2016 GRADUATION WELCOME SPEECH

Madam Chancellor

Chairperson of Council and Members of Council

Government Dignitaries from National, Provincial and Local Government

Traditional and Community leaders

Invited guests from the business sector

Members of the media

Proud parents and families of our graduands

Members of staff

Members of the Student Representative Council

Ladies and Gentlemen

And most importantly our graduands,

It is indeed my pleasure to welcome you all to this graduation ceremony. Graduation ceremonies are a highlight in every university’s calendar. It is time to celebrate the accomplishments of those that have worked tirelessly to succeed in their academic endeavours but also to thank all those who supported our graduands and diplomates, both financially and emotionally. It is a great day for all of us!

I assumed my role as the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Walter Sisulu University on the 1stof April this year. It is an honour for me to serve this Institution and hopefully help to extend its influence and impact to communities throughout this Province. Its four campuses are strategically placed to do so. I have visited all campuses and met both staff and students. I have been impressed with their loyalty to the Institution, and with their energy and enthusiasm. We have the bricks and cement in place to build a great institution. And it is now important that we focus our efforts on the work that needs to be done; and that we do not waste our energies on side shows.

On my campus tours I also saw some of the challenges that we have to face, ranging from inadequate housing for students, to the challenges faced by some academic staff members, to the shortage of funds for proper maintenance across our campuses. The tasks are huge, but I can safely say that our collective strength will be greater than the challenges that lie before us.

I join this eminent institution at a very challenging time for both higher education and our country in general. The state of the economy has been in dire straits. The World Bank forecasts that our GDP growth will decline to 0.8% in 2016 which is down from 1.3% growth in 2015. This points to a daunting next few years as the low economic growth will mostly impact the poor. Poverty is set to rise and this will affect provinces like the Eastern Cape.

StatsSArecently came out with a report called The Social Profile of Youth, 2009-2014. Amongst other things, the report says hunger experiences in houses with youth in the Eastern Cape increased from 18,6% in 2010 to 24,5% in 2015. Walter Sisulu University is directly affected, because these are the people who become students at our Institution. And it is well known that poverty, hunger and education go hand in hand.

Walter Sisulu University is a rural university surrounded by communities that face daily struggles of high unemployment, high levels of poverty, high dependence on state social grants and the lackof resources that can improve their living standards. We cannot ignore these socio-economic conditions.

The StatsSAreport also notes that youth unemployment — among people 15 to 34 years old — remains high at 35.9%, and increased over the past five years. It also emphasised that education remains a key pathway out of unemployment, because jobs are linked to education levels. Those without a matric are most likely to remain unemployed – but even those with matric recorded unemployment levels of 38%. This dropped to 1% among graduates, while those with other tertiary education other than university degrees dropped to 4%. So it is important that we strive to give our youth the best education that we can.

The reality is that only 4% of black people complete a degree. Our graduands therefore belong to a privileged group. This also increases the responsibilities that they have, especially to ensure that their privilege also impacts on their communities back home. So, graduands, please use your education wisely, and make a difference to other people’s lives.

One of our key focus areas as an institutionis community engagement. This is one feature of Walter Sisulu University that has impressed me most in my short experience of the Institution. Unfortunately, the world out there does not know that the University has a solid track record of successful community engagement projects. We need to celebrate our partnerships with the various levels government and the private sectorand tell others how we move our communities and our economy forward through the work we do through these partnerships.

Here are some examples:

  • With the Department of Environmental Affairs, as part of Operation Phakisa, to develop a water pollution research laboratory
  • With the Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA) SETA to improve Mathematics and Science in high schools
  • Working with the Eastern Cape Socio-Economic Consultative Council (ECSECC) to develop technological solutions for agriculture
  • We are working with the Eastern Cape Department of Health to set up district learning complexes and to increase access to specialist services for disadvantaged communities
  • We are working in tandem with the South African Medical Research Council to re-establish the HIV and AIDS research unit, to research HIV vaccines
  • Together with the South African Heritage Resources Agency we are preserving cultural artefacts dating back to the 1800’s

These are just a few partners, who have contributed to the hundreds of millions of rands, entrusted to this University to develop our communities, province and country.

Madam Chancellor, higher education in South Africa is currently in the throes of major challenges. We have seen academic programs in campuses right across our country being disrupted an come to a standstill as students voicedissues that are important to them – their right to education, the financial burden their parents carry, the slow rate of transformation in the country, and more recently, society’s continued insensitivity to women.

The #FeesMustFall movement has thrust the perennial problem of university funding into the spotlight. High levels of poverty and chronic unemployment in the Eastern Cape are real impediments for many young people who have a desire for education. These students see education as the only option for them to escape the grinding poverty they are in.

The University has been conscious of this and therefore amongst other things, we have not increased student registration fees for this year. We still sit with historical debt because our students cannot afford tuition yet they yearn for an education. The revenue short-fall in turn impacts on our planned projects and upgrades.

We have also seen the #OutsourcingMustFall protests across the country, including our University. Outsourced workers are demanding to be fully employed by the universities. This,too, is adding pressure to our already weak financial position. The University management has established a task-team to explore possible responses to this movement. The task-team will present findings which will include financial and human resource consequences, governance and statutory implications. Because we are still trying to find our feet financially, the issues are not straightforward for us. But we will try to find a way forward.

I would like implore the University community to not be overwhelmed by these challenges. Despite all the odds, we are striving forward. There is no better testament to our sterling efforts than today. This Graduation Ceremony is one of twelve ceremonies across our four campuses with a total of 4,787 graduates, which includes over 100 postgraduate degrees, 74 Honours, 23 Masters and 5 PhDs.

  • The Butterworth Campus will cap 1,016 graduands and diplomates.
  • The Buffalo City Campus will cap 1,310 graduands and diplomates.
  • The Queenstown Campus will cap 210 graduands and diplomates.
  • The Mthatha Campus will cap 2,251 graduands and diplomates.

Today is the culmination of all our efforts. It is a triumph against enormous challenges our students have faced. The long walks to primary school when it’s cold. The daunting walk back home with a growling stomach.

It’s not your victory only. It is also a victory for the many prayers and sterling effort of your parents, grandparents, family and friends who supported you along your educational journey. You too must be proud of yourselves. To progress all the way from primary school to high school and graduate in a highly regarded university is a testament to your own resolve. Well done. But now your work has just started.

Graduands, as you move forward, remember those that will come after you. This University will continue provide its service to many more generations to come. Today you join the many talented public and private sector leaders that have graduated from this university, today you become an alumnus or an alumna and a member of the University’s Convocation. You will enter into a new relationship with the University. Now, more than ever, you are the University’s ambassadors and the University needs you in many respects,from academic development projects to fundraising.

Allow me to take this opportunity to remind you that the WSU Convocation Annual General Meeting will that place at the Nelson Mandela Drive site on the 21st of May 2016. Be a part of setting the agenda for WSU’s development.

Thank you to all the friends of our WSU that continue to support this University. The support we receive from communities, local and district municipalities, provincial and national government and the private sector is highly valued.

Enjoy this day. Thank you.

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