ms Annemarie Davis, Department of Business Management in the School of Management Sciences
• Dr Wendy Ross, Department of Art History, Visual Arts and Musicology in the School of Arts, Educations, Languages and Communication
• Ms Elize Symington, Department of Life and Consumer Sciences in the School of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• Ms Dalize van Heerden, School of Computing

The opening ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mandla Makhanya.