MBOMBELA – The University of Mpumalanga took another step towards consolidating its management with the announcement of a vice-chancellor yesterday.
This was during the inauguration of the new council, which will be tasked with managing the university. The senate, to oversee the academic side of things, was also recently announced.
Until now the university was managed by a four-person interim council chaired by Dr David Mabunda and a three-man interim management committee. The newly appointed deputy vice-chancellor Prof Thokozile Mayekiso holds the same positions at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth. She did not attend the inauguration.
Deputy minister of higher education and training, Mr Mduduzi Manana, said the university must respond to the workplace.
“We must also ensure that the training and skills development respond to the needs of the economy, rural development and social integration.”
At the moment the university offers a bachelor’s in agriculture as well as certification in education and hospitality.
More courses and students are to be added with time. Manana told Lowvelder that it was up to the new council and management team to determine the courses. Of the former council, only Prof Chris de Beer is to stay on.
According to Prof Ramaranka Mogotlane, current academic head, they hoped to introduce an information and communications technology course next year.
He is also pushing for a health faculty to be introduced now. A surgeon by training, he told Lowvelder that it was a process to establish.
The executive of the provincial government recently announced its decision to immediately transfer the Elijah Mango College of Education to the University of Mpumalanga to establish a health faculty.
“We suffer from such a deficit in infrastructure and staff, we cannot afford to wait. The burden of disease in Mpumalanga is too heavy to be afforded,” Mogotlane said.
Manana said as far as he was aware, construction of new buildings was due to start in September.
