WALTER SISULU OPENS A CHAPTER IN LIFELONG ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT WITH GATE PORTAL

“A university's relationship with its students should not end at graduation.”

That belief is at the heart of iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu's (Walter Sisulu) new Graduate Access and Tracking Engagement (GATE) Portal, a platform designed to keep graduates connected to their alma mater for life while creating opportunities for mentorship, employment, entrepreneurship and collaboration.

The digital platform, launched on Friday last week at KuGompo City, marked a significant shift in how the institution intends to engage its alumni, bringing graduates, employers, entrepreneurs, faculties and the University together in a single ecosystem that extends well beyond the graduation stage.

The Director of Alumni Relations, Sandiso Mbongo, said the launch reflected a broader institutional commitment to changing the University's culture and strengthening alumni participation across every faculty.

"The portal is not innovation; it is an instruction. I was told to develop a system, and the system is here today," he said.

He stressed that alumni engagement is not the responsibility of a single office but of the entire institution.

"Alumni do not belong to the Alumni Relations Office. They belong to faculties because they have programmes and disciplines. Faculties must own alumni for alumni participation to be improved."

Kgaugelo Mmakola, who is the portal developer and also Walter Sisulu alumnus, said the vision was inspired by a challenge faced by many universities – maintaining meaningful relationships with graduates after they leave campus.

"We wanted to change that by creating more than just an alumni database. Our vision was to build a lifelong digital ecosystem that connects graduates, alumni, employers, entrepreneurs, faculties and the University in one place, ensuring that every graduate continues to benefit from being part of the Walter Sisulu community," said Mmakola.

He added that seeing the platform launched by the institution where he studied made the milestone especially meaningful.

"It is a proud moment for me, not only as the developer but also as a Walter Sisulu alumnus. Having studied at this University and now contributing to a platform that will serve future generations of graduates is truly an honour,” he said.

His vision resonated with Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Thandi Mgwebi, who described the GATE Portal as "a big milestone" and "a new chapter in the history of the University."

"Graduation is not only the end of the relationship with the University. It's the beginning of a lifelong partnership. Once you graduate, we need to keep our graduates with us," she said.

Prof Mgwebi challenged the traditional perception of alumni as former students, saying their contribution to the University continues long after they leave campus.

"They are not our past. They are actually our present, just playing a different role. They are one of our greatest assets for the future,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mbongo added that the University must move beyond seeing graduation as the end of the student journey.

"Once you become a student, you graduate, you've got a lifelong relationship with the University."

Looking ahead, Mmakola said he hoped the GATE Portal would become one of South Africa's leading graduate engagement platforms, enabling alumni not only to seek opportunities but to create them for others.

"Ultimately, I hope GATE becomes a symbol of lifelong connection, proving that graduation is not the end of the journey with iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu, but the beginning of a lasting partnership built on excellence, opportunity and giving back,” he concluded.

By: Yolanda Palezweni