News & Media
Unisa celebrates adult learners’ achievements
Proud certificate recipients, staff members from the Human Resources Department and speakers at the event
On 19 November 2025, Unisa’s Human Resources Department held a ceremony to celebrate adult learners who completed a qualification in the Adult Community Education and Training (ACET) programme at its Muckleneuk Campus. The ceremony, themed "Celebrating Lifelong Learning", was attended by Unisa staff, management and guests to celebrate the importance of continuous learning.
In her opening address, Dr Gwendoline van der Berg, Acting Director: Human Resource Development, offered inspiring words to the graduates, reminding them that their achievement is not the end of the journey but the beginning of an exciting new chapter in their lives. She stated that since the programme's inception in 2016, the pass rate of learners who completed the training has increased from 69% in the first year to 100% in 2024. "This remarkable achievement is worthy of celebration, as it marks a significant milestone in personal and professional growth through education," she said.
From left: Dr Gwendoline van der Berg, Bongani Ndaba, Feresane Sibeko and Gregory Martins
In his keynote address, the newly appointed Executive Director: Human Resources, Bongani Ndaba, reflected on the significance of the ceremony, noting that it represents the immense sacrifices made by the graduates. He emphasised that this milestone merely marked the beginning of the bigger journey, which is pursuing their studies in the field of their choice.
Ndaba applauded the Human Resource Department’s unwavering support in ensuring that opportunities are afforded to individuals who are willing to further their studies and urged the department to continue offering such assistance.
In his closing remarks, Ndaba affirmed that education is not only about qualifications or certificates, but also represents qualities such as commitment to personal growth, improved self-esteem and academic wellness. He also emphasised the importance of information, saying that it is especially important when working at a university that produces knowledge.
Giving words of inspiration, Feresane Sibeko, Executive Director: Facilities Management, expressed his pleasure to be standing in front of his colleagues from Support Services, not just as their Executive Director but also as an advocate for and a firm believer in the power of education. Sibeko extended his sincerest congratulations to all the colleagues receiving their certificates in ACET. "This is a significant accomplishment that truly marks an important milestone in your professional journey," he said.
He continued: "You are the heartbeat of our campus. You are the first to arrive here at work and the last to leave. You transform our campus spaces with your hands and your hearts, sweeping away yesterday’s dust and planting the seeds for tomorrow’s growth. But today, you’ve done something even more powerful: you have invested in yourselves."
In his message of thanks, Gregory Martins, Chief Executive Officer of Career Pathing Solutions, congratulated Unisa on hosting the ACET certification ceremony. He highlighted that it is great to see Unisa walking the talk. He said that the ceremony underscores the unshakeable commitment and perseverance of individuals who embarked on the pursuit of learning, despite the challenges they face.
* By William Thubakgale, Communications Directorate, Department of Institutional Advancement
** Photography by Victor Malatji Communications Directorate, Department of Institutional Advancement
Publish date: 2025-11-27 00:00:00.0
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