Online, own time

Author: Luleka Mtongana

Executive Director of Faculty, and Senior Lecturer, Dr Morris Mthombeni was appointed as Interim Dean of the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) on 1 July 2020. Mthombeni will fulfil this role until a permanent dean is appointed following an extensive and exhaustive process. Professor Nicola Kleyn, the outgoing dean, stepped down at the end of June for a post at the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM), in the Netherlands.

Mthombeni has a PhD in Corporate Governance from the University of Pretoria, an MBA in Finance from Manchester Business School and an LLB, B. Proc, B. Juris from the University of South Africa. He has a wealth of corporate experience with a cumulative 28 years in the financial services industry. Prior to joining GIBS in 2014, Mthombeni held several leadership positions at Liberty Life and Momentum, culminating in a four-year tenure as CEO at Momentum Investments and as an executive director of MMI Holdings Limited. Mthombeni has also held roles in several public and private boards and is a non-executive director at Investec Bank Limited. Author: Elzet Hurter Professor Charles Maimela has been appointed as the Deputy Dean: Teaching and Learning of the Faculty of Law at UP for the period 1 August 2020 to 30 April 2024. This makes Prof Maimela both the youngest, at 32 years old, and first black Deputy Dean of the Faculty since its establishment more than a century ago.

One of Prof Maimela’s passions is Medical Law, having written his doctoral dissertation on ‘Legal issues relating to the treatment of persons living with cancer’. His other main research interest is in the field of Customary Law, and he has published numerous articles and book chapters, as well as a monograph, Religion and Law in South Africa.

In addition to his leadership work, Mthombeni is a passionate academic and has received accolades from students and academics. On academic programmes his primary focus has been the PhD and DBA programmes as well as the master’s programmes where he lectures in the areas of corporate strategy, corporate governance, environment of business, and innovation. He also lecturers on GIBS’ flagship Global Executive Development Programme, Board Leadership Programme, and the Harvard Senior Executive Leadership Programme for senior managers and executives.

“I am humbled and honoured to serve GIBS in this role, as the school continues to navigate its way through the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. I look forward to working with the GIBS executive team to maintain the high standards established by the former dean, Prof Nick Binedell, and enhanced by Prof Nicola Kleyn. Having worked under the leadership of Professor Kleyn for the last six years, I have great admiration for what she has achieved during her tenure as dean. She has been a remarkable leader and I wish her the best in her time at RSM,” said Mthombeni.

GIBS was recently ranked as the top African

Prof Maimela has extensive experience serving on a range of committees, in particular the teaching and learning committees of three different universities – UNISA, the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and UP – as well as the Faculty Research Committee and the Transformation Committee at UP.

Prof Maimela joined the Department of Private Law in 2016. Prior to joining UP, he held teaching positions at UNISA and UKZN. He currently coordinates the BA (Law) programme in the Faculty of Law. He is also the Editor-inChief of law journal De Jure.

The Faculty of Law welcomes Professor Maimela, and looks forward to working with him to remain the best faculty of law in Africa.

The Faculty of Law also wishes to express business school for Executive Education by the London Financial Times for the 17th consecutive year. The School’s flagship MBA is also one of the most sought after MBAs in the country.

Vice-Chancellor of UP, Professor Tawana Kupe said, “I would like to thank Dr Mthombeni for his willingness to serve as the Interim Dean of GIBS while the University is busy with the recruitment and selection processes for the Dean’s position. I would also like to thank the outgoing Dean, Professor Kleyn, for her dedicated and noteworthy

service to the University.” its appreciation to Professor Monray Botha, who has served as acting deputy dean since late last year. Prof Botha was instrumental in ensuring that the Faculty of Law embarked successfully on emergency remote teaching and learning.

Author: Xolani Mathibela

UP’s Fundraising Office hosted a donor appreciation webinar in honour of all givers, big and small, and shared the University’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its strategy for the way forward.

“A university community is made up not only of its staff, students and alumni but, fundamentally, its donors as well,” said Professor Tawana Kupe, Vice-Chancellor and Principal at UP, who was the moderator of the panel.

“Some donors provide material resources, while others build institutes and contribute to infrastructure. Without donors, a university is nothing,” said Prof Kupe, adding that with the act of donating, “donors also express confidence in an institution”.

The webinar’s panellists consisted of the University of Cape Town’s Chancellor, Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe; Professor Wanda Markotter, Director of UP’s Centre for Viral Zoonoses; and Professor Tiaan de Jager, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at UP.

Dr Moloi-Motsepe said the goal of the Motsepe Foundation, which was founded in 1999, is to increase young people’s access to university education. Currently, the foundation has committed to about 300 bursaries to all 27 universities in South Africa. “I am proud to say some of those students are at UP.

“As funders we may be limited in terms of our thinking on how to help communities, so we do a lot of consulting and roadshows annually and ask community members how we can assist them. We also align ourselves with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Of the 17 SDGs, we support 12,” she said.

Asked if donations to UP would be diverted to operational costs due to the financial strain faced by universities at the moment, Prof Kupe responded: “We will repurpose our operational budget to deal with our operational costs, and maintain a sharp focus on spending. Donor funding will be kept for what it is intended, because beyond COVID-19 we still want to retain everyone’s trust.” Prof Markotter pointed out that researchers need platforms that are adaptable, even beyond COVID-19. “We need to develop more platforms for new diseases and forge more collaboration as far as research is concerned. We have limited resources and greatly appreciate our donors, for without them we cannot do research.”

According to Prof De Jager the University has been finding ways to contribute to the fight against COVID-19 since the early stages of the pandemic. “When COVID-19 started, UP was already prepared. We were the first institution to do 3D-printed face masks and have supplied them to various needy places,” he said.

“Without partners and donors, the battle against COVID-19 will be difficult to win,” he said.

Two virtual agreements were also signed to help fight the fallout of the pandemic. One was with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research to increase work to translate knowledge into actual societal impact. Another partnership, with the University of Leeds, will work on research around food security and food systems across the continent as the pandemic worsens hunger in impoverished communities.