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Unisa staff and students support Global Climate Week
Unisa reinforced its commitment to environmental matters and to the principles of the United Nations Global Compact when staff and students joined others around the world in participating in various environmental activities during Global Climate Week.
On 22 September 2009 at the Es’kia Mphahlele Registration Hall, Unisa's Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof N Barney Pityana, supported by other staff members, planted a tree in support of Global Climate Week. Many members of staff also wore their best green attire on the day in support of the cause.
Executive Director for Strategy, Planning and Quality Assurance, Ms Liana Griesel, said there was much symbolism in planting a tree. "The deep-rooted symbolism of trees is apparent in common metaphors such as the 'Tree of Life' and our ancestral heritage depicted in family trees." She said the chosen tree, the Acacia Galphinii, is the perfect tree for Unisa because its distribution is widespread in Africa, it keeps nutritional value throughout the year and it grows in the open. "This is also symbolic of Unisa as an Open Distance Learning institution, where we strive to reach the unreachable through our valued range of products and services." | 
