|
2012
WELCOME MESSAGE FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR
Professor L Van Staden
It gives me great pleasure
to welcome all staff and students to Walter Sisulu University in 2012.
The year 2011 marked a
significant turning point in the development of Walter Sisulu University.
Since the complex merger in 2005 which formed our university, much has
been achieved in the establishment of this new higher education institution.
WSU is unique in many respects, particularly as a new type of university
called a ‘comprehensive university’ which offers both traditional university
academic degrees as well as technologically focused career qualifications.
WSU has a most compelling vision and mission and is well positioned
to become a major resource for this under-developed part of the Eastern
Cape.
The vast geographic spread
of WSU has the advantage of offering higher education which is ‘closer
to home’ for many of our students. But this same geographic spread and
institutional legacy presents challenges in the effective management
and financing of such a diverse and widespread university.
For all the above reasons,
in 2011 the University Council and Management requested intervention
from the Minster of Higher Education and Training to assist in propelling
WSU towards a better resourced and more efficient organisation to serve
the Eastern Cape. On 31 October 2011, Minister BE Nzimande MP announced
the appointment of an Administrator for WSU. An Administrator takes
over the functions of both Council and the Vice-Chancellor and reports
directly to the Minister.
I have been appointed
for two years to lead the turnaround of WSU, together with the WSU staff,
students and her communities. The areas of focus will be: Finance; Human
Resources; Academic Enterprise and Information Communication Technology
(ICT). So we are entering a new phase which will see some changes and
new developments to strengthen WSU further and boldly build this great
brand that proudly bears the name of Walter Sisulu.
There is overwhelming
goodwill towards our university and I anticipate that together we shall
build upon the strengths and opportunities we already have to our advantage.
I have no doubt that as 2012 unfolds, Walter Sisulu University will
move towards a position of stability and strength and I look forward
to your cooperation in this important phase.
I wish you all a fulfilling
year.
Professor L van Staden
Administrator
|
