by Lorato | Oct 16, 2023 | All News, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) hosted a Public Lecture delivered by the University of Johannesburg Vice Chancellor and Principal, Prof. Letlhokwa Mpedi, on 12 October 2023 with the topic: Exploring the ethics and legalities of artificial reproductive technology through an African lens.
This is part of a series of lectures hosted by SMU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Peter Mbati with the understanding that a university has a critical role to play in the creation of a platform for dialogue and should get involved in public discourse, particularly, as it relates to pertinent issues in society.
In his welcoming address, SMU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mbati underlined the significance of the lecture in the context of accelerated technological developments on the continent, further stating that this lecture is, indeed, timely. Mbati described Prof Mpedi as a distinguished NRF rated scholar with a B rating who enjoys immense international recognition by his peers and further explained that he has published widely on social security and labour law.
Speaking during the lecture, Prof Mpedi mentioned that the issue of Artificial Reproductive Technology (ART), is something he has been writing and researching about for a number of years and that he is excited by the legalities and ethical considerations behind the technology.
“In recent years, there has been remarkable progress in the field of reproductive technologies. These technologies include medical procedures used to address infertility”, Mpedi explained. He added that in the African context, research suggested that the constantly and rapidly changing lifestyle is fundamentally impacting fertility.
“The African continent has a higher prevalence of STIs and postpartum and post-abortion infections which contributes to both male and female infertility”, Mpedi said.
Mpedi used the opportunity to speak about three key areas impacted by technology in the artificial reproductive space such as artificial wombs, genes editing and embryo donation/adoption adding that the use of these technologies will require laws to be reformed. “Medical technologies advance at a rapid pace while the laws take forever to catch up”, he emphasized. Mpedi also called for sound ethical frameworks that will serve as a basis for regulation and challenged the legal fraternity to keep up with developments in the space and respond accordingly.
What became apparent from the lecture is the fact that technological developments are critical to the overall development of society. Mpedi, however, cautioned that whilst it is important to embrace technology, we should, equally, be mindful that it also ushers us into the world of the unknown, leaving us with many questions than answers, particularly with regard to the adoption of artificial reproductive technology (ATR).
The lecture provided a platform for participants to engage on ATR, weaving together, amongst others, religious, economic, ethical and cultural considerations. What clearly emerged from the deliberations is the need for collaborative efforts among institutions to consider the challenges and opportunities presented by Artificial Reproductive Technology.
From the VCs Desk - University of Johannesburg VC and Principal Prof Letlhokwa Mpedi delivered a captivating lecture at SMU
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by Lorato | Oct 5, 2023 | Accolades and Achievements, All News
An SMU delegation arrived at the platinum belt of South Africa, on the 04 October 2023. This is an area with over 80% of the world’s known platinum reserves. The delegation was led by the Vice-Chancellor,
Prof. Peter Mbati, to the Moses Kotane Municipality to sign a Memorandum of Understanding involving the Municipality,
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) and the North West University (NWU).
The air was ripe with expectation; and there was little doubt that this was an august and watershed moment. The solemnity of the occasion was the blessings of the Pastor over the proceedings. The meeting was held in the Mayoral Executive Chambers and was attended by the Mayor, Councilor, Nketu Nkotswe and members of the Municipality; representatives from SMU, representatives from the Provincial House of traditional leaders, NWU, public servants; representatives from the mining sector in the area and Sun City resort.
The participants were warmly welcomed by the Mayor, who emphasized the importance of collaboration. She further indicated that given that the municipality is rural in nature, such collaborations help to develop and provide opportunities to the learners in the area. She indicated that she can contest that this ‘MOU will contribute to the sustainable development goals and overall local economic development’. As such, she emphasized that the Municipality remains committed to public private partnerships and is always willing to enter these partnerships in the interest of economic development in the area.
See attached article for more details
by Lorato | Sep 29, 2023 | All News, SMU Media, Student Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) through the Office of the Vice-Chancellor Prof Peter Mbati hosted a delegation of the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) yesterday 28 September 2023. The MQA delegation was led by their Chief Executive Officer Dr Thabo Mashongoane. The meeting took place as part of the University’s efforts to strengthen partnerships with various institutions in support of the University’s academic core business. SMU and MQA presented both their strategic plans emphasizing the need to collaborate more on research, funding of more students and community development projects. SMU further used the occasion to highlight issues relating to curriculum gaps and Prof Mbati mentioned that these curriculum gaps might be of interest to the MQA in terms of SMU’s New Business Model. The session further gave SMU and MQA the opportunity to outline their particular strategies that will contribute to the skills development of SMU students and lecturers, while further strengthening the partnership. MQA currently funds some SMU students and it is envisaged that through the strengthening of relations, more students will in future benefit from the partnership. It was resolved that a workshop will be held in the near future to map out in more detail collaborative projects between SMU and MQA, which will then be reduced into a memorandum of understanding.
by Lorato | Sep 27, 2023 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, Student Media
Dr Refilwe Mokgatlha was born in Lehurutshe and raised in Gopane village in the North-West Province. She went to Mmabatho High School, where she was in a boarding school for the entire duration of her high school years until the completion of matric. “As a young girl, I enjoyed being there for others and assisting them. I was also a bookworm, and in high school through the assistance of our guidance teacher at the time, I knew I wanted to be in health care. There were three professions in health care that I liked; in standards 9 and 10 (currently grades 11 and 12) we were required to accompany working people in the fields we were interested in for some time. Dentistry became my first love”, says Dr Mokgatlha.
Dr. Mokgatlha holds various qualifications at undergraduate and post- graduate levels. She holds a Bachelor of Dental Sciences Degree (BDS, University of Witwatersrand); a Post-graduate Diploma in Endodontics (PgDipDent, University of Pretoria); Master of Dental Science in Prosthodontics (MDS) and a Master of Dentistry in Prosthodontics (MDent, Prostho) attained at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University – the first black female to achieve this qualification at SMU. She is a member of the International Team of Implantology (ITI) and the Academy of Prosthodontics South Africa (APSA) and is currently a part-time lecturer at SMU. Her key responsibilities involve lecturing the undergraduate students (Second, Third and Fourth year BDS students), teaching pre-clinical techniques and overall clinical supervision.
“I am not where I would want to be, but I believe I am where I am supposed to be now, according to the divine plan and guidance, there is still more that I would like to accomplish, a mountain peak of a mountain is only the bottom of the next. I will do a PhD in the future”, Dr. Mokgatlha expressed.
Her journey at SMU started in 2010 when she was working as a sessional Dentist in the Department of Prosthodontics. In 2014, she registered for a Master of Dental Science (MDS), as she desired to specialise in Prosthodontics at a later stage. The earlier years were a challenge to her, especially during her time as a sessional Dentist, a Developmental Dentist and an MDS student.
Dr. Mokgatlha believes that, for any academic department to achieve what is required of it, it is important to have sufficient support for the undergraduates, postgraduates, and the rest of the clinical staff to adequately teach, guide and mentor them in the field. In this way, the dentists in the department will be motivated to develop themselves further in the same field of study. This directly speaks to the importance of some degree of stability that can be brought about by the right amount of human resources especially people who are passionate about this field of study, teaching, and learning, as well as those who have an appreciation of teamwork.
“Success is very personal and relative. I believe everyone has their meaning of success, a meaning that gives them a sense of having accomplished something important based on their values, virtues as well and desires. One then should have the perseverance and resilience to push to accomplish, that which is meaningful to them, and to reach those goals we set for ourselves. We should continuously be willing to learn, to fail (if we do) forward, to take each challenge as a steppingstone and keep moving”, Dr. Mokgatlha remarked.
by Lorato | Sep 21, 2023 | All News, Alumni, SMU Media, Student Media
A key aspect in resource mobilization (advancement) relates to constant engagements with institutional donors. This involves regular meetings with them, updating them on how funds they have contributed are being utilized, current developments and future strategic plans. The University sees this as a critical layer of accountability and stewardship.
It is against this background that SMU, on the 14 September 2023, hosted a group of SMU donors in Pretoria. Led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Peter Mbati, the engagement had the following key objectives:
- Provision of a platform on which donors could network with the University and amongst themselves,
- Updating donors on current infrastructure development projects, and the university’s strategic direction, and;
- Nomination of two donor representatives to serve on the University Council.
The following companies were represented at the gala dinner:
- Discovery
- Standard Bank
- Modern Community Foundation
- Medical Protection Society
- Royal Bafokeng Institute
- Modern centric
- Straumann Group
- Nedbank
- Sanlam
- BBBEE Consulting experts
- Fundi Capital
- Dwarsrivier Chrome Mine
- BCX
In his opening address, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Peter Mbati, gave an overview of the current developments, including the revision of the strategic plan, highlighting the challenges and needs encountered by the university in pursuit of the provision of quality teaching, learning, research and innovation. He further highlighted the university’s plans as outlined in the recently revised strategic plan, currently being considered by the university’s Council.
Acknowledging that sound teaching and learning and research and innovation must be adequately supported by requisite infra- structure, Ms Yandisa Lengoasa, Director: Built Environment made a presentation in which she outlined the current infrastructure projects and the impact they are likely to have on the academic project, once completed.
As commonly understood, a critical aspect for the success of any institution relates to the strength of its governance. To this end, the University Registrar, Dr Jeffrey Mabelebele, made a brief presentation focusing on governance, outlining the role of the donors in pursuit of strong governance structure. He further encouraged the delegates to make themselves available to serve on SMU Council.
VCs Desk - Meeting of the minds SMU Management meets with donors
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by Lorato | Sep 14, 2023 | All News, SMU Media, Student Media
At the end of a two-day intensive Council strategic planning workshop that took place from 05 – 06 September 2023, the SMU Council engaged robustly on the proposed strategic priorities of the University. The session was attended by both the Council members and members of the University Management team led by the Vice-Chancellor. The new Strategic Plan for 2024 to 2028 will be grounded on the centrality of the academic project and excellence in its operations and services to staff and students. The University Council reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the University continues to pay sufficient attention to the quality of the graduates it produces, who will be able to serve the greater good of our nation and the world. Therefore, the environment within which these students are molded, including their student experience, should be prioritized in the new strategic plan.
In light of several new developments in the academe, changes in policies at institutional and national level, and the need to align with best practices both nationally and globally, there was a need to review the 2021 – 2025 Strategic Plan for relevance and impact, which has led to the development of the new Strategic Plan 2024 – 2028.
It is important to note that health sciences degrees are expensive to offer. The Council has, therefore, resolved to introduce appropriate measures to secure the financial viability of the university in the medium to long term. In his introduction of the 2024 – 2028 strategic plan, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Peter Mbati, presented the following factors which are relevant in the crafting of the strategy:
• Financial sustainability for SMU as a priority in securing the future of the academic project.
• The provision of quality services and products.
• Improved levels of staff efficiency.
• A digitization strategy for the university.
• Professionalization of the workforce.
• Building a strong SMU brand.
• Production of globally competitive graduates.
• Well defined collaboration between SMU, Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, the SMU Dental Hospital, the National Health Laboratory Services and the Gauteng Department of Health.
Some of the key institutional initiatives discussed during the planning session included the following:
• The establishment of a Centre for Pandemics.
• The proposal for the re-establishment of a School of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Health.
• Report on the commercialization of SMU land, and;
• The New Business Model, aimed at ensuring SMUs sustainability.
In her concluding remarks at the end of the two-day workshop, the Chairperson of Council Ms. Maria Rambauli reflected on the long and sometimes arduous journey in stabilizing leadership and governance at SMU. She reminded delegates that while there were a lot of achievements that the University could be proud of, the journey ahead still required dedication and focus, and that the well-crafted 2024 – 2028 strategic plan would be the road map to guide us. It is anticipated that the Council will approve the strategy at its next sitting. Thereafter, a process to create and deepen awareness around the strategic priorities of the University amongst stakeholders will be prioritized.
