A Black Tie/African Chic celebratory dinner for UJ’s outstanding alumni was held at the Johannesburg Country Club on 15 August, hosted by Chairperson of the Council, Xoliswa Kakana, and the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Letlhokwa Mpedi. The celebrations were opened by Prof Musawenkosi Saurombe, Associate Professor of Industrial Psychology and People Management, and the alumni were toasted by Prof Bettine van Vuuren, UJ Registrar. “This is a very, very special evening because we are here to celebrate you, to celebrate your achievements and your accomplishments, and we are very grateful and honoured to be able to do that with you,” said Prof van Vuuren. She especially applauded the women at the dinner, in recognition to Women’s Month (August). “Every woman in this room that is a trendsetter, that is in a leadership position, that is leading, and that is doing amazing things…Let us applaud these women in Women’s Month,” she said. Prof van Vuuren added that UJ continues to grow and continues to climb the rankings. “In 2005, no-one believed that within 20 years, this new university, a new kid on the block, would become a world-class university. And we are that because of you, because of each and every one of you, what you have accomplished and what you have contributed to the University,” she said. The alumni themselves had also grown in the same way. “I am sure when you think back to when you were younger, you may have doubted yourself…What you have done, what you have achieved and how you have actually risen and become. You are not at the pinnacle of your career, because you will go on and do many more great things, but where you are today is absolutely worthy of celebration. “With determination, with hard work, and with an infallible belief in ourselves, you and this university went from young and a new kid on the block to world-class individuals with huge contributions to society, to people around you, and huge contributions on the global stage,” she said. Prof Mpedi delivered the keynote address, in which he also focused on UJ’s impressive rise in rankings. “UJ is now ranked in the top 500 universities in the world,” he said, adding that UJ was also the only university that climbed a bench, i.e. from the 600s to the 500s, according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities (also known as the Shanghai Ranking). “As you make us proud, we must make you proud, and it’s not easy, but we’ll continue to do that… People didn’t believe in us, but we believed in ourselves, and we’ll continue to believe in ourselves, and we’ll continue to push the envelope,” he told the gathering. “Today is a mark of the progression in your journeys. Your achievements are indicative of the years of hard work, dedication, resilience, support, and of the excellence you have demonstrated. We are immensely proud of your accomplishments. “We look forward to seeing how you continue to grow professionally, intellectually, and as committed and respected citizens of our country and the wider global community,” he said. The vote of thanks at the event was made by Chief Financial Officer, Ms Nolwazi Mamorare. UJ CELEBRATES ITS ALUMNI AT AN ELEGANT DINNER DURING WOMEN’S MONTH
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1. Prof Musawenkosi Saurombe 2. Prof Bettine van Vuuren 3. Prof Letlhokwa Mpedi 4. Ms Nolwazi Mamorare
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