News & Media
Unisa @ 150: Celebrating a university of hope
Unisa's Midlands Region joined the College of Education (CEDU) in celebrating Unisa’s milestone 150th anniversary on 3 and 4 August 2023 together with stakeholders in Kimberley.
Prof Pine Makoe, Executive Dean, Unisa College of Education, (second from right) with Unisa staff and students
In welcoming the stakeholders, Acting Midlands Regional Director, Danie Langner, highlighted the importance of education as a lifelong learning process, starting from childhood and extending throughout one's career. He emphasised that everyone plays a critical role in shaping the educational journey and careers of individuals, irrespective of the organisations they represent. He urged stakeholders to use the event as an opportunity to share their experiences with the ongoing evolution at Unisa since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
Prof Pine Makoe, Executive Dean, Unisa College of Education (second from right), with Unisa staff and students
Langner acknowledged the recent transition to online examinations and teaching due to the pandemic, and further recognised the plea from some students to return to face-to-face teaching. He also highlighted the need to educate students to interact effectively with study material, as an important skill crucial for successful learning. Lastly, Langner made a plea to stakeholders to contribute to the Vice-Chancellor’s Bursary Fund to assist students in need.
Prof Mpine Makoe, the Executive Dean of CEDU, expressed her appreciation to the community and stakeholders for contributing to Unisa’s 150-year journey as a distance learning institution. Makoe gave a background of Unisa as a university that stood the test of time, with many changes and challenges that occurred and the commitment to open doors to students who wish to enrol and study through Unisa. She referred to Unisa as a university of hope with a "Big Hug". "We are in the era of education digitalisation, and changes should be content-specific as we are in the world of technology," she said.
The Unisa team that visited Boresetse Secondary School in Barkley West
Makoe emphasised the critical role that educators play as agents of change, to help prepare individuals to become the future leaders and professionals. She stressed the importance of practical training for student teachers. She made a plea to the stakeholders from the Department of Education to open doors for teaching students to do practicals in schools and urged them to instil the values that will help the learners to be better individuals in future.
The celebration was coupled with various sessions which included interaction with master’s and doctoral students, and life orientation educators. The team had the opportunity to visit neighbouring schools with the aim of creating awareness about Unisa as an ODeL institution, specifically regarding the qualifications, application process and support services available at Unisa. Lastly, a brunch session presented stakeholders with the opportunity to network and share experiences.
#Unisa150
* By Thotogelo Masenya, Communication and Marketing Officer, Unisa Midlands Region
Publish date: 2023/09/05
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