Dear UJ community,
Universities can only soar to great heights because of individuals working tirelessly to realise the institutional vision. Indeed, our journey to reimagining the future is only possible because many of our staff members continuously push boundaries to make a tangible difference in our students’ journeys and the communities we serve. As the African proverb says, “success is not just about what you accomplish in your life; it’s about what you inspire others to do”.
Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Awards 2024
As the academic year draws to a close, it was that time again on Wednesday evening when we paused to recognise and honour exceptional members of our University Community who have excelled in their various areas of expertise. The Vice-Chancellor’s Awards is an annual event to honour colleagues who excel within their respective areas of expertise and beyond. It has become clear that every year, selecting awardees becomes increasingly more difficult. Just like last year and the year before, the winners recognised merely scratch the surface of the talent and commitment of all our staff! Indeed, UJ is the very personification of excellence at every tier, and your achievements and successes continue to demonstrate this.
The awards recognise excellence in the categories of Most Promising Young Teacher of the Year, Teacher Excellence, Outstanding Researcher of the Year, Innovation of the Year, Book of the Year, Highest Cited Researcher, and Service Beyond the Normal Call of Duty. To see the winners and read more about the awards, click here. Congratulations to all the winners! I look forward to watching your journeys continue to unfold.
Empowering the next generation of finance professionals
As a University, we recognise the importance of strategic partnerships with the public and private sectors if we are to achieve our our objective of innovation for societal impact. I am delighted to announce that UJ, through the Department of Commercial Accounting, has partnered with Risk Insights (RI), an award-winning ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) data provider to empower the next generation of financial professionals who are capable of addressing challenges in ESG in Africa and globally. This partnership seeks to advance knowledge, research, and the practical application of ESG principles, thereby helping empower future leaders and supporting organisations as they strive to meet high ESG standards.
The timing of this partnership could not have been better, given the rising global challenges associated with climate change. The partnership will go beyond teaching theoretical concepts, focusing on equipping students with the practical skills and analytical abilities needed to contribute effectively to the finance sector. I thank Andrey Bogdanov, CEO of Risk Insights, Ms Boitumelo Kuzwayo (HOD: UJ Commercial Accounting), and her team for this exciting partnership.
Launch of the Berkeley Global Science Institute (BGSI) Africa Node
South Africa and other countries on the African continent face the persistent challenges of energy and water supply. As Africa experiences rapid population growth, urbanisation, and increasing resource demands, securing access to clean water and reliable energy has become a critical challenge. At UJ, we are committed to finding meaningful ways to address challenges like these. Last week Friday saw the launch of the Berkeley Global Science Institute (BGSI) Africa Node. This groundbreaking project is set to drive impactful solutions for water and energy challenges across Africa through research and collaboration. Professor Annah Moteetee (Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science) leads this initiative in partnership with the University of California, Berkeley. It was inspiring to have field expertise from the Deputy Minister for Water and Sanitation, Hon. Mahlobo David and Professor Omar Yaghi, founder of BGSI, in keynote addresses. To read more about this, click here.
UJ joins millions around the world in celebrating #GivingTuesday
I am pleased to announce that on 3 December 2024, UJ will join the global GivingTuesday movement, uniting people and organisations to transform communities. This initiative connects us with alumni, donors, and partners who share our vision for societal impact.
Through our Fund Raising Office, we aim to inspire generosity for the Double Our Future Impact campaign, which seeks to raise R20 million in honour of UJ’s 20th anniversary. The funds will support student bursaries, research, sustainable infrastructure, and community projects, driving innovation and addressing socio-economic challenges.
We are proud to partner with corporate sponsors, philanthropic foundations, alumni networks, the UJ Trust, and our academic faculties to maximise impact. Join us in supporting UJ’s GivingTuesday efforts by visiting the relevant platforms.
For more details about the UJGivingTuesday movement, visit our page today by clicking here.
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.
