Unisa - The African Mirror

Jun

2023

“UNISA must become a truly African University in the service of humanity”

I believe that this occasion is indeed unique because I can think of no event that occurred 150 years ago in our country, in 1873, other than the birth of UNISA, which would be celebrated by all the people of South Africa together. Recently, I came across a Diary entitled ‘What We Did in South Africa in 1873’ by a British citizen, Edmund Byron. Concerning what brought him to South Africa, Mr Byron wrote: ‘For some time past I had been desirous of making a short excursion into the interior of South Africa, partly with a view of seeing something…

Jun

2023

By MAMETLWE SEBEI

UNISA must be purged of corrupt elements if it is to survive

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

THE appointment of the Independent Assessor, Prof Mosia to investigate the state of UNISA following the Ministerial Task Team Report in 2021 was widely hailed as an opportunity to make an objective assessment of the university, the challenges it faces and the changes it needs to make to preserve the integrity of its academic programme, quality assurance and financial sustainability. Nothing could be more disappointing than this report. Independent Assessors Report failed to answer the fundamental question: In what direction is the University travelling under the new VC Prof Lenkabula? The failure of the report to deliver on these expectations…

Feb

2022

By The African Mirror

Reimagining the Futures of Higher Education 2050

EDUCATION

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER IN preparation for the upcoming third UNESCO World Higher Education Conference, the University of the Futures Network (UFN), in partnership with UNESCO is organising a conference hosted by the University of South Africa (UNISA). The aim is to bring together global higher education experts and stakeholders to rethink and reimagine the higher education of the future. The focus of the conference is on the Futures of Higher Education, which is one of the 10 themes that will contribute to the WHEC 2022 theme on “Reinventing Higher Education for a Sustainable Future”. The organisers said: “WHEC is short…

Sep

2021

By The African Mirror

My vision for the University of South Africa

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

PULENG LENKABULA AS the spectre of inauguration into the position of Principal & Vice-Chancellor looms large, with me standing at the precipice as the first female and black female Principal and Vice-Chancellor at the University of South Africa (UNISA) in its147 year history/herstory, I am at once humbled and affirmed. It is an herstorical moment that recalls the words of Michelle Obama, famously recorded in her memoir titled BECOMING, where she laments that on the occasion of the Inauguration of Barack Obama as the first black President of the United States, that “there is no handbook for incoming First Ladies…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Historic first as Unisa appoints black female vice-chancellor

EDUCATION

AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER THE University of South Africa (Unisa) - one of Africa’s biggest tertiary education institutions - has appointed its first female vice chancellor and principal in 148 years. Professor Puleng LenkaBula has been appointed to succeed Professor Mandla Makhanya from January 2021. Unisa announced that the decision to appoint LenkaBula was unanimous and followed a rigorous selection process. The institution said LenkaBula’s appointment was testimony to the transformation project it introduced and drove relentlessly in the university over the years. The appointment also ensured that Unisa’s workforce was alive to and reflective of the demographics of South Africa…