Principal’s message
Dear Tukkie reader Since last year South African universities have experienced unprecedented levels of protest about a variety of issues. What began in 2015 as peaceful protest against fee increases evolved into a rolling list of demands about a range of issues such as student accommodation, transformation and outsourced contract workers. At UP the #FeesmustFall campaign was conducted peacefully, and 2015 ended on a positive note. In 2016, however, we have had to deal with disruptions related to language policy and outsourced contract workers. While we in South Africa were focussed on our own campus action, students at the University of Missouri in the United States were protesting to make the campus more diverse, equitable and inclusive. Meanwhile, thousands of students across India were rallying in support of their colleagues at Jawaharlal Nehru University, who were striking in protest against the arrest of a student leader on a charge of sedition. Student protests are frequently at the forefront of change in a democracy. But in order to bring about sustainable change for the better, they
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Universiteit van Pretoria | University of Pretoria | Yunibesithi ya Pretoria
must be conducted in a peaceful and non-violent manner, with mutual respect, and without making people feel intimidated or otherwise threatened. As management, we will continue to encourage and promote dialogue. We are committed to listening to all our students, and we will make every effort within our control and without undermining the sustainability of the University, to address issues raised by students. The University has increased its contribution to more than 3 000 poor students, including providing funds for and reducing the cost of some food items. Fortunately, government has made good on the promise to fund the shortfall due to the declaration of no fee increases for 2016 by President Zuma and an additional R4.6 billion was allocated for students benefitting from the National Financial Aid Scheme. The SRC launched a fundraising drive aimed at raising R10 million as their contribution towards building a more inclusive and accessible institution. The launch was attended by the Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane, Councillor Kgosientso Ramokgopa, and representatives from Absa Bank, who were the first two major contributors to the SRC initiative.
Looking back over the 108 years of UP’s existence, it is clearly a resilient institution that has not only survived internal and external challenges and turmoil but has been able to grow and develop despite difficult circumstances. A search through the archives shows that over the past century UP has survived the impact of two world wars, numerous riots and protests, and the rise and end of apartheid. One of the most challenging times was when the Second World War polarised the country in various factions. In June 1940 the internment of a Tuks student by the government led to such protests and turmoil among students that the Principal was forced to close the University one week earlier for the winter recess. This meant starting the year-end examinations one week later than scheduled. When we approved our long-term strategy, UP 2025, we anticipated encountering unforeseen circumstances along the way. This is why we referred to our driving principles as navigational markers: quality, relevance, diversity and sustainability. These principles remain firmly in place as they comprise the foundation of what makes a university great in the 21st century. Until now we have been making steady progress towards reaching our UP 2015 objectives, for example with regard to international rankings. UP is included in the Times Higher Education World Rankings and is ranked 501-550 in the QS World University Rankings – the two top global university ranking systems. At the beginning of 2016 UP welcomed as firstyear students many top academic achievers who had obtained six distinctions or more from all parts of the country. A total of 152 students with an average of higher than 90% in Grade 12 registered at UP; we attracted 20% of all National Senior Certificate candidates who achieved this average. The top achiever in Gauteng in 2015, Minét Uys from the Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool, matriculated with eight distinctions, and enrolled at UP for chemical engineering. Another inspiring example is Winnie Makgomo Ngoepe from Limpopo. She attended St Bede’s High School where she matriculated with seven distinctions. A proud member of the JuniorTukkie Club since high school, she received a full bursary to study actuarial science at UP.
that operates on the basis of the public good, contributes to South Africa’s socio-economic development, and serves the national interest. In taking on these responsibilities, the University responded to the call by government to increase the intake of medical, veterinary and engineering students in order to advance the national development goals. Tangible proof of our commitment is the construction, with the help of generous grants from the National Skills Development Fund, of new infrastructure to accommodate the increased number of students on the Prinshof and Onderstepoort campuses, as well as the ongoing improvement and refurbishment of facilities for engineering students on the Hatfield Campus. This edition of the Tukkie covers the official opening of the new Bophelong Student Residence for medical students on the Prinshof Campus and the opening of the Lesedi Complex serving the academic needs of veterinary students on the Onderstepoort Campus. The story on 60 years of Engineering at UP reminds us that resilience and innovation are complementary attributes embedded in our institutional DNA. Resilience is generally defined as the ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions, and innovation is defined as making changes to something already in existence, for example by introducing new methods, ideas or products. The combination of not only withstanding and adapting to change or challenges, but simultaneously responding and using the opportunities offered by changing circumstances to develop new, and by implication better, ways of doing things, is what in the past guaranteed the success of the University of Pretoria and will continue to do so in the future. Warmest Tukkie greetings Prof Cheryl de la Rey Vice-Chancellor and Principal
As a public university the University of Pretoria is committed to being an engaged university
TUKKIE
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