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Think "e", says VC

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Prof Mandla Makhanya, Unisa's Principal and Vice-Chancellor

On 20 February 2019, Unisa hosted a workshop and campus tour to inform Council members about the governance framework and role clarification. The aim of the workshop was to inculcate a sound and informed understanding of the functioning of the higher education legislative and regulatory environment.

Speaking at the event, Unisa’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Mandla Makhanya, said access was meaningless unless it offered a reasonable chance of success. Therefore, the quality assurance of distance education provision and attention to improving retention, pass rates and throughput remained critical.

The VC highlighted the challenges facing young students who come straight from high school to study with Unisa because of lack of access to residential universities. The university, he said, displayed an agility in catering for all diverse communities, in which each constituency required service in a particular manner. "We are the only dedicated and fully-fledged distance education in the country," Makhanya said. "That is why students choose to study with us!"

He stated that Unisa’s mission statement affirmed the unique character of the institution and the role that it plays in society, precisely as the provider of lifelong higher education for all and knowledge creation that is nationally responsive and globally relevant.

Understanding the many challenges facing the university and lending a hand to find solutions, the VC pointed out the investment in and commitment to technology Council has made. Internet access can no longer be viewed as a privilege. He urged Unisans to think "e" and to spell it out in simpler terms for the purpose of change.

According to the VC, transformation is the foundation upon which everything at Unisa is premised. Therefore, the university’s efforts towards curriculum transformation encompassed what is being taught, the relevance thereof and the method used to teach, he noted. It aims to address the interrelated challenges of access with success, the relevance of education and cognitive justice. This is intended to deliver an education that is relevant concerning its knowledge content, the calibre of the graduate and the usefulness of the qualification itself.

In conclusion, the VC said that Unisa was a very complex institution, and it was difficult to keep a finger on the pulse to ensure that everything was operating as it should. He said these kinds of issue required managers who are not only responsible but also accountable. "We cannot afford to fail!"

In his capacity as Deputy Chairperson of Council, Busani Ngcaweni provided an overview of governance within the higher education sector to enlighten the new Council members. He stated that the system of delegation of powers was an important governance mechanism sanctioned by the Higher Education Act under certain circumstances, which ensured that Council and its structures could focus on the strategic aspects of its functions. Moreover, he stressed the importance of following the Council’s Code of Conduct, which is an important governance mechanism that expresses the commitment of members to adhere to high standards of good governance, and which is, in fact, required in terms of the Higher Education Act.

"We must take pride in students who choose Unisa as the institution of choice," he urged. Take care of this place and maintain its integrity. "Let us take the institution forward," he encouraged.

University Registrar Dr Faroon Goolam shared important documents with the audience to shed a light on the governance framework of higher education institutions. The Registrar reminded the audience that the university was serving poor students who can’t afford to go to residential institution. He played a video clip to highlight the complex issue of language and encouraged members of Council to act in good faith when they make decisions. Deputy Registrar, Advocate Joel Baloyi, also threw some light on the overlap between corporate and co-operative governance in the academe.

New faces on Council

Appointed by Council under a broad spectrum of competencies, Dr Dovhani Mamphiswana, Director-General of the Public Service Commission (PSC), hopes to contribute significantly towards good governance of the university, and the quality of its products and qualifications.

Janine Hills, Founder and CEO of Vuma Reputation Management, advocates for education and innovation at all levels within the institution and aims to bridge the communication gap in order for Unisa to grow as a university.

After the significant part of the work was done, Nomsebenzi Ndela, Public Relations Officer from the Department of Institutional Advancement, took members of the Council on a campus tour to view Unisa’s art gallery, the Sunnyside registration site, Despatch and the Muckleneuk Campus Library.

At the Unisa Art Gallery

At the Library

At Despatch

At the Sunnyside Campus

* By Lesego Ravhudzulo, Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement

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Publish date: 2019-03-06 00:00:00.0

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