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Unisa @150: Operations and Facilities Portfolio continues to frame transformative places and spaces
Unisa’s Operations and Facilities Portfolio, under the leadership of its Vice-Principal, Matsiababa Motebele, provides an enabling environment for teaching and learning, and research that is fit for purpose in the service of humanity.
As we celebrate 150 years of our existence, this portfolio has always been the backbone on which modern, vibrant and prominent campuses were created to serve staff, students and the broader community of this august university. Proving a strategic roadmap to meet the changing requirements of the academic agenda and operations in support of the academic project, over the past two years, this portfolio has evolved to bring together services and various activities that continue to focus its operations on student centredness.
Places and spaces for a diverse community
150th celebration programme and Unisa graduations programme
Our mission is to support the academic project, and to play a significant role in framing inclusive and transformative places and spaces (buildings, names, symbols, history, events, and identity) that reflect the livelihoods, aesthetics, aspirations and the vision of the University and its differentiated and diverse community. In line with Unisa’s principles and goals towards environmental sustainability, and more so with Unisa being a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, goals around climate change, the portfolio has shown responsible stewardship of the resources entrusted to it.
When the call was made for departments to submit ideas that would contribute towards making Unisa’s celebrations a success, the portfolio’s Horticulture Section came up with the idea of identifying a rose that would be named and planted across all campuses. Signifying the sesquicentennial celebrations of our august University, the rose was aptly named the Mmabatho Rose. This rose is indicative of Unisa’s age and stature as the mother of all tertiary institutions in South Africa and beyond.
During the sesquicentennial celebrations, the rose was launched in the ZK Matthews Hall in Pretoria in the presence of high-profile dignitaries, esteemed guests and viewers who streamed the event live on YouTube, Microsoft Teams and other media platforms. Providing a full-support service to the university, the portfolio, through the Department: Study Material Production and Delivery (SMPD), provided a high-quality printed programme that captured the milestones of the university’s 150 years of existence. Each graduation programme bore the 150th celebration’s corporate identity – a proud reminder of our institutional excellence.
A portfolio that is on point
Matsiababa Motebele, Vice-Principal: Operations and Facilities
In expressing his observation of his team’s cohesion and service excellence at the launch event, Motebele said: "I saw a team united in driving one agenda: the 150th year celebrations. When I was on stage, I could pick up that the aircon was on point. I could pick up that our programmes from SMPD were on point. I could pick up that security services were on point. I could pick up that the quality of the conferencing venue was outstanding. It felt as if we were at the South African Music Awards or some other gala event. Our facilities were state of the art."
He added: "What came to my mind is that without committed men and women, we would not achieve such great milestones. The other key issue that came up was that there was the threat of possible tension and disruptions, but this too was managed in a professional manner and that for me was very commendable. Having observed that everything is going seamlessly and seeing everyone engaged with each other was one of the greatest successes I have experienced. I am humbled to be able to work with a team that understands their role in supporting the academic project and outcomes."
#Unisa150
* By Mx. Trudy Forbay, Acting Director: Print Production, Department Study Material, Production, and Delivery
Publish date: 2023/08/25
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