by Kegorapetse | May 10, 2020 | Accolades and Achievements
It gives me great pleasure to announce the appointment of the new VICE-CHANCELLOR onto the staff of Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU).
After a rigorous and thorough process, the Council has appointed Professor Peter Mbati to the position of Vice-Chancellor at SMU, and he will commence employment with effect from 1 June 2020.
Professor Mbati holds the following qualifications, amongst others: Bachelor of Education Honours (Botany and Zoology); Master of Science (Parasitology) and Doctor of Philosophy (Parasitology).
He has a wealth of experience in academic leadership, having held various senior positions such as Campus Principal at the University of the Free State, Group Executive at the Agricultural Research Council and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Venda. He is currently the Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Academics and Quality at the Botho University, Botswana.
SMU is fortunate to have attracted the services of the calibre of Professor Mbati, who comes with the requisite strategic leadership and management experience in, and sound knowledge of, the Higher Education Sector, having already previously served two terms as a Vice-Chancellor.
Council looks forward to working closely with Professor Mbati in leading the overall development and growth of SMU, and unlocking value for the University.
I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Professor Lekan Ayo-Yusuf for acting in the position of Vice-Chancellor and steering the University through challenging times, including this unprecedented phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. I have no doubt that he and the rest of the Executive Team will support the Vice-Chancellor in fulfilling his role.
Please join me in welcoming Professor Mbati to Team SMU!
Announcements-on-appointment-VC-SMU
by Kegorapetse | May 10, 2020 | Accolades and Achievements
Media Statement
10 May 2020
For Immediate Release
South Africa and the world are battling COVID-19 which is threatening to fundamentally change our lives and the future of humanity. The national disaster declared by the President of the Republic, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa and lockdown regulations released by government are meant to curb infections and flatten the curve. These interventions were necessary to save our individual and collective health in the face of a pandemic caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19).
After considering the attendant implications of COVID-19 on the university business as a whole including the academic activities, the Executive Committee of Senate (acting on behalf of Senate) took a decision that the University should proceed with the conferment and awarding of Degrees and Diplomas to graduands and diplomates who have fulfilled the requirements of their specific qualifications on 11-13 May 2020, at the virtual graduation ceremonies.
SMU Chancellor Designate Dr Zweli Mkhize who is also minister of health will confer the qualifications to all candidates who qualified online.
“We wish to congratulate all those who will be awarded their qualifications. The university will at a later stage hold normal graduations ceremonies once the situation in the country permits to afford our students and their families an opportunity to fully celebrate the achievements”, said Dr Eric Pule SMU spokesperson.
All qualifying candidates will graduate in absentia, and those who need their certificates on an urgent basis, will begin to receive copies of those from Friday, 22 May 2020. The original certificates will only be released or collected when the situation in the country and University has returned to normal.
The virtual graduations ceremonies will be held as follows:
11 May 2020 – School of Science and Technology
12 May 2020 – School of Health Care Sciences; and School of Pharmacy
13 May 2020 – School of Oral Health Sciences; and School of Medicine
Time: 10am
“I am glad that the Executive Committee of Senate has decided to release, liberate and free our graduates through these virtual graduation ceremonies. It was the right decision to make under the circumstances,” said SMU Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof O Ayo-Yusuf.
To be part of the graduations proceedings, please visit our website on www.smu.ac.za and click on the 2020 SMU virtual graduations link to witness this historic events over a period of three days.
Issued by the Marketing & Communication
For more details, please contact Dr Eric Pule, email address eric.pule@smu.ac.za
Phone 012 521 4563 Cell: 0635035587
Website: www.smu.ac.za
Download: Media-Statement-SMU-virtual-graduations-ceremonies-10May2020
by Kegorapetse | May 10, 2020 | Accolades and Achievements
Media Statement
10 May 2020
For Immediate Release
The South African government is currently under pressure to scale up screening and testing for Coronavirus infection in communities. Organizations and institutions of higher learning are actively working on ways to support government in conquering the spread of COVID-19. To this end, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) has designed an innovative new Web APP which will contribute to containing the virus and to monitor COVID-19 related symptoms amongst staff and students.
This App will alleviate pressure on government and other health professionals to provide regular screening for the University community as they go about their work and study on campus. The COVID-19 monitor Web APP which can be accessed through any mobile device, is launched with the view of continued use at SMU both during and after the challenging period of the recent lockdown.
“Our staff and students on campus will be able to daily self-check on their health status by answering a series of questions about symptoms known to be associated with Coronavirus infection, including any possible recent exposures and testing. Based on the responses provided, together with exposure history weighted higher than others, the APP then provides a risk score with relevant recommendations and next steps”, says SMU spokesperson Dr Eric Pule. These risk scores are colour-coded and, indicates either to contact a medical provider and/or call the National Department of Health’s Hotline number that appears on the risk report dashboard. This information would also be immediately available to a restricted number of pre-approved health professionals including the campus health doctor who are part of the SMU COVID-19 response team. The health provider can then advise on the need to either test and/or quarantine or self-isolate. This also allows those who may possibly have reported exposure to a COVID-19 positive patient or who themselves have tested positive while at home or on campus to self-report. The SMU response team would therefore be able to act swiftly with regards to referral for quarantine and/or isolation, as well as contact tracing in collaboration with the District Health Response team.
The Web APP developed by Prof Ayo-Yusuf at no cost to the University, will be used only as a screening tool and it is not intended to replace a consultation with a medical professional. The APP further provides a link to the National Department of Health Coronavirus website (https://sacoronavirus.co.za/) for the latest information on available resources, press releases and toolkits to support staying healthy.
“We pride ourselves as being the first University to launch such a real time screening tool for staff and students before returning to campus in order to ensure collective safety. This has received the support of the Student Representative Council and organised Labour”, says SMU spokesperson Dr Eric Pule.
This is a web App available through the SMU website which is zero-rated (no cost) by all major mobile network providers, thus the data requirement to use the App is zero. Due to the lag time between infection and appearance of COVID-19 symptoms, the University’s Web APP Monitor permits staff and students to in real time report early symptoms, track and understand the trajectory of their symptoms through this self-screening process. Especially important as we move into the Flu season, the APP can be used regularly to ensure early warning when the user feels unwell or becomes aware of exposure to any known COVID-19 positive person. The SMU COVID-19 Monitor web APP will be accessible to all students, staff and joint appointees working at the Doctor George Mukhari Academic Hospital.
“The APP will support the plans by the Department of Higher Education Training, Science and Technology to save the academic year 2020, while also appropriately responding to the call to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, it will contribute and support the recommended 360-degree screening/testing of students and staff returning to our campus”, emphasized Dr Pule.
The APP can be directly accessed as often as required via any mobile device using a link that would be sent to all students and staff by SMS and email.
Issued by the Marketing & Communication
For more details, please contact Dr Eric Pule, email address eric.pule@smu.ac.za
Phone 012 521 4563 Cell: 0635035587
Website: https://www.smu.ac.za
Download: Media-Statement-SMU-launches-Covid-19-App-for-staff-and-students_10May2020
by Kegorapetse | Mar 30, 2020 | Accolades and Achievements, SMU Media
South Africa, like the rest of the world, is affected by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic crisis, having registered the first case on 5th March 2020.
Following the Cabinet meeting on 15th March 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the national state of disaster, and announced measures that were intended to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Therefore on Tuesday, 17th March 2020, the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr BE Nzimande and the Deputy Minister, Mr Buti Manamela, met with various stakeholders in the Post-School Education and Training sector to discuss necessary measures to be taken within the sector to curb the spread of the coronavirus and among others, the meeting with stakeholders agreed on the establishment of the PSET Task Team on Covid-19 that will guide the response of the PSET sector to the development of the pandemic and its implications for the sector and its role in society.
We are honored and grateful that our Acting Vice Chancellor – Professor O Ayo-Yusuf has been appointed to serve on the Ministerial task team. His enormous experience in the Higher Education Sector and expertise in public health will assist in guiding/advising the task team to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The Task Team shall, monitor the developments of the coronavirus pandemic, make continuous assessment and analysis of the available evidence to guide the decisions that affect the PSET sector and any adaptations required for policy-making; synthesize, collate and process research conducted by various agencies, institutions and individuals on relevant aspects of the pandemic to aid policy making and societal intervention; Identify cross-sectoral innovations, models, resources and expertise from within the PSET sector that could be mobilized and geared at various stages in the national effort to fight against the spread of the Covid-19 virus and manage its effects on communities; Make appropriate recommendations on the policy and strategy for consideration by the Minister; And with prior agreement of the Minister, make appropriate information available to the institutions in the sector to guide the decisions that may need to be made at various levels of the PSET governance structures.
Let us work together and take measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus in our beautiful country.
Issued by Marketing and Communication
Download: 2020-03-30-Prof-Ayo-Yusuf-appointment
by Kegorapetse | Mar 6, 2020 | Accolades and Achievements
Media Statement
06 March 2020
For Immediate Release
The Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University is elated to announce that its Deputy Vice Chancellor responsible for Teaching, Learning and Community Engagements, Professor Eunice Seekoe has recently been awarded a C rating by the National Research Foundation.
This NRF C rating category means that she is recognised as an established researcher with a sustained recent record of productivity in her field. The rating further denotes recognition from her peers as having produced a body of quality work, the core of which has coherence and attests to ongoing engagement in the field of focus.
Prof Seekoe’s work is about mentoring health professionals and leaders. “My research area focused on developing competencies, building capacity and empowerment of health professionals and leaders. I developed a model for mentoring health professionals and leaders, which has been used to develop and implement programmes for newly appointed employees, students at undergraduate and post graduate levels”, said Prof Seekoe.
Her model is currently used in developing health executive leaders in a specific programme of Albertina Sisulu Executive Leadership in Health (ASELPH) in the 9 Provinces across the country.
Through her research work, Prof Eunice Seekoe supervised to completion 33 Masters Students and 8 PhD’s and published 52 papers and continues to present papers in local and international conferences.
“The university is very proud to have an accomplished and consummate researcher like Professor Seekoe and this goes to demonstrate the quality of academics and executive management that SMU has. Her knowledge and passion about health issues will help SMU in its pursuit to produce quality professionals for the country”, says Dr Eric Pule, SMU Director of Marketing and Communication.
The NRF ratings are normally allocated based on a researcher’s recent outputs and impact as perceived by international peer reviewers and those awarded are expected to impart cutting edge skills and knowledge to the next generation of researches.
Issued by the Marketing & Communication
For more details, please contact Dr Eric Pule, email address eric.pule@smu.ac.za
Phone 012 521 4563 Cell: 0635035587
Website: www.smu.ac.za
Download: Media-Statement-06-March-2020-Prof-Seekoe-C-rating
by Kegorapetse | Feb 23, 2020 | Accolades and Achievements
SMU SOPA Announcement 2020
Media Statement
23 February 2020
For Immediate Release
The Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University will host the annual Gauteng State of the Province Address on the 25th February 2020. The SOPA is an important event in the calendar of the provincial legislature and the University is pleased that the legislature chose SMU to host the sixth official opening.
“The University community has cooperated with the organizers of the event throughout and understood that the sports complex precinct is now under the control of the Legislature until after the event. On behalf of the entire SMU community, I wish Premier David Makhura well as he prepares to address the people of Gauteng from our University and assure all invited guests of our hospitality”, said SMU Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Lekan Ayo-Yusuf.
The opening of the Legislature marks the first sitting of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature and Premier David Makhura will use the event to outline the plans of the Gauteng Executive for the year.
Date: 25 February 2020
Time: 10am
Venue: Sefako Makhatho Health Sciences University, Sports Complex
Issued by the Marketing & Communication
For more details, please contact Dr Eric Pule, email address eric.pule@smu.ac.za
Phone 012 521 4563 Cell: 0635035587
Website: www.smu.ac.za
Download: Media-Statement-SOPA-23Feb2020
