This bulletin recalls the memorable moment in the year 2007 when Unisa officially launched the Unisa Ethiopia Regional Learning Centre. The University looks look back on the many emotional and spectacular moments it has experienced towards reaching the sesquicentennial anniversary.

Prof Puleng LenkaBula

The centre was officially launched in January 2007 by honourary Dr Thabo Mbeki, former President of the Republic of South Africa; honourary Mr Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia;  Prof Barney Pityana, former Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor; Dr Matthews Phosa, former Chairperson of Council of the University of South Africa; and honourary Judge President, Bernard Ngoepe, former Chancellor of the University of South Africa; honourary Minister of Education of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and his team from Ethiopia; and other esteemed members of the diplomatic corps and Unisa colleagues.

In his address, Prof Barney Pityana highlighted the following “The Centre will, of course, be engaged in the deliberate and mundane matters of academic management, administration and development. We shall be registering students for Unisa courses, there is a library and computer facilities, there will be a counselling and advisory service, a Writing Centre to assist students master academic language and writing, marketing and communications, study and lecture facilities and, one hopes, a vibrant student life. By all these means we trust that the Centre will add value to the efforts of the Ethiopian government to extend educational opportunities, as well as to provide the Pan African and international organisations based in Addis Ababa with high level skills and academic development”.