News & Media
A bright digital future for NEMISA and Unisa
Standing, Dr Mukondeleli Kanakana-Katumba (Deputy ED, CSET), Thilivhali Ramawa (CFO: NEMISA), Prof. Hossana Twinomurinzi (Director: Research@NEMISA and Professor in Unisa’s School of Computing), Prof. Peter Mkhize (CoD: Information Systems), and Dr Tendani Mawela (Principal Researcher: K4I, Unisa, and, seated, Prof. Mandla Makhanya (Principal and VC: Unisa) and Phuti Phukubje (Acting CEO: NEMISA)
Unisa and the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA) concluded an agreement on 13 May 2019 to address the e-skills challenges in the country. The main objective of this memorandum of agreement (MoA) is to promote and guide the development, training, learning, research, and innovation of digital skills.
Through this partnership, the university is expected to implement the NEMISA programme named Knowledge for Innovation Unit (K4i), to create knowledge through world-class research and innovation, and advance postgraduate capacity in the country for three years.
Phuti Phukubje (Acting CEO: NEMISA) and Prof. Mandla Makhanya (Principal and VC: Unisa)
In his speech, the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Unisa, Professor Mandla Makhanya, said the future of Unisa and its functions is contingent primarily on ICT. He also commented on the funding NEMISA increased for the K4i project. “This investment speaks volumes about the organisation’s commitment. With the skills and capabilities NEMISA has and investments the university has been making, we are looking at bringing opportunities and entrepreneurship together,” he said.
Deputy Executive Dean of College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Dr Mukondeleli Kanakana-Katumba, said the journey of innovation through knowledge development is in their heart as a college, to invest in refining digital skills. “It is important that industries and academia work together to develop communities,” she said.
In his capacity as Acting Chief Executive Officer, Phuti Phukubje said that the aim of NEMISA was to lead the digital skills agenda through evidence-based research for decision making around digital skills, as well as to develop and align digital skills teaching and learning initiatives appropriate to the South African context. As part of the global economy, Phukubje believes that “digital” is the way of life and the digital gap in the country needs to be bridged.
Phukubje mentioned that although NEMISA works with nine South African universities, they could not find a more neutral and objective institution than Unisa. In addition, he said Unisa would be leading all nine universities they are partnering with. “We would not be where we are as an institution without the guidance of Unisa. Let us together shape futures in the service of humanity,” he affirmed.
*By Lesego Ravhudzulo
Journalist
Department of Institutional Advancement
Publish date: 2019-05-16 00:00:00.0
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