Unisa chancellor, Thabo Mbeki has lauded the institution’s contribution to empowering thousands of people saying it must live up to its vision of becoming an African University.
Unisa celebrated its 150 year’s anniversary at its main campus in Pretoria on Monday with its chancellor and former President Mbeki, Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, Minister of Higher Education and Science and Innovation, Blade Nzimande, its vice chancellor, Puleng LenkaBula and its chairperson of Council, Mashukudu Maboa amongst other luminaries.
Mbeki said the institution continues to make strides in academic fields despite the allegation of corruption and maladministration.
“I am glad you offered your services. You are willing to work with us as we continue to address whatever challenges the university faces. I am very very pleased about what Unisa has done. I am talking about matters which relate to me personally, for instance we are working on establishing a presidential library that is already affiliated to the Unisa Library,” said Mbeki.
Mbeki said the University has agreed to establish a Thabo Mbeki African School for Current and International Affairs which promises to advance the institution curriculum to respond to the challenges the African continent faces.
The institution’s chancellor said Unisa must ensure it advances its vision of becoming an African university.
“I believe that as we celebrate this birthday we must in particular reflect on the deep meaning of our motto Pro Gentibus Sapientia which means learning in service to humanity and of course this relates very directly to our vision which is towards the African university in the service of humanity,” said Mbeki.
“And so I urge that as we celebrate 150 years anniversary we must remember that as a university we must commit ourselves to do everything possible to realize this seminal objective of truly being an African University and secondly being in practice an institution in the service of humanity. With regards to both these the truth is that we are not quite there as the chairperson of council said but we must have the will and capacity to achieve this historic objective,” he added.
