Front from left: Prof Kobie Kleynhans, Mr Okkie Lombaard, Prof Rita Maré, Ms Masalesa Moipone, Prof Barney Pityana, Prof David Mosoma & Prof Mandla Makhanya
Back: Mr Convy Baloyi


Prof Pityana addressing students

Students listening attentively

Principal addresses new students

Addressing new students at Building 15 on the Sunnyside campus on 8 May 2009, the Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Barney Pityana emphasised that Unisa is a progressive and transforming South African university. "But," he added, "we are also an African university and we want to become the African university of choice. We offer borderless education and respect the intellectual capacity of the continent," he said.

The Principal reminded the capacity crowd that Unisa is an open and distance learning (ODL) university. "We believe that you can study and succeed wherever you are," he affirmed.

The Principal also stated that the university is moving towards simplifying programmes and qualifications, and is committed to ensuring better success and a lower dropout of students. "We want to make sure that students have a better than even chance to succeed in their qualifications," he stressed. "We are developing a tutor programme to alleviate the loneliness of distance study and to ensure that students seek help and don't give up easily."

Prof Pityana noted that it appears that students require greater support and intervention than previously, and so the Sunnyside campus is dedicated to students as a student hub, providing facilities such as counselling, a library and the administrative support that they need.

Finally, the Principal noted that apathy had meant that only one percent of students had voted in the elections for a new SRC. When these elections were declared null and void, Mr Convy Baloyi, the Dean of Students, undertook a programme of consultation across the country with students and other administrative structures. Using the knowledge gained, the new election process will be completed by July and a new SRC will be in place by August.

Students then had the opportunity to address questions and concerns to the Vice-Chancellor and the Management team that accompanied him.