COVER STORY UNIVERSITY OF MPUMALANGA
continent and UMP has supported student and staff visits to a number of African countries. The University is home to students from neighbouring countries such as Mozambique, eSwatini and Zimbabwe. WINNING THE UNIIC IDEATHON COMPETITION UMP is a member of the University Incubator Consortium (UNIIC) which comprises 17 universities from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, India and South Africa. UMP students from the Centre for Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator participated in the 2024 UNIIC Ideathon Competition jointly hosted by the Palawan State University, Western Philippines University and the Mindoro State University, in Puerto Princesa, Philippines from 27-28 May 2024. The UNIIC Ideathon was attended by myself, Prof Kanayo Ogujuiba, Prof Estelle Boshoff and Dr Mazanai Musara.
expand their networks, and engage with potential partners, accelerators and forge meaningful relationships with participants from other universities. THOKO MAYEKISO LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES The naming of the UMP Academic Library as the Thoko Mayekiso Library and Information Services was part of the 10 Year Celebrations since
The UMP Team that participated in the competition which was represented by Ms Masedi Gwashana, Ms Melody Chiume, Ms Bongiwe Nkosi, Ms Innocentia Nkosi and Ms Kholofelo Makhubupetsi, won the vertical on Health and Wellness. They presented on the idea of converting mangoes to compost and mango chips that would support rural communities in Mpumalanga province towards food security and sustainability. This was a follow-up to the last competition by UNIIC members in 2022 hosted by the Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where the UMP Team won the Best Pitch Award. The UNIIC 2024 Ideathon which was attended by 156 students, provided the students with the unique opportunity to enhance their visibility,
18 | Public Sector Leaders | August 2024
the establishment of the University under the theme, “Decade of Excellence”. This accolade reflects the acknowledgement and appreciation by the UMP community of my contribution, as the Founding Vice-Chancellor of the University, to the establishment of a solid foundation for the institution. The general tendency out there is for leaders to find established institutions.