THE first female vice-chancellor from Walter Sisulu University (WSU) will be inaugurated at Zamukulungisa site in Mthatha on Saturday, October 9.
The guests, who include fellow academics, captains of industry, ministers and MECs, as well as traditional leaders, are expected to assemble at the Zamukulungisa Great Hall to bear witness to the official public inauguration and investiture of Prof Rushiella Nolundi Songca, whose tenure officially commenced on April, 1 2021.
According to the WSU spokesperson, Yonela Tukwayo, a much larger audience was expected to follow proceedings via live streaming on the university’s official YouTube channel, to comply with COVID-19 restrictions.
She said Songca was expected to address her plans for the institution, as articulated by Vision 2030, the institutional strategic plan spearheaded by her, which underwent intense internal stakeholder consultation before its adoption and publication to the university community earlier this year.
Songca said on approval of Vision 2030 by the University Council, that WSU has found itself since the merger, in rough oceans and conflicting tides, and while the lessons learnt cannot be denied, WSU now stands at a crossroad of monumental importance.
Songca proudly proclaimed that Vision 2030 would act as a guide upon which the university will rely as it journeys into the next decade.
Framing the university’s character and aspirations, as well as growth and development imperatives within a dynamic set of factors, she said, “Vision 2030 lays out the university’s commitment to the pursuit of excellence.
“The strategic plan commits the university to harness socioeconomic, cultural and ideational assets within the African, international, national and institutional contexts to achieve its goals,” she said.
Vision 2030 revolves around core components which include:
- Vision: An impactful, technology-infused African university;
- Mission: Through its core business, WSU responds to societal needs in ethical, scholarly, sustainable, and entrepreneurial ways, and delivers future-ready graduates;
- Purpose: In pursuit of excellence, WSU addresses societal challenges by producing relevant, innovative and impactful research, championing sustainable and just development and graduating versatile individuals;
- Core values: Honesty and integrity, quality and excellence, respect, Ubuntu;
- Slogan: In pursuit of excellence.
Extrapolating certain critical concepts from the themes mentioned above in a bid to be unambiguous, Songca breaks down to quite granular detail the building blocks of the concepts.
Songca’s academic experience spans almost three decades. She has held positions at various academic institutions, including the dean of the College of Law at Unisa from June 2012 to July 2017.
She obtained a BA(Law) degree from the University of Lesotho, an LLB and Master of Law from the University of Natal and a second LLM from Georgetown Law Centre in the United States of America. She obtained her LLD in 2003 from the University of Pretoria, specialising in Children’s Rights.
Songca is an admitted advocate of the High Court of South Africa and an NRF rated researcher.
