Dear UJ community,
Our university continues to set trends across various fields, including those beyond the academic sphere. We have consistently proven ourselves as an institution of great versatility and innovation, including in arts and culture and sports. This attests to our longstanding stature as trailblazers of high repute.
UJ Orange Impact Couture Fashion Show
Wednesday this week was a night of glitz, glamour and splendour for our university as students, staff and special guests gathered for the inaugural UJ Orange Impact Couture Fashion Show. Organised by Human Capital Management and the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA), with generous funding from Strategic Initiatives and Administration, the fashion show brought together key concepts of the new UJ Strategy 2035 to life through wearable garments designed by fashion designers and staff members from participating faculties and support divisions.
Hosted at the Johannesburg Business School (JBS) banqueting hall, the event truly captured the theme ‘Where Strategy Meets Art’ with its decorative elements and high fashion displays. The Couture Fashion Show is one of the catalytic projects approved last year as part of the Global Excellence and Stature 4.0 for Societal Impact initiatives. It showcased garments from recycled and repurposed materials, exemplifying UJ’s commitment to integrity. Its inclusive ethos created a collaborative space for students and staff from diverse backgrounds to cultivate creative engagement and commit to sustainability. I thank everyone who contributed to making this a great success. Well done, colleagues! Click here to read more about this.
First Semester Final Assessments
Last week Thursday marked the beginning of the first semester’s final assessments for our students. Assessments are more than just testing student knowledge; they are more about knowledge application and the development of graduate attributes beyond the university. They are also crucial in measuring the success of study programmes or the curriculum, based on knowledge and skills acquisition. Ultimately, assessments are invaluable in providing actionable data to inform future improvements.
We know that during this assessment period, our students might feel anxious and overwhelmed. I urge you to make full use of the various academic support programmes that our university offers. Please do not hesitate to contact our Centre for Psychological Services and Career Development, otherwise known as PsyCaD, which assists students in various ways. This includes a walk-in service, individual counselling sessions, and a faster emergency response through our 24-hour Crisis Line (082 054 1137). We have well-trained and dedicated staff who are on hand to help you, free of charge. For relevant contacts, including toll-free numbers, visit PsyCaD website.
Honorary Doctorates
Next week on Thursday, 12 June 2025, as our Autumn Graduation ceremonies draw to a close, we will confer an honorary doctorate (honoris causa) upon Ms Margaret Busby, the first black woman editor in the United Kingdom. She is among the exceptional individuals that UJ will confer honorary doctorates upon during its 2025 graduation ceremonies this year. The honorary doctorates recognise distinguished individuals who exemplify UJ’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and societal impact and transformation. Ms Busby’s books laid the basis for challenging dominant narratives around freedom, class, inequality, art, and other aspects of life. For over sixty years, she has remained steadfast in her commitment to publishing work representing Africa’s rich creative and intellectual traditions and diasporas. Without her efforts, we may not have seen many critical and foundational texts, which are now central to university reading lists.
Smart Water Supply and Management
In recent years, our university has embarked on innovative water supply and management methods, due to the frequent supply interruptions in the city. I am pleased to announce that the construction of our new 1.2 million litre reservoir at our Auckland Park Kingsway (APK) Campus is nearly complete. We are now awaiting the commissioning of the piping and truck offloading stations. Once completed, the reservoir will provide a 48-hour supply, ensuring we do not lose a single day of teaching and learning due to water scarcity. This initiative is of our broader programme to enhance water and power resilience. Thank you to our Chief Operations Officer, Dr Mpoti Ralephata, and his incredible Technical and Project Management Teams for their dedication and hard work in making this vision a reality. Well done!
2024/2025 NSTF-South32 Awards
UJ continues to lead from the front in research excellence and innovation, earning a record 19 finalists across 10 highly competitive categories in the prestigious 2024/2025 NSTF-South32 Awards, widely dubbed South Africa’s “Science Oscars.” This national recognition spans groundbreaking work in nanotechnology, quantum science, agriculture, environmental sustainability, public health, water purification, and science communication. These accolades honour pioneering work in nanotechnology, quantum science, agriculture, environmental sustainability, public health, water purification, and science communication. These are all fields where UJ’s influence continues to grow nationally and globally. This further consolidates the University’s position as a research, innovation, and impact-driven science leader in South Africa and beyond. To view the list of UJ finalists, click here. The winners will be announced on 31 July 2025 at a hybrid gala event. I wish our finalists the best of luck!
High Tea with the VC
I wish to thank everyone who attended the High Tea with the VC reading conversation last Friday, when we hosted Dr Boitumelo Phetla for a discussion of her anthology, Peer-to-Peer Youth Mentorship, a collection of essays by university students based in South Africa. The event was part of our Youth Month to celebrate the spirit of youth leadership, student voices, and the power of mentorship. In typical Youth Month spirit, the event proved exciting, with Dr Phetla giving an exhilarating talk about ways that young people can overcome the challenges they face daily. She also fielded probing questions from our visibly impressed and excited students.
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.
