Dear UJ community,
On behalf of the entire UJ executive leadership, I congratulate and welcome all students admitted to this exceptional University. We are delighted to have you as part of the UJ family and the greater community. I must take this moment to remind you that this is a privilege you cannot take for granted because you are one of the few students who were accepted, based on your academic merit and standing, out of more than 600,000 applications. We are delighted you chose UJ and wish you a rewarding academic and living experience with us.
Know your campus, use our various support services
I encourage you to be open to making new friends and getting to know your respective campuses and the various support services that the University offers. We can assure you that we have the right measures in place to make your stay here a fulfilling and memorable experience. For instance, we have a robust ICT infrastructure, a world-class library, and various other support services led by dedicated staff who are always willing to help you. If you have challenges navigating your way through any of the support services, do not hesitate to contact the relevant domains for assistance.
We are also acutely aware that transitioning from school to tertiary education can often be a challenging experience. If, for whatever reason, you feel overwhelmed, do not hesitate to contact our Centre for Psychological Services and Career Development, otherwise known as PsyCaD. We have well-trained and dedicated staff who are on hand to help you – free of charge. For the relevant contacts, including toll-free numbers, visit our website, www.uj.ac.za. You can also interact with our WhatsApp service (087 240 6854) to get more information on a variety of topics, including information on finance matters, bus schedules, lecture timetables etc. Remember that every little thing that matters to you matters to us too.
A seamless leadership transition
To our returning students, we applaud you for your progress so far in your academic journey. Of course, the journey to success continues this year, and we trust that you will remain focused and dedicated as you reach for your academic and life goals. This time last year was a period marked by significant changes in our University’s top leadership. As in any organisation, there is always some trepidation when such changes occur. I am pleased, however, that in keeping with our resolve to reimagine the future, we seamlessly sailed through this transition period. Indeed, change can be scary, but as we have demonstrated in the last year, it can also be a source of great strength.
A growing and futuristic University
To reiterate, not only have we consolidated our Global Excellence and Stature Catalytic Initiative (otherwise known as GES 4.0), but we have also infused societal impact into our teaching, learning and research. In this process, we have also increased our global footprint on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, commonly known as the SDGs. Our improvements across various global university ranking systems affirm this. UJ is now the country’s top producer of research output; in this, we are advancing knowledge linked to benefitting humanity.
We will continue to be at the cutting edge in our teaching, learning, and research approaches. Once again, I would like to thank our staff, students and all of the UJ community stakeholders. Your hard work and excellence are greatly appreciated. Welcome back! I wish you a fulfilling and rewarding new year as we continue to reimagine the future! To watch this message, click here:
Leadership reimagined
On a slightly different note, it was with immense pride that I learnt of the appointment of our University Chancellor, Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, as an Independent non-executive director of Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA), effective from 1 February 2024. This is indeed a fitting and well-deserved appointment for the former Executive Director of UN Women and Deputy President of South Africa, given her substantial contributions to social justice and gender equity.
As the German carmaker aptly put it in their statement, Mlambo-Ngcuka is “a champion of women’s rights, evident through her affiliations with various organisations dedicated to education, social justice, women’s empowerment, and gender equality”. I express my heartfelt congratulations to Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka, and I wish her all the best in this role.
I also congratulate Prof Eesa Fredericks, HoD: Mercantile Law and the Deputy Director of the Research Centre for Private International Law in Emerging Countries (RCPILEC), within the Faculty of Law, on his reappointment to the Governing Council of UNIDROIT, the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law, for the period 2024-2028.
UNIDROIT is an independent intergovernmental organisation that aims to harmonise and coordinate private international law across different jurisdictions. Prof Fredericks’s reappointment is even more exceptional because he is the only representative from Africa elected to serve on the Governing Council. Prof Fredericks, may your next term be filled with even more extraordinary accomplishments.
Félicitations Bafana Bafana
Lastly, please join me in congratulating our senior national football team, Bafana Bafana, for qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals. Bafana defied the odds by defeating the number one ranked African team, Morocco, this past weekend. Halala Bafana Bafana Halala! I wish them all the best in their upcoming fixture against Cape Verde tomorrow.
Ke a leboha, ngiyabonga, thank you, baie dankie!
Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi: Vice-Chancellor and Principal
Times mentioned in this newsletter refer to the South African time zone.
