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1. UJ Alumni residing in UK attending the Chapter launch 2. Left to right: Katlego Mmuoe UJ Alumni, Prof Letlhokwa Mpedi – Vice-Chancellor and Principal (UJ) and Mr Leon Ayo, President of British Chamber of Commerce: Southern Africa 3. Left to right: Mr Solomzi Mhlana - 1st Secretary Political of the South African High Commission to Great Britain and Northern Ireland, His Excellency the High Commissioner Mr Mamabolo and Prof Letlhokwa Mpedi – Vice-Chancellor and Principal (UJ)
UJ ‘S UK ALUMNI CHAPTER LAUNCHED IN LONDON
UJ was ready for a medical school that combines medicine and technology and would not give up until it becomes a reality, said UJ Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Letlhokwa Mpedi, at the launch of the UJ Alumni United Kingdom Chapter last October. “We are prepared to fund it for two years from our reserves,” he said, adding that contacts (partner funders) had already been approached. The launch of the Alumni UK Chapter, held at the Radisson Blu Edwardian Grafton Hotel in London, featured high- level speakers including Leon Ayo, President of the British Chamber of Commerce: Southern Africa; SA High Commissioner to the UK and Northern Ireland, Jeremiah Nyamane Mamabolo; CEO of the South African Chamber of Commerce in the UK, Alison Kingsley-Hall; technology and digital strategist Thato Kanjere, and UJ’s CFO, Nolwazi Mamorare. Prof Mpedi said that when UJ was formed 20 years ago, “we made a conscious decision that access and excellence in education are not mutually exclusive”. While other institutions thrived on being exclusive, UJ was proof that millions of people, including many from humble backgrounds, have what it takes to go to university, study and transform their lives, he said.
“It’s not unusual at UJ for a daughter or son of a CEO to study next to somebody who comes from a village who would go for a day without a warm meal. We don’t say, “Oh, what a pity.” We work with the students. At UJ we’ve got a feeding programme. It’s done with dignity to support the students so that they can learn, they can study,” said Prof Mpedi. High Commissioner Jeremiah Mamabolo told the audience that some UK universities are keen to deal with universities like UJ to develop skills around alternative sources of energy. “If you are going to talk about Just Energy Transition, you have to be prepared. You’ve got to be able to have the skills and the necessary expertise,” he said. Alison Kingsley-Hall urged everyone in attendance to connect through the new alumni chapter, to “help build their UK network and future partnerships”. “We also hope that this new alumni chapter will make use of our chamber, and the British Chamber of Commerce for Southern Africa, and see us as an important business and community home from home in the UK,” she said. Thato Kanjere said UJ had given him the foundation and grounding to make one of a plethora of choices, before he embarked on his MA in business at Warwick University in the UK. “UJ really shaped my outlook on the world and helped me with the discipline to position myself to launch a truly international career,” he said.
ALUMNI IMPUMELELO 17
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