Graduating shows tenacity and commitment to learning

“Your achievement is a testimony that you have fulfilled your side of the partnership and displayed the necessary tenacity, self-confidence and commitment to learn, to acquire and to produce knowledge and to develop expertise,” says the Director of School of Computing, Prof Isaac Osunmakinde. He was delivering the Chancellor’s address during the autumn graduation ceremony held last week in Bloemfontein.

Proud Unisa students at their graduation ceremony in Bloemfontein last week: Loretta Fourie (BA Hons Psychology, Cum Laude), Makhele Jostina (BA (Cur) Cum Laude), Cartens Miranda (MA in Teaching and Learning to Speakers of other Languages), Matebatso Thato (BA (Cur) Cum Laude), Gelderblom Marlene (BA Social Work ,Cum Laude) and Phantsi-Mohlepere Maneo (BA (Cur) Cum Laude).

He highlighted that teaching and learning serves as a partnership of mutual commitment to deposit wisdom, knowledge, to understand the development of expertise and skills as well as to embrace appropriate values and attitude. Osunmakinde indicated that as we are moving from a more protective society towards a more challenging and demanding entrepreneurial society, we need to act in an entrepreneurial spirit.

As an outstanding university, and aspire for greater things, Osunmakinde made an appeal to the society to support in producing knowledge to invigorate economy and social development. “To live a fulfilling life in this new emerging world, and to become an architect of the future, you need to know yourself and be ready to reinvent yourself throughout your lives,” he said.

Maria Erasmas received her National Diploma in Horticulture at age 79.

He told graduates that the world is surrounded by great challenges and society needs to be ready not to manage change, but to be ahead of it. “Achieving impact is what counts, and everyone has the responsibility to be the architect and builders of the new world,” Osunmakinde said.

In his welcome address, Acting Vice-Principal: Research, Postgraduate Studies, Innovation and Commercialisation, Professor Lessing Labuschagne, highlighted that it is the role and responsibility of the university to produce critical and responsible citizenry. Labuschagne indicated that talent is a gift that should be honoured continuously and being talented is easy as it is a gift, however one should not abuse and manipulate others with it.

“The next phase in your life journey will not be based on what you already know, but on what you are prepared to do with that knowledge and what you are prepared to learn from today,” said Labuschagne. He further urged intellectually gifted people to harness their gifts in bringing progress and transformation for the great of good. “Allow your success to foster in you the desire and confident to say: I want more and I want to achieve,” he added.

Approximately 850 graduates received their certificates, diplomas, and degrees during the afternoon and evening sessions.

See more images of proud graduates and staff below:

Prof CJ Swanepoel (Acting Deputy Registrar), Dr Tankiso Lucia Motjope-Mokhali (DLitt et Phil), Dr Hoolo Bartholomew Nyane (LLD) and Prof Les Labuschagne (Acting Vice-Principal: Research, Postgraduate Studies, Innovation and Commercialisation) pictured at the graduation ceremony.

These graduates completed their qualifications with Cum Laude. Leandre Stey (BED Hons Inclusive Education), Makhetha Liepollo (BED Hons Inclusive Education), Malgas Johannes (Masters of Business Leadership), Juanita Halberg (Hons BED in Educational Management) and Flynn Amy-Lee (BED Hons Inclusive Education).

Eureka Erasmus, Celia Botes, Maria Erasmus and Dr Pieta Erasmus.

 * By Thotogelo Masenya

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