(From left to right) Prof Bettine van Vuuren, Registrar and Mrs Phaladi Magongoa, Senior Manager: Alumni Office
(From left to right) Mr Tumelo Nyoyi, Member of the Executive Committee of Convocation and Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Letlhokwa Mpedi
University. Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Letlhokwa Mpedi, used his address to emphasise the importance of alumni in sustaining the University’s trajectory, particularly in a higher education environment defined by financial constraints, rising student needs, and the imperative for transformation. He underscored the role of alumni not only as ambassadors of the institution, but as active contributors to its future – through mentorship, partnerships and resource mobilisation. This perspective was reinforced by Chief Financial Officer, Nolwazi Mamorare, who outlined the financial realities facing the institution and the importance of building sustainable
support systems. Her remarks highlighted the growing need for collaborative approaches to funding and development, in which alumni structures, such as Convocation, can play a meaningful role. Questions and submissions from members reflected a wide range of concerns and expectations. These included calls for clearer reporting from Convocation, stronger alumni engagement initiatives, expanded mentorship and internship pathways for students, and attention to issues such as infrastructure equity across campuses and support for student wellbeing. Rather than addressing each issue in isolation, the new leadership signalled a shift towards a more structured and strategic approach. This includes strengthening engagement with Council and university management, improving communication with alumni and developing targeted programmes that connect graduates more directly with institutional priorities. Underlying these efforts is a broader reimagining of Convocation itself. No longer confined to ceremonial functions or governance formalities, the body is increasingly being positioned as an active platform for alumni contribution – one capable of mobilising expertise, networks and resources in support of the university’s mission. This shift comes at a critical time. As universities across South Africa grapple with financial pressures and increasing demands for access and success, the role of alumni is becoming more central. Convocation, in this context, represents both a challenge and an opportunity: a structure that must evolve
in order to remain relevant, but which also holds significant potential to influence the University’s future. The AGM, while procedural in parts, ultimately reflected an organisation at a turning point. On the one hand, Convocation carries the weight of its history – two decades of contribution, evolution, and at times, internal complexity. On the other, it faces the opportunity to redefine itself as a more cohesive, visible and impactful force within the university. For Dr Bakana and his executive, the path forward will depend not only on strategic clarity, but on their ability to bring alumni along with them – transforming Convocation from a representative body into a genuinely participatory community. If the tone of the AGM is any indication, that work has begun in earnest.
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ALUMNI IMPUMELELO
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