Unisa connects with Giyani community to define tomorrow

Unisa recently hosted a stakeholder relationship session in Giyani in the north-eastern part of Limpopo Province under the theme Connecting with our stakeholders to define tomorrow.

The importance of enhancing and safeguarding the relationship between Unisa and its stakeholders was the key message delivered by various speakers.

The session, attended by representatives of government, traditional authorities, community groups, the business community, Unisa officials and student leaders, provided a unique opportunity to connect with the community, further consolidating the university’s mission and vision of being the African university in the service of humanity.

Front, from left: Prof Ndivhuwo Ndou (Deputy Executive Dean, College of Science, Engineering and Technology), Prof Solomon Mogashoa (Acting Deputy Registrar), Prof Mpine Makoe (Executive Dean, College of Education), Dr Mike Nkuna (Chairman of the Masingita Group), Dr Mantepu MaseTshaba (Executive Dean, College of Economic and Management Sciences), and Dr Lesiba Molepo (Acting Director, Unisa North-Eastern Region).
Back, from left: Councillor Cedric Baloyi (Greater Giyani Local Municipality), Dr Monde Ntwasa (Deputy Executive Dean, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences), Dr Moses Hlongwane ( Executive Dean, College of Accounting Sciences), Prof Aliweli Mawela (Acting Head of Teaching and Learning, Student Support and Community Engagement, College of Education), Prof Thinandavha Mashau (Deputy Executive Dean, College of Human Sciences), Nkosinathi Mabilane (Unisa National SRC Chairperson), Aluwani Ramabulana (Coordinator, Giyani Regional Service Centre), Justice Molebala (Limpopo Regional SRC Chairperson), and Marito Rikhotso (Coordinator, Makhado Regional Service Centre)

The purpose of the event, hosted by the university’s North-Eastern Region, was to reinforce its brand presence in Limpopo by engaging with community stakeholders, and showcasing its academic milestones and offerings from various colleges.

Giving hope

In his opening speech, Dr Lesiba Molepo, Acting Director of Unisa’s North-Eastern Region, emphasised that the university was not in Giyani for itself, but for the future generation.

“There are many young people in our communities who are losing hope,” he continued, “and yet have gifted minds that can change their lives and their communities. All they need is someone who can tell them about Unisa and how it operates.  We want communities not to be anxious about studying at an open, distance and eLearning university. We have support programmes at our Giyani Regional Service Centre that will ensure that students in the community succeed in their studies”.

Molepo appealed to the business community to work with the university to grant work-integrated learning opportunities to students. “Unfortunately,” he said, “some students cannot complete their qualifications, simply because they do not have opportunities to do work-integrated learning. We therefore plead with the business community in Giyani and beyond to speak to us on how we can assist such students.”

Access and relevance are key

Giving the context of the event, Professor Moroka Mogashoa, Acting Deputy Registrar, emphasised the importance of collaboration between the community and the university in order to respond to the needs and challenges of Giyani and surrounding areas. He reiterated the need for Unisa to be accessible to communities.

“We are the biggest university in South Africa and, indeed, in Africa,” he said. “However, being the biggest does not mean that we should no longer be reachable by and accessible to our communities. A university is the people, it is the community. Without you, the community, we will be a university that is out of touch with reality, irrelevant, and unresponsive to the needs and challenges facing our communities.”

Mogashoa informed the audience that in its 26 years of existence, the Giyani  Regional Service Centre has seen a gradual increase in the number of students, having started with only 248 back in 1998. He said the university was reliant on the communities in this area. “These communities are our interlocutors, that is, our conversation partners,” he said. “They are the people that make us think and reflect on the knowledge we produce. Let us stay engaged with our partners.”

Looking to 2030 and beyond

About the current strategic direction of the university, Professor Thinandavha  Mashau, Deputy Executive Dean of the College of Human Sciences, said Unisa attaches importance to repositioning itself in terms of  responsiveness, and the need to contribute to nation building, social cohesion, and social justice.

He also used the opportunity to share Unisa’s milestones with the audience. “After 151 years of service,” he said, “Unisa still maintains its vision to being the African university shaping futures in the service of humanity. Under the leadership of iMbokodo Professor Puleng LenkaBula, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Unisa, we are on a rising trajectory. We provide academic access to close on 400 000 students in rural villages, townships, and cities across Africa and the globe.

He informed the audience about Unisa’s ten catalytic niche areas and how these areas could provide solutions to some of the challenges in the community. He also highlighted university’s emphasis on responsive, innovative, and transformative research.

An important tool to prosper in life

Representing the business community, Dr Mike Nkuna, Chairman of the Masingita Group, who was recently awarded an honorary doctorate by Unisa, emphasised the importance of sharing experiences and collaborating with young people as they are the future of the country.

“We should be solution-based,” he said. “That is the only way we can be effective and contribute to the growth of our economy. We commend Unisa for deciding to come closer to the communities it serves and bringing them education – one of the most important tools to prosper in life.”

Speaking on behalf of the Greater Giyani Municipality, Councillor Cedric Baloyi said Unisa has stood the test of time in the service of humanity and providing access to education. “We wish Unisa the best for the next 150 years as it tends to the future of our children and our country.”

Justice Molebala, Chairperson of the Limpopo Regional Students Representative Council, called on participants to make the stakeholder relationship tangible. “‘Let us make it work. We should not confine the relationship to events only.  Limpopo is gifted with rich soil and agricultural products. We should walk together and advance the agricultural development in this province,’ he said.

Executive deans, their deputies and other representatives of Unisa colleges were also given the opportunity to share with participants their colleges’ highlights and initiatives to maintain relationships with stakeholders.   They were Professor Mpine Makoe (College of Education), Dr Mantepu MaseTshaba (College of Economic and Management Sciences), Dr Moses Hlongwane (College of Accounting Sciences), Dr Monde Ntwasa (College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences), Professor Ndivhuwo Ndou (College of Science, Engineering and Technology), and Professor Thinandavha Mashau (College of Human Sciences).

* By Edgar Rathelele, Senior Media Officer, Department of Institutional Advancement