A LEGACY OF VISION: PROFESSOR TSHILIDZI MARWALA REFLECTS ON HIS TENURE AS UJ VICE-CHANCELLOR
The Paradigm Shift: From Merged Institution to 4IR Leader From the outset of his leadership, Professor Marwala had a clear vision for UJ: to prepare for a world in flux. “I would often refer to this as an impending paradigm shift,” he says. His response? A strategic turn towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). “Many thought it was premature. But I knew we had to anticipate – not just respond to – emerging global shifts.” Under his leadership, UJ not only embraced a 4IR identity, but seamlessly wove it into the University’s African identity and societal role. This dual focus allowed UJ to rise in international rankings, boost its research output, and establish itself as a pioneering voice in innovation and technology. A signature achievement was UJ’s involvement in establishing South Africa’s National Artificial Intelligence Hub, in collaboration with Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), a milestone born from the recommendations of the 4IR Presidential Commission, where Marwala served as Deputy Chair.
By the time Professor Tshilidzi Marwala assumed the role of Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Johannesburg (UJ) in 2018, the institution had already embarked on a remarkable journey of transformation. Taking over from Professor Ihron Rensburg, Marwala inherited a university that had been born from a bold merger of institutions and was beginning to assert itself on the continental and global stage. Now, as he serves in an international leadership role as the Rector of the United Nations University in Tokyo, Japan, Professor Marwala reflects on a tenure defined by foresight, transformation, and technological innovation, and shares his hopes for the University’s next chapter. Building on a Strong Foundation “The University I inherited had already made a considerable mark,” Professor Marwala recalls. “Under the leadership of Prof Ihron Rensburg, a truly pan-African institution had emerged.” Rensburg’s era was characterised by the consolidation of diverse legacies and the pursuit of equity and inclusivity, culminating in the launch of the Global Excellence and Stature (GES) strategy in 2010 – a key pivot that positioned UJ on the global map.
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