Unisa is a member of the European Union Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Southern Africa, and was a sponsor of the organisation’s recent golf day together with partners from various sectors. The event, organised by the French South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FSACCI) and eight bilateral chambers of commerce, was held on 8 October 2024 at the Randpark Club, Johannesburg.

Prof Boitumelo Senokoane, Acting Executive Director, Department of Institutional Advancement, addressing chamber members and golfers

The golf day was an opportunity for 240 golfers and various organisations to network, engage and collaborate. Unisa was represented by Prof Boitumelo Senokoane, Acting Executive Director of the Department of Institutional Advancement, who gave an address of support on behalf of the Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Puleng LenkaBula.

The university’s address at the prize-giving dinner centred around the need to invest in the future of the Unisa student, the institution’s contribution to the academic agenda, as well as research initiatives. It also encouraged organisations to invest their resources in Unisa by collaborating and forming mutually beneficial partnerships with the university.

"It is our great pleasure to once again be part of the annual European Union Chamber of Commerce and Industry golf event," said Senokoane. "This is testament to our commitment to building mutually beneficial partnerships with various public and private sector stakeholders."

He continued: "Unisa is a provider of 12.5% of all degrees conferred in South Africa, with over 60 000 students to graduate by end of this spring graduation ceremonies. This makes Unisa the largest contributor to the country’s human resources development and skills requirements."

Senokoane emphasised that the majority of Unisa students still require some form of financial aid to access and succeed in their studies. "It is imperative to have industry collaborators and partners to invest in the future of our students, some of whom have study debt that threatens the survival of the academic project, and impedes their study progression and graduations."

To date, 67 000 students have benefited from funding at Unisa which is from income sourced from corporate partners. The Unisa Foundation Board of Trustees has thus allocated R13.8m for 2024 to support 3 415 students who are left with one to three modules to complete their studies. For 2025, R47 229 154,13 will be required to fund students.

The hole sponsored by Unisa Foundation and Alumni Relations, and Unisa Enterprise

To accelerate the research agenda of the university, the institution has adopted 10 catalytic niche areas which it hopes will ignite shared interest in advancing Unisa’s academic agenda to better serve humanity. "We are actively seeking corporate partnerships to turn these ideas into reality and continue serving our communities through education," said Senokoane.

He further said that it was crucial for organisations to host Unisa graduates and students during and on completion of their degrees through work-integrated learning programmes. "This serves as an excellent preparation for students to match the world of work and their studies as well as addressing possible skills gaps," he added. 

In closing, Senokoane indicated that Unisa is available and willing to partner to create formidable education legacies for generations to come. "I am therefore committing the university as a skills development partner to the members of the various chambers present and look forward to further engagements."

He also encouraged individuals and organisations to reach out to the Unisa Foundation in order to assist the university’s academic agenda.

* By Busisiwe Mahlangu, Communications Coordinator: Unisa Foundation and Alumni Relations