Dear UJ community,
It has been a week since our students and academic staff returned to our lecture halls, following a successful registration process for the 2025 Academic Year. It is wonderful to see our campuses full of vibrancy with our students so eager to learn and participate in the various cultural and sporting activities we offer. Everywhere I go across our campuses, I see a spirit of positivity and optimism. This shows just how motivated our students are, as they continue with the journey to shape their future.
2025 Academic Opening
It was particularly gratifying witnessing our first-year students beaming with pride last week Friday, when we hosted them for the 2025 Academic Opening at the Soweto Campus. Seeing the campus being engulfed with such a carnival atmosphere, with students from various residences sharing their war cries, was a wonderful experience. Such was the spectacle that I could not help but wish I could turn back the clock to again savour student life with the type of joy and zest I observe now. The event, coinciding with our ongoing 20th anniversary celebrations of UJ, proved a fitting tribute to the legacy and future ambition of this remarkable Institution. I thank everyone who made sure that the event was such a resounding success, well done colleagues! You can read more about this here.
Students support services
I trust that all our new students are settling in and are familiarising themselves with the various support services available across our campuses. To reiterate, and 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, exam and test rosters, etc.
Additional student supports are rolling out this year with UJ101, a wrap-around support online module, designed for our first-year students that will help them transition into the University environment quicker. Mentors, peer buddies, and tutors are also ready to guide our students on their academic journeys. We will also be launching a survey on student success later this term, for all staff members to offer their reflections on student success at UJ @20.
UJ hosts UNESCO World Radio Day
As a University, we embrace the role of the media as a source of information and in reporting news in an accurate, fair and balanced way. To this end, it was gratifying to see our University, through the Department of Communication and Media in partnership with the SABC, host a seminar to mark UNESCO World Radio Day, yesterday. Hosted under the theme Radio and Climate Change, the event comprised thought leadership sessions on the growing need to pay attention to climate change as it continues to affect the continent. Topics included Radio as a Tool for Social Change, Climate Change: What is happening and what can be done, as well as The Role of Journalism and Radio in facilitating Climate Change Conversations. Congratulations to our Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Prof Kammila Naidoo and her team in the department for hosting such a successful event.
UJ researcher takes home award at U21 Global 3MT
The Research Capacity Development (RCD) Unit at the Postgraduate School, is thrilled to announce that Ms. Mosa Khasu has been awarded the People’s Choice Award at the Universitas 21 Global 3MT competition! This prestigious award recognises PhD candidates’ outstanding ability to communicate complex research in a clear, engaging, and concise way. Researchers from 16 world-leading universities around the globe participated.
Ms Khasu’s award-winning PhD research, Towards a Signature Pedagogy for Playwriting as a Language Teaching Tool in the Primary School, explores how drama texts can be used to introduce primary school children to Sesotho and isiZulu vocabulary related to artificial intelligence. By incorporating playwriting into the classroom, her research demonstrates how storytelling can enhance language learning and engagement.
The panel of judges, comprised of research experts from across the U21 network, praised the winners for their exceptional ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity, passion, and relevance. Congratulations to Ms. Khasu for representing UJ on the global stage, competing against finalists from top universities around the world!
AI and the workplace
Lastly, to read my latest article that I co-wrote with Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, and which appeared in the Daily Maverick yesterday, click here. In it, we explore the risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI). We specifically examine the question of who is responsible for workplace injuries if an employee is injured by a malfunctioning AI system.
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.
