SHAPING 2026 TOGETHER: UJ ALUMNI REAFFIRM A LIFELONG LEGACY IN THE CONVERSATION SERIES UJ hosted its In Conversation Series with the Executive Committee of Convocation: Shaping 2026 Together, a virtual address held from the Auckland Park Campus, which brought alumni leadership into a shared space of reflection, purpose and forward planning.
Framed by themes of lifelong ambassadorship, the transition from student to alumnus, and the role of alumni in mentorship, partnerships and advocacy, the engagement underscored a central idea: that the UJ journey does not end at graduation, it evolves. Opening the session, Senior Manager of the Alumni Office, Phaladi Magongoa, set the tone for the evening, describing the gathering as both a milestone and a moment of renewal. “Today’s engagement marks an important first for many of our Executive Committee members in 2026. It reflects our shared commitment to strengthening connections, fostering dialogue, and creating meaningful opportunities for mentorship,” he said. Delivering the institutional welcome, UJ Registrar, Prof Bettine van Vuuren, reflected on the University’s origins and the resilience that shaped its identity. THIS IS AN INSTITUTION TO BE PROUD OF. FORMED 21 YEARS AGO THROUGH THE MERGER OF THE RAND AFRIKAANS UNIVERSITY, TECHNIKON WITWATERSRAND AND THE INCORPORATION OF VISTA CAMPUSES, UJ’S FOUNDATION WAS NOT WITHOUT RESISTANCE. YET, THROUGH DELIBERATE EFFORT AND SHARED VISION, IT HAS GROWN INTO A GLOBALLY RECOGNISED UNIVERSITY, RANKED AMONG THE BEST IN SOUTH AFRICA. Her remarks highlighted not only the institution’s history, but the collective effort that continues to define its trajectory. At the heart of the discussion was a reimagining of what it means to be an alumnus. Dr Sibusiso Bakana, President of the Executive Committee of Convocation and Council Member, challenged conventional perceptions. “Being an alumnus is often reduced to something too small, as though it simply means you studied here and moved on. In reality, it is far more profound. To be a UJ alumnus is to belong to a living legacy. Graduation is not the end of the relationship, it is the beginning of a new one. A student belongs to a university for a season, but an alumnus belongs for life,” he said.
Ms Nomaxabiso Tata – Member of the Executive Committee of Convocation
Ms Puleng Moloi - Member of Council & Member of the Executive Committee of Convocation
Prof Bettine van Vuuren – Registrar
ALUMNI IMPUMELELO
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