STUDY WITH US 

WELCOME MESSAGE FOR 2010 FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOR 

It gives me great pleasure to welcome staff and students to Walter Sisulu University in 2010. We are indeed living in groundbreaking times as we celebrate this year - the first decade of the new millennium.  

2010 will see a global focus upon South Africa as the FIFA World Cup is played for the first time in history on the African continent. Our much-celebrated democracy, our unique South African lifestyle, our rich heritage, natural assets and striking contrasts and most particularly, our diverse peoples, will be showcased to the world. This gives our nation an unequalled opportunity to market the unique wealth that we can offer the world and its investors.

2010 also celebrates the fifth year of the establishment of Walter Sisulu University. The transformation of the higher education landscape which through institutional mergers and incorporations aimed to create a more equitable dispensation, has settled into its new role.  

The WSU brand is now well established and strongly represented in both the rural and urban areas of the Eastern Cape. WSU continues to gain momentum, grow in stature, garner respect and build relentlessly upon the strong foundations set in July 2005 through the merger of three institutions of higher education in the Eastern Cape.  

WSU holds a powerful mandate and a daunting responsibility as the largest university in the Eastern Cape, to play a major role in the development of the Province's greatest asset, its peoples. The emphasis of our newly-elected government has shifted towards stronger rural development and WSU is strategically and strongly positioned to play a positive role in carrying out its mandate.  

WSU is about people. WSU is about in particular: students, staff and the diverse communities it serves. Each of you who will be representing and carrying the WSU brand through 2010 takes responsibility to deliver on our mandate. We shall be judged by future generations on the decisions and actions we take this year. I therefore encourage each and every one who is part of WSU in 2010, to continue to strengthen the work begun five years ago when the WSU flag was hoisted for the first time on 1 July, 2005. 

It is the thoughts and actions of individuals which when compounded, build the character of a brand. We have travelled a long and strenuous journey to the point where we stand today and I look forward to a year together with you, of bold decisions, brave actions, commitment and hard work, pride and achievement.

I wish you all a successful year ahead and trust we shall reap rich reward from our collective endeavours.