Vice-Chancellor of the University of Zululand, Professor Fikile NM Mazibuko
Professor Chris de Beer; the Administrator Council Members of the University Executive Management
Executive Deans of Faculties
Members of the University Senate; Members of the Institutional Forum
Members of Convocation
Government representatives present here today; our business partners
Members of academic and support staff
Members of the Students’ Representative Council;
Union representatives
Graduands
Parents
Members of the local community (particularly the Mkhwanazi Tribal Authority)
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen,
In my capacity as Chancellor, it gives me great pleasure to be part of the 2011 graduation ceremonies.
Having held its first graduation ceremony in 1963, this is a historic moment in the University of Zululand as the institution has been in existence for half a century (50 years) and has during that period produced tens of thousands of graduates who are serving our country with distinction in a variety of sectors of our economy.
Indeed, we are heavily indebted to the Mkhwanazi Tribal Authority for its commitment to higher education when 51 years ago it gave land for this University to start as a college with just 41 students offering a handful of programmes of the University of South Africa.
Today, the University has a headcount enrolment of more than 15 000 students in the faculties of Arts, Education, Science and Agriculture and Commerce, Law and Administration across two campuses.
We congratulate the University of Zululand for reaching the critical half century in its life.
- It has been 50 years of struggle against the system which sought to put in place a system of higher education based on race.
- It has been 50years of struggle to attract the right financial and human resources to the university.
- It has been 50 years of contribution to the production of knowledge and innovation.
- Most of all it has been 50 years of producing leaders for South Africa and the world in a number of areas and fields.
- It has been 50 years of success.
The survival of this University will not be assured just because it produces students every year, but the consolidation of relations with the community, with former students and the rest of society.
For this university to survive it will be because it has the active support of the community but also of the private sector in South Africa and internationally.
Talking about the role of higher education, Dr Saleem Badat asserts that ‘The roles that institutions or individuals play in society are shaped by the purposes and goals that they have defined for themselves and/or that have come to be defined for them by society’ (Badat, 2009: 9).
Over the past 50 years, the University of Zululand has not been unique in withstanding various changes in the higher education policy and legislative landscape. Not only has the University intellectually mellowed in the last 50 years, it has also been challenged to redefine itself as a comprehensive university offering an appropriate balance between general formative and occupationally-directed provision.
As a consequence, the University continues in its trajectory of expanding its suite of accredited programmes in a number of occupationally-directed areas, including Hospitality, Transport, Public Relations and Cooperatives Management. The challenge is for the University to identify areas that will be commensurate not only with its mission as a comprehensive university but also responsive to the needs of the economy of the region and the country.
I congratulate the previous and current leadership of this University for keeping it in tact for all those years. Vice-Chancellor, I once again particularly congratulate you on your appointment early last year to be at the helm of this national asset, which is by no means a small task. I can sum it up in IsiZulu and say ‘Ziyezwakala izigizakho’.
Now let me turn to the graduands. I believe you must be feeling very proud to be products of the University of Zululand. You have acquired both academic and social knowledge. You have also been taught how to apply this knowledge when you get into the world. Your performance in the workplace will determine how deep down this knowledge has gone. We as a University are very proud of you. We expect you to be honest in whatever you do. We also expect you to be truthful.
We do not expect you to be corrupt. We expect you to be the candle that lights up the corner wherever you find yourselves. We expect you to be leaders of change. Do not shy away from working in the rural areas. Some of you have been given entrepreneurial and creative skills. If jobs are not coming your way create some for yourselves or come together and create one.
You must not forget the University. We expect you to be in touch with us through Convocation. We wish you would find ways and means of helping your alma mater. I hope you will take up these challenges and live up to them. The mature students graduating today, we appreciate you very much. We particularly appreciate your patience, understanding and particularly the effect your presence in the university had on the young ones.
Graduands, I wish you well in your future endeavours. The Lord bless all of you and prosper you in all that you do. May He grant you the peace which the world cannot give. Accept my warmest congratulations as you go out into the world and join thousands of graduates from this and other universities in changing our society.
Let me not leave out your parents, partners and families, the ones for whom today is the culmination of years of effort and often sacrifice – doing without your time and attention as well as making financial sacrifices. Some of you are from today first generation holders of university qualifications in their families. What a privilege!
Graduates: Think of being the new generation of academics, scholars, thinkers, researchers. Join and serve higher education and training at Unizulu or any other South African university.
Our country is leading the continent towards a higher plane of sustained growth. Many opportunities are now being created in all sectors of our economy which require a specific set of skills. Those skills are going to come from this cadreship of students and young people such as yourself.
Today is the first day of a new chapter in your lives. The world now becomes your stage, South Africa waits with great expectation for your arrival, Africa awaits, the World awaits!
I thank you.
