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Upbeat reaction to historic academic opening

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On 10 February 2023, exuberant Unisans gathered at the university’s Muckleneuk Campus in Pretoria, while others joined the prestigious official opening ceremony of the 2023 academic year online to reflect on the 2022 highlights and positively envision the year that will be.

Our corporate publications team spoke to attendees after the event. Here is what they said:

Prof Edith Phaswana from the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs (left):
Today we are opening the academic year officially The leadership has selected a very powerful theme, Reclaiming Afrika’s Intellectual Futures, with which they are marshalling the whole university. Africa’s Intellectual futures are important in terms of the research that we are going to do, the teaching and learning, community engagements and internationalisation endeavours. We want Unisa to take its rightful place as an African university shaping futures in the service of humanity.
Dr Hlabathi Maapola-Thobejane, Acting Manager, Teaching Practice (right):
Everybody is so elated given the fact that we have been at home for quite some time, especially us as academics. We have not met face-to-face since Covid-19, so coming here and starting this year with vigour brings out the best that we are as Unisans. We are poised to take the baton from where it was to where it is supposed to be, and that is globally, where it belongs.

Pheladi Mmela, Unisa College of Accounting Sciences Students Structure (UCASS) (left):
Today I had the opportunity to see top graduates, professors and academic managers at the official 2023 academic opening. I have graduated at Unisa, and I see a bright future for myself.
Nomthandazo Mpungoze, UCASS student leader (right):
We are here to celebrate Unisa’s 150 years of existence. We are so excited to see our institution grow this far. Unisa has shaped our lives and made us feel at home. Today we are graduates. This institution did shape our futures and we look forward to many exciting ventures.

Portia Kgaladi, Records Management (left):
It is exciting to be part of Unisa turning 150, also listening to the Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Puleng LenkaBula, and management sharing their vision and strategies – I am very happy to be part of these strategies. Angelo Vaaltyn, Centre for Professional Development (centre):
The experience is overwhelming from the gate coming in. The energy of 150 is all over the place, and listening to the new direction that we are headed for 2023 is quite exciting. I look forward to the changes.
Thembi Nana, Records Management (right): Unisa has grown and is changing with the times, particularly with its approach towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where digitisation is replacing obsolete technologies. I am glad to be part of this change.

READ ALSO:

#Unisa 150

* By Godfrey Madibane, Acting Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement
* Editorial team: Tshimangadzo Mphaphuli, Acting Editor: Internal Publications; Philip van der Merwe, Editor: External Publications; Nancy Legodi, Acting Senior Journalist; Godfrey Madibane, Acting Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement
* Photographers: Given Maluleke and Shooheima Champion, Unisa Multimedia Centre

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Publish date: 2023/02/13

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