Dr Gene Block, UCLA Chancellor

Following the strategic study tour to the Silicon Valley, CA, USA in April by selected Vice-Chancellors from various South African Universities, an initiative by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande, Unisa’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Puleng LenkaBula who was one of the Vice-Chancellors identified to participate in the preceding tour, deemed it pertinent and strategically fitting that she, leads a delegation to two institutions in the US, that is, the University of California, Los Angeles Campus (UCLA) and Stanford University in San Francisco.  The main mission was to translate the theory gained Silicon Valley into praxis with benchmarking as a focal point of the mission. 

The Delegation comprises the Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Puleng LenkaBula, two members of the Unisa Management, that is, the Vice-Principal: ICT, Ms Mathabo Nakene-Mginqi, the Vice-Principal: Operations and Facilities Management, Mr Masiababa Motebele, two Executive Deans (Prof Meahabo Magano  (CAES) and Prof Bheki Mamba ( CSET), 2 members of the Extended Management (Prof Madipoane Masenya and Mr Feresane Sibeko) 2 staff members from the Academic portfolios (Dr Nomcebo Mthombeni and Prof Ana Tsotetsi-Khambule) and 4 staff members from the Support Portfolios ( Mr Tshepo A Neito and Mr Bheki Nxumalo, Ms Rethabile Mphonyo and Ms Rendani Netshiozwi-Neluvhalani).

This 13-member delegation’s mission is to be pivoted on the following key focus areas among others

• The exploration of innovations for multifunctional and recreational facilities(Support Portfolios)
• Institutional Ten (10) Catalytic Niche areas (Academic Portfolios)
• Student Affairs: strategic partnership on student governance and leadership online development programs among others (Support Portfolio and the niche: Student Support and Co-curricular activities). 

On Sunday, 4th December 2022, the team arrived in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Dr Kevan Wilbanks, the Special Assistant to Vice Provost Cindy Fan, UCLA's Senior International Officer responsible for the university's global strategy, international partnerships and engagement, welcomed the Unisa team on Monday, 5th December 2022, leading them to the first meeting venue.

Prof LenkaBula leads a high-profile delegation at the University of California and Stanford University

The first meeting was coordinated by the following UCLA officials: Dr Eric Hoek, Professor, UCLA Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Dr Marilyn Raphael, Director: Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and Dr Kathryn Paul, Director of International Collaborations and the Unisa’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor from the side of Unisa. Discussions and explorations were made on advancing the implementation of the 10 institutional catalytic niches including possibilities of Unisa’s cooperation and collaborations with the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability and NanoSystems as well as the UCLA School of Engineering Materials Science and Engineering Bioengineering. 

The second meeting was coordinated by Dr Bruce Dunn, Dean, UCLA School of Engineering Materials Science and Engineering Bioengineering with Prof Puleng LenkaBula, Unisa’s Vice-Chancellor. The Unisa’s VC asked critical questions in her attempt to situate Unisa within the context of the institutional strategy, and, within the framework of the 10 catalytic niches. Prof Mamba, the Executive of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology made a high-profile presentation about the University of South Africa but also foregrounding the College of Science, Engineering and Technology and its core business. From the interactions, as well as the catalytic niches that are the flagships of the UCLA, the Unisa delegation also spotted possibilities of exploring future collaborations and ventures in the Delegation’s commitment to the enhancement and realization of the catalytic niches.  After the preceding session, part of the Team went for a 30 minutes Campus Tour, while the Team’s representatives from the two Unisa Science campuses, went on a Science tour.

The last stop was the Team’s meeting with the UCLA Management, that is, Chancellor Gene Block. Great insights were gathered from the Team’s engagement with him especially on issues of maintenance, sustainability, food security and commercialization among others. The student-centric orientation of the UCLA was also featured in the conversations. Key to these engagements was the importance of collaboration and that Unisa and UCLA should get into partnerships on issues of mutual interest and cross-subsidization. 

* Submitted by the Office of the VC