Greetings everyone

The fourth NWU Council meeting of 2024 was held on the Vanderbijlpark Campus on Wednesday, 13 November 2024, once again in hybrid, but with most of the members attending in person.

We are in the last stretch of 2024, but there are still much that need to be finalised. The 2024 academic year has been filled with numerous highlights for the NWU.

Some of the notable highlights were the various events we hosted to celebrate our 20-year anniversary.

I must say that attending these events made me feel extremely proud of being associated with this institution and what it has achieved thus far as a unitary institution.

Significant progress has been achieved in terms of the improvement of our international partnerships. We anticipate an increase in strategic international collaborations because of these.

Find my video message and an outline of the issues that our ordinary meeting of Wednesday, 13 November 2024, dealt with below.

Management, under the leadership of the principal and vice-chancellor, Prof. Mzubanzi Bismark Tyobeka, presented a report to Council focusing on a range of issues including: Recap of 2024 events Staff and student bereavements Progress towards internationalisation Readiness for the 2025 academic year; and Progress update on the NWU Structure Realignment Project Council noted with great appreciation the progress made during 2024 towards the realisation of the NWU’s targets and priority projects. We look forward to more milestones and achievements in 2025. View the presentation here.

The term of office of the NWU chancellor is five years. Dr Anna Mokgokong's first term as chancellor of the NWU will end on 20 November 2024 due to the effluxion of time. Council elected Dr Mokgokong to serve a subsequent period of five years. Council expressed its gratitude for the active role that Dr Mokgokong plays within the NWU community. Her involvement and commitment to the NWU is highly appreciated.

Council appointed Prof. Linda du Plessis as deputy vice-chancellor for teaching and learning. She will take up the position on 1 December 2024 for a term of seven years. Prof. du Plessis played a crucial role as Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Planning and Vanderbijlpark Campus Operations since 2017. Council expressed its appreciation for the meaningful contribution to the NWU and wished her success in the new role. Prof du Plessis has distinguished herself as an exceptional leader whose managerial skills and dedication to promote the values of the NWU has made her one of the flagbearers of our institution.

Prof. Mala Singh's term will end on 31 December 2024. Council approved that Mr Milton Nyamadzawo act as the Executive Director: People and Culture until a substantive appointment has been made for the portfolio. Mr Nyamadzawo joined the NWU on 1 June 2022 when he was appointed as chief director within the people and culture portfolio. Council expressed its gratitude to Prof. Singh for the sterling job she has done since her appointment in 2018.

Council approved the 2025-2027 budget, subject to the principle that the budget may need to be adjusted when new information is received from the Minister of Higher Education (specifically regarding the subsidy allocation and fee increase adjustment recommendation, as well as actual enrolments for 2025). Council further approved the proposed infrastructure projects and funds allocated for macro-maintenance, as well as the projected minimum fees payable by students. Communication regarding the percentage increase for tuition and residence fees will follow as soon as the university receives recommendations from the Minister. The mid-year financial statements ending on 30 June 2024, were also approved.

Council noted the continuous instability and challenges within the NSFAS environment and the impact thereof on students. This situation as well as past experiences with payment delays especially in the beginning of the academic year, convinced Council that precautionary measures are once again necessary to facilitate a smooth start of the 2025 academic year. Therefore, Council approved that the NWU advance the cash to pay out allowances to NSFAS-funded students to support the start of the 2025 academic year. This approach has been successfully implemented in recent years.

Council approved the mid-year performance report which will now be submitted to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), together with the financial performance for the six months ending 30 June 2024. Council is satisfied with the manner in which the university management addressed the challenges during 2024 and ensured that the NWU achieves its set goals and objectives. We look forward to more enhancements and innovations in both the academic and support environments to ensure the success of the university's new strategy: Taking the NWU forward - 2024 and beyond.

Council approved the university's Annual Performance Plan (APP) for 2025. The APP serves as an important input into the budget process and determination of strategic projects and will soon be made available on the staff intranet. The approved plan will be submitted to the DHET.

The following policies and rules were approved, and will shortly be available here: Policy and rules for the awarding of a Chancellor's Medal Policy and rules for the awarding of Honorary Degrees Policy on academic integrity Research data management policy Community Engagement policy Breastfeeding policy Gender-based violence policy; and Policy on the promotion of support staff

Based on the evaluation of research entities conducted by Senate, Council approved that the niche area for Indigenous Language Media in Africa (ILMA), situated in the Faculty of Humanities, be upgraded to a focus area.

This research entity has evolved to include a more holistic approach to research, utilising an omics approach, including metabolomics, genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics in the drive to do more interdisciplinary research. Thus, the name metabolomics does no longer describe the research activity of the entity accurately. Council approved that the focus area for Human Metabolomics (FAHM) be changed to Biomedical and Molecular Metabolism Research (BioMMet).

Council approved the establishment of a Centre for Professional Commerce Education (CPCE) in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. The centre aims to advance the quality of the curriculum and impact of commerce education within the faculty. It will also facilitate the development of customised curricula to address industry needs, implement innovative teaching methodologies, and promote student-centric learning. The centre will, therefore, address the industry-needed skills development to prepare students for the evolving and technologically advanced global professional business environment.

Online registration for first-year students is scheduled to start on 20 January 2025. First-year students are expected to arrive during the period 30 January to 2 February 2025. The formal orientation programme will commence on 1 February and conclude on 8 February. There will also be an informal orientation and co-curricular programme for students during the evenings. Classes for first-year and returning students will commence on 10 February 2025. Council noted progress made regarding the planning of the 2025 registration period and orientation programme, as well as the fact that the programmes and plans are subject to change and are continuously refined as part of the planning process. Council approved the 2025 registration period and orientation programme.

Council approved the employment equity report for 2023/2024. The report provides an overview of the employment equity workforce profile for the period 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024.

In terms of the 2024 Annual Performance Plan, the current NWU Strategic Risk Register should be measured against the risks and opportunities evident from the new NWU strategy, with a view of adjusting the strategic risk register towards the appropriate applicability of the new strategy. Council noted and approved the reviewed risks, and the revised strategic risk register that will be included in the 2024 Integrated Annual Report.

Council is appreciative of the way in which management and every staff member and student of the NWU are playing their part to ensure that the university stays on track in its continuous pursuit of excellence. Huge strides have already been made in addressing our new strategy: Taking the NWU forward - 2024 and beyond. We look forward to the approval and implementation of the realigned structure.

Once again, I thank all members of the university community for the continuous and unwavering support during 2024.

Best wishes

Bert Sorgdrager
Chairperson: NWU Council