Dear UJ community,
On behalf of the entire UJ executive leadership, I welcome all students admitted to this great University. We are delighted to have you as part of the UJ family and its greater community. I must take this moment to remind you that this privilege must never be taken for granted. You are only one of the few students who were accepted, based on your academic merit, out of more than 600,000 applications.
UJ celebrates 20 Anniversary
With that said, you join the University in a momentous period when the institution is celebrating its 20th anniversary. UJ was established in 2005 when the Visa University Soweto Campus became part of Rand Afrikaans University. This was part of a broader merger between Rand Afrikaans University and Technikon Witwatersrand. The architects of a restructured and reconfigured university could not have even imagined the type of institution that resulted from this merger. Today, UJ exemplifies how excellence and access are not mutually exclusive in higher education. There are numerous initiatives and events that are planned throughout this year, which will culminate in a grand celebration to honour our achievements and chart the way forward for the next ten years.
World class infrastructure and services
We are delighted that you chose UJ, and we wish you a rewarding academic year and a wonderful student experience with us. I encourage you to be open to making new friends and getting to know your respective campuses and the various sporting, cultural and support services the University offers. We assure you that we have taken the proper measures to make your stay here a fulfilling and memorable experience. For instance, we have a robust ICT infrastructure, a world-class library and laboratories teeming with dedicated staff who are always willing to help you.
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 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 various topics, including finance matters, our bus schedules, lecture timetables, etc. Remember that every little thing that matters to you matters to us, too. If you have challenges navigating through any support services, do not hesitate to contact the relevant domains for assistance.
Reimagining the future together
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 continue towards your academic and career goals. Much like last year and the years before, we will continue to reimagine the future together as we pursue our goals to position this University among the leading institutions of higher learning in South Africa and beyond. As we celebrate the 20th Anniversary of this great University, we also celebrate and express our immense gratitude to our UJ Alumni. Your unwavering support has been instrumental in shaping the University into a centre of excellence. We invite you to join us in celebrating this legacy and investing in its future. Your contributions, whether big or small, make a significant difference in the lives of our students and the broader community. To all our staff members, I would like to thank you for your continued hard work and dedication. As we embark on a new academic year, your efforts in fostering an environment of learning, critical inquiry, innovation and transformation are more vital than ever.
UJ’s Strategic Plan 2035
I would like to take this moment to remind you that this year is also significant as we roll out the UJ’s Strategic Plan 2035, a blueprint to guide this University into the next decade. Building on previous plans that positioned UJ as a leader in developing people and technology appropriate for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Strategic Plan 2035 places emphasis on societal impact and sustainability. It ensures a unique focus on technology and the future and emphasises humanity at every tier. We will continue to be a leading university that offers cutting-edge curricula tailored for the jobs of the future while also ensuring that we make a tangible difference to the world around us. Here’s to a splendid year and a future filled with hope and possibilities!
Ethics Risk Assessment
As part of the University’s commitment to raising its ethics performance, it is important that UJ periodically assesses its ethics opportunities and risks in line with leading governance practices. We conducted an independent Ethics Opportunity and Risk assessment in 2018, and to gain an understanding of the current UJ ethics profile, we will repeat this process. The Ethics Institute has been tasked to conduct the Ethics Opportunity and Risk Assessment, and the process will start in February 2025 and continue into the 2nd quarter of 2025. The results will assist us in managing ethics properly by providing us with the necessary information to establish and maintain an ethical culture in the institution. I would like to encourage everyone to contribute to building an ethical institution by participating in the interviews (when called on to do so) and the survey. More information in relation to the Ethics Opportunity and Risk Assessment can be found here.
Congratulations to UJ alumni.
Lastly, I wish to congratulate two members of our UJ Alumni community for their outstanding achievements recently. Flautist, producer and composer Wouter Kellerman won a third Grammy Award last week, taking home the Best New Age, Ambient or Chant Music category for his album Triveni, which he produced in collaboration with Eru Matsumoto and Chandrika Tandon. The 67th Grammy Awards were held in Los Angeles and hosted by fellow South African comedian Trevor Noah. UJ honoured Kellerman at the Dignitas Alumni Awards last year for his incredible legacy of art and activism.
By the same token, I also congratulate Ms Tshego Gaelae, a UJ LLB graduate, for making history by becoming the first black woman to be crowned Mrs World in Las Vegas, USA, last week. We are just as elated as the 2024 Mrs South Africa for this win. It was wonderful to hear Ms Gaelane allude to her journey at UJ following her crowning. As she said in one interview: “UJ was my first choice because of the access to lecturers and the university’s strong reputation. UJ graduates were highly regarded in my industry, which is why I returned for my postgraduate diploma in Labour Law. The academic programmes here prepare you for the real world.” To read more about this, click here.
Congratulations to them both and we thank them for flying the UJ flag high!
WATCH | UJ 2025: Prof Mpedi’s welcome address to new & returning 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.
