Persuaded by the need for further enhancing the internationalisation drive and the place for Unisa in the work of sustainability, resourcing and global impact, the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Unisa, Prof Puleng LenkaBula, is leading a twenty-one member delegation of the university's epistemic communities from the academic, administrative and professional staff to an annual congress of the Times Higher Education (THE) scheduled for 10 to 13 June  2024 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Prof Puleng LenkaBula is leading a twenty-one member delegation of the university's epistemic communities to an annual congress of the Times Higher Education in Bangkok, Thailand.

Unisa's participation in the congress is the realisation or the culmination of the plans that started in 2023-2024 when the relationship between Unisa and THE started and began to solidify. For this reason, Unisa is one of the co-hosts for this important THE conference, focusing on sustainability in the context of the SDGs and the role of universities. 

The congress unfolding under the theme, "Uniting higher education, governments, industry and society for a sustainable future," brought together more than 3,000 global thought leaders and innovators from academia, business industry and civil society worldwide to discuss urgent solutions to sustainability.

Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Puleng LenkaBula prepares to take the stage to engage in a high-level panel discussion on Leadership Reflections: Building Sustainable Futures through Education. Fellow panellists accompany her, from left: John Gill, Moderator; Dawn Freshwater, Vice-Chancellor and Professor at the University of Auckland; Katre Olmez Chief, Operating Officer Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizen; Alan Chan Provost and J.S. Lee Professor of Chinese Culture from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

On 10 June 2024, the registration of members who included the Unisa delegation was followed by pre-conference sessions. The Unisa management team concluded the day with a cocktail dinner, creating a helpful space for the kick onset of negotiations for possible partnerships.

Before officially opening on 12 June 2024, different institutions and organisations set up their stands in the exhibition hall. The Unisa stand was a hit because of its visibility and strategic position at the exhibition hall, which attracted considerable attention from the conference delegates, thereby enabling the university to promote brand Unisa effectively. It is hoped that with its visibility, as well as the delegations' active involvement at the conference and the creation of prospective cooperation with other institutions and entities, Unisa will witness an increase in international collaboration with other universities as well as business entities on the critical issue of the intersection between sustainability, SDG's, governments, industry and society.

The engaging opening remarks by THE's Phil Baty on the need to be optimistic amidst the challenges of sustainability amid environmental degradation were followed by a keynote delivered by Supamas Isarabhakdi, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation in Thailand. They were followed by a high-level panel that included Prof LenkaBula, Alan Chan, the Provost of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Auckland and Katre Olmez, Chief Operating Officer of the Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens. The panel efficiently handled the following theme through the modality of guided questions:

Leadership reflections, building sustainable futures through education

Challenging the conventional thinking on what higher education, governments, businesses and society must do to help society meet the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), LenkaBula pointed out that Unisa is deeply committed to sustainability through its alignment with the UN Global Compact and the annual COP reports. She also stressed the importance of a student-centred approach and appreciating the environmental realities faced by students. 

Immediately after the preceding high-level panel presentation, LenkaBula participated in yet another session, in which she persuasively addressed the topic: "Universities as champions of sustainability: Bridging local and global development initiatives."

LenkaBula affirmed that Unisa's journey is a continuous improvement with an unwavering dedication to societal betterment.

Unisa also hosted another session which addressed the topic: "Universities as champions of sustainability: Bridging local and global development initiatives". Recognising its pivotal role in shaping Africa's future, LenkaBula explained how Unisa has prioritised quality education, addressing inequalities and promoting gender equality through inclusive policies. She also stressed the importance of delivering impactful curriculum transformations, technology-driven teaching and learning methodologies, effective assessment strategies and committing to lifelong learning. 

Unisa is charting new frontiers through internal collaboration between colleges and academic departments, with other universities, and various stakeholders such as the government, the private sector, NGOs, and communities locally and nationally.

LenkaBula affirmed that Unisa's journey is a continuous improvement with an unwavering dedication to societal betterment. "Our successes, recognised through numerous awards and accolades, inspire us to further our impact on Africa's future and the global educational landscape. We look forward to sharing our experiences, learning from global peers, and contributing to the collective efforts towards a sustainable and equitable world at the GSDC 2024," she said.

The Unisa delegation is at work in their contribution towards the success of the journey by exhibiting, participating in panel discussions and forging new relationships during the #GSDcongress2024.

* By Edgar Rathelele, Senior Media Officer, Department of Institutional Development