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Unisa hosts THE to a network session: A showcase of world-class partnership

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On 20 September 2023, Unisa hosted the Times Higher Education's (THE) University Impact Forum, a pre-forum networking dinner focusing on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 - quality education, at Protea Hotel, Menlyn, Pretoria.

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Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Puleng LenkaBula

In her opening address, the Principal and Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Unisa, Prof Puleng LenkaBula, thanked the distinguished guests, comprised of Unisa council and management members, various representatives of universities in South Africa, Africa and those outside the continent. "I welcome you to Unisa, which turned 150 years on 26 June 2023. We are a university committed to understanding our mandate in transforming societies and to be impactful in the development aspirations of our society," she said.

The VC said to THE: "We hope that this collaboration will be an enriching encounter that helps us to understand that whilst the Sustainable Development Goals are central as rallying points to transforming societies globally, our aspirations in the Global South, whether the National Development Plan in South Africa or Agenda 2063 are equally significant."

LenkaBula stressed that we should work together to ensure that the aspirations of the Global South are impactful and supported by the various knowledge systems and the diverse aspirations of the world. She added that there is still a lot of hope for education in Africa, and THE is committed to making this manifest. She stressed: "We hope  this collaboration will help us think of our students not as clients, but as individuals whose talents we can optimise and harness their potential and turn them into citizens who contribute significantly to society."


An indelible mark on the education landscape

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Dr Bhavit Mehta, Times Higher Education's Senior Content Manager

"It is an honour to be hosted by Unisa on developing and enhancing quality education in Africa," said Dr Bhavit Mehta, THE's Senior Content Manager.

"As we converge here, we acknowledge the immense responsibilities that rest on our shoulders with the decisions we make, the research and the ideas we exchange, that shape the future of education not just in South Africa, but across the globe," Mehta said - further explaining that the SDG4 is a passport to individual growth and prosperity. "Through collaborative efforts, we enrich lives, break barriers and unlock potentials that lie with every individual," he added.

Mehta said THE champions all SDGs, particularly SDG 4, through their flagship event called the Global Sustainability Development Congress and extended the invitation to all attendees to the flagship event, which, he said, will be hosted in Bangkok in May 2024.

"We at THE embrace this opportunity to learn and challenge each other and to discover new paths towards excellence in education. We value languages and voices worldwide, both Global North and South," he said.

"It has been an absolute pleasure to work closely with Unisa in putting together this thought-provoking agenda whose aspiration is that the ideas generated at the main event, taking place on 21 September 2023, themed Developing and Enhancing Quality Education in Africa, will resonate far beyond the walls of the university's campuses, to inspire future generations and leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of education," Mehta concluded.

Delegates spent the evening enjoying networking opportunities and anticipating the main event, which promises influential speakers who will address significant discussions about developing higher education in Africa.

#Unisa150

* By Godfrey Madibane, Acting Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement

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Publish date: 2023-09-21 00:00:00.0

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