by Lorato | Aug 18, 2022 | All News, SMU Media
Senior representatives from 23 South African Institutions, including vice chancellors and deputy chancellors, representatives from the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the South African Department of Higher Education (DHET), attended South Africa and France Higher Education Week, held in Paris and Mont-pellier from the 27th June to 2 July 2022.
The event was organised by the French Embassy in South Africa in collaboration with Campus France and the National Research Foundation. Professor Tunon de Lara, the President of France Universities, His Excellency (HE) Mr. Tebogo Seokolo, the South African Ambassador to France, and His Excellency (HE) Mr. Aurèlian Lechevallier, the French Ambassador to South Africa, were also present as members of the local French delegation. The primary goal of the event was to strengthen collaborations between the two countries, encourage research productivity, enhance postgraduate research and training, strengthen knowledge exchange and broaden staff and student mobility programs.
The SMU delegation, led by Professor Patrick Demana, Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic and Research, Professor Mapaseka Seheri, Director of Research and Innovation, Professor Larry Obi, Dean of Science and Technology, and Dr. Antonio Lentoor, Senior Lecturer and Interdisciplinary Neurocognitive Scientist from the Department of Clinical Psychology, represented the University on the platform for the governance of higher education institutions in France and South Africa.
The visit played a significant role in pursuit of the university’s vision, conceived, among other things, on the necessity of advancing and enhancing internationalisation and strategic partnerships, particularly in research, innovation, scholarship and science diplomacy in key areas of research that highlight SMU’s mission.
Universities such as the University of Portiers, University of Paris Est Centreil (UPEC), University of Paris Saclay, University of Bordeaux and University of Montpellier have been earmarked for potential collaboration to further strengthen SMU’s agenda on internationalisation and strategic research, student and staff mobility. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be developed for each institution in this regard.
It is important to note that as part of its expansion, SMU is in the process of establishing the School of Veterinary Sciences and the Department of Optometry in the School of Healthcare Sciences. Regarding the latter, possible teaching and learning collaboration with institutions in France, with similar programmes, will be explored and further be considered for international benchmarking following discussion with relevant universities in this regard.
Prof Patrick Demana leads an SMU Delegation to France
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Created: 18-08-2022
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by Lorato | Aug 16, 2022 | All News, SMU Media
Have you ever wondered why some Universities always appear to have “extra” funds to support needy students by offering bursaries/scholarships, and to support initiatives such as providing meals to needy students?
Many times, these are older well-established institutions where the culture of giving has been ingrained in the psyche of staff, alumni and members of the convocation of these institutions.
We, at SMU, have now taken a conscious decision to primarily sensitize our staff, students, alumni and convocation that they must be the first port of call when it comes to fund raising efforts for our needy students. Our view is simple: that unless we ourselves become champions of giving, nobody else will believe in our calls to fund raise. If we don’t believe in the cause ourselves, why should anybody else? It is for this reason that we, recently, launched the SMU Harambee Annual Fund which has been well received by our staff, students and alumni.
The spirit of Ubuntu and giving is part of our DNA. It is a long known African tradition that a child belongs to the community and hence the adage:
“It Takes a Village to Raise a Child”.
Our students are our children; and SMU is their community which is expected to contribute towards their growth and development. To our SMU staff, students, alumni and convocation, I passionately call on your virtue
and sense of community and belonging! Let us nurture a spirit and culture of giving by providing a safety net for our vulnerable students by giving them a sense of pride and dignity. I urge you to support the SMU Harambee initiative!
Ways to give
1. Payroll donations
2. Online donations: https://smu.devman.co.za/devman/online/giving/
3. Pay Scan – Zapper
4. SMU banking details Ref: Standard bank, Acc: 070754128, Branch code 020909, Q013 – Name Surname
Contact Details: Mr. Sbusiso Gwala: Institutional Advancement Officer |
Department: Communications and Marketing
Unit: Institutional Advancement
Email: sbusiso.gwala@smu.ac.za
Cell: 073 069 0428
by Lorato | Aug 11, 2022 | All News, SMU Media
The honourable Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande formally launched the Sibusiso Bengu Development Programme (SBDevP) in Durban on 22 July 2022. This programme was previously called the historicallly disadvantaged institutions (HDI) grant, but has now been expanded with a much larger budget. The launch was attended by Vice Chancellors and other Senior Managers from the eight universities designated as historically disadvantaged, the DG, DDGs and other Senior officials from the Department of Higher Education and Training. The patron of the Programme, Professor Sibusiso Bengu (first Minister of Education in the democratic South Africa) was also present with members of his family.
The SMU Vice Chancellor Prof. Peter Mbati delivered an address representing HDIs while the key note address was delivered by the Minister Dr Nzimande. The SMU delegation consisted of Prof. Patrick Demana (Acting DVC Academic & Research), Mr. Theo Bhengu (Director Grants) and Dr. Senoelo Nkhase (Director Centre for University Teaching and Learning). The SBDevP continues to be an important intervention in our HDIs without which the current transformation witnessed in these institutions would not have been seen. This development grant has assisted universities by providing funding to resolve institution specific challenges, backlog of infrastructure neglect and decay, and serving as a catalyst for effective and efficient functioning in key academic and operational administrative functions. In his career as Vice-Chancellor, Mbati has been in the inimitable position of being at the helm of two HDIs, and this fund has critically changed the operating landscape of these institututions, including among others:
- Establishment of Centres for Higher Education Teaching and Learning/CUTL, with funding made available to appoint qualified academic practitioners with requisite skills and experience.
- Reviews and development of PQMs in line with our Ministers’ call for a differentiated higher education sector, with universities playing to their strengths and not attempting to be clones of existing institutions.
- Establishment of Grants Management offices, to ensure that the SBDevP is uncompromising in the manner the projects are managed, and that we can account fully for resources given to the University.
- Review of the Viability and Sustainability of program offerings, thereafter canning those that are not viable, and appropriately recurriculating others as the market may demand.
- Capacity in critical administrative and operations divisions to increase efficiency and productivity, including the development and embedding of systems to improve operational efficiencies and effectiveness at these institutions. For example with the dramatic increase in funding from Infrastructure Efficiency Grant, HDIs appointed skilled professionals with engineering, quantity surveying, project management, and other qualifications within the Built environment to provide the necessary oversight for mega projects funded through the Infrastructure Efficiency Grants. Etc,
As SMU was a new stand-alone university, there was a great need to review the governance systems, including the academic rules of the Schools and the reconfiguration of the academic governance committees. This programme funded the processes leading to the development of a new business model of the University to ensure it becomes financially sustainable in the long run. There were other strategic infrastructure projects that were made possible by the grant, including the Africa Bio-imaging Facility, Occupational Health and Safety Audits, and the Bulk Water System Contribution to the City of Tshwane.
Finally, SMU feels greatly honoured to have been chosen by DHET to be the home of programme management for the Sibusiso Bengu Development Programme and we have entered into a memorandum of agreement with DHET in this regard.
Despite the many challenges facing HDIs, the SBDevP enables these institutions to reimagine and renew ourselves, serving as a catalyst that enables their development plans to translate into quality and excellence.
Prof. Mbati took the opportunity to thank Minister Dr Blade Nzimande on behalf of HDIs for his steadfast belief and conviction in our higher education sector, and in particular, the requisite laser focused attention he has given to HDIs to transform into highly efficient well-resourced universities of choice.
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by Lorato | Aug 10, 2022 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, SMU Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) has taken a conscious decision to place the Academic Project (teaching and learning and research and innovation) at the centre of its operations. This involves the
establishment of national and international partnerships and collaborations to ensure that it has adequate capacity to support its strategic objectives.
It is against this background that SMU, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Peter Mbati, hosted the Chinese Embassy at SMU on the 27 July 2022. The Chinese delegation was led by the Chinese Minister Counsellor for Science and Technology, Mr Long SHEN and the second Secretary for Science and Technology, Mr. Wei XIE. The meeting follows on initial discussions with the Chinese Embassy as well as the prestigious Wenzhou Medical University located in Zhejiang, China.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Mbati said that “SMU has taken a de- liberate approach to establish partnerships to help address heath issues locally, continentally and globally through teaching and learning and research and innovation”. He further indicated that central to the discussion was the need to, broadly, deepen the relationships between SMU and Chinese higher education institutions.
In response, the Chinese Minister Counsellor emphasised his government’s commitment to advance health sciences and innovation, including the development of vaccines and research in smart agriculture. He further emphasised China’s commitment to fund research projects on the African continent. In this regard, the first project that will be initiated between SMU and the Chinese government is skills development and training in the field of ophthalmology, involving the Wenzhou Medical University.
The highly ranked Wenzhou Medical University (WMU) was identified as the partner of choice for collaboration with SMU. The initial engagements with WMU were aimed at the introduction of an Ophthalmology and Optometry Advanced training programme and the envisaged collaboration between SMU and WMU. This drew on ongoing SMUs efforts to strengthen and enhance strategic partnerships between academia and industry nationally and internationally.
As part of the meeting, SMU’s Director for Research and Innovation, Prof. Mapaseka Seheri made a presentation focusing on the establishment of the Centre of Pandemic Diseases. In her presentation, she indicated that as part of SMU’s strategic goals the university seeks to ensure that through the establishment of the Centre, it “contributes to ensuring an understanding of emerging pandemics and how best to treat them, and to strengthen health policies, equip policy and decision makers with evidence-based research interventions”. Furthermore, the Centre seeks to build collaborations with internationally recognized centers of excellence”, Prof. Seheri said. Possible collaborations with the Chinese government in this regard were considered.
To conclude what, in all respects, was a successful meeting, the Chinese visitors were taken through a campus tour where they visited the following laboratories: MECRU, Microbiology, Centre of Entrepreneurship and the EMU facility. What has become evident is the commitment between SMU and the Chinese Embassy to forge a partnership and to contribute to the training of health sciences practitioners and to address health challenges in South Africa, China and globally.
by Lorato | Jul 20, 2022 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, SMU Media
SMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Mbati has pledged to donate R10 000 once off payment to the Harambee Annual Fund. Mbati made this announcement during the launch of the fund on 18 July 2022 and further committed to contribute R1000 every month and urged all staff members to complete the employee deduction forms to make their monthly contributions.
Mbati explained that Harambee – a Swahili word, means coming together of a community to assist each other to achieve a common purpose. The proceeds of this fund is to help academically deserving yet financially constrained students. “The target is to have all staff members to contribute a certain amount to the fund on a monthly basis. A number of the executive and senior management team have pledged to contribute R500 every month. This fund will ensure that vulnerable students can pursue their academic dreams with dignity and in a caring environment”, explained the Vice-Chancellor. He further emphasized that the SMU Annual Fund will be the University’s umbrella strategy to raise funds through various activities targeting own internal staff and students, Convocation and Alumni, business and foundations at both national and international levels.
“My dream is that ALL the staff members at SMU will find it within their hearts to become part of this unique SMU initiative by making monthly contributions towards the fund, thereby becoming guardians of our needy students. It takes a village to raise a child. Let the spirit of Harambee live in us” said the VC. I have a lot of faith that the spirit of Ubuntu that lives in all of us will be our guiding conscience, and that this initiative that we have launched today will be sustained year round, he said.
SRC President Philani Mdakane used the occasion to challenge everyone to make a minimal contribution of R67. Let us use the 67 minutes of Mandela day and turn it into R67 contribution for this important cause. He pledged to make a personal contribution of R670 in line with the theme for Nelson Mandela Day. Mdakane said the SRC cannot turn a blind eye when students go to sleep without a meal. He said the spirit of giving must first start with the SMU community before soliciting contributions externally. He said this year the SRC helped more than 300 students through the hands of compassion as compared to previous years.
Ms Karabo Raphokoane who is a lecturer and an Executive member of of the University Alumni, urged all alumni to make a contribution to the fund. She hinted that the University’s alumni is willing to make a contribution and is supportive of initiatives of this nature. She committed to rally them to support the initiative through various activities. Ms Raphokoane reminded everyone that the same Alumni came to the rescue of students when Covid-19 hit our shores by contributing R25 000 towards their transportation. She further called on alumni that are on Campus to heed the call.
Dr Tshifhiwa Mulaudzi, the Chairperson of Nehawu encouraged staff members and students to make their contribution to the fund. “It takes a village to raise a child, all of us seated here are products of people who believed in us. Somebody somewhere made sacrifices”, said Mulaudzi. He said by making contributions, this will encourage others elsewhere to do the same. He said it is difficult for students to function optimally when they are hungry and called on everyone including big corporates to make contributions to the Harambee Fund. Mulaudzi also said he will climb Mount Kilimanjaro as part of raising funds for students.
The APSA/SAPTU union Chairperson Mr Monedi Lekabe also pledged support to the initiative. “The Vice-Chancellor alone cannot resolve the magnitude of the social ills of the past. It is for this reason that we request the whole SMU community to make a meaningful contribution to this Harambee fund to achieve the goal of raising the 1 million rand”, said Lekabe.
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SMU VC Prof Mbati launches the harambee fund
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Created: 20-07-2022
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by Lorato | Jul 18, 2022 | Accolades and Achievements, All News, SMU Media
The Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University and the community of Ga-Rankuwa recently signed an engagement protocol. The protocol provides a framework for effective communication and engagement between the two parties. Speaking at the signing ceremony, SMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Peter Mbati said, a university’s relevance is steeped in its commitment in uplifting the community within which it is located.
“We are a national asset and therefore belong rightfully to the entire country. Nonetheless, we have to be alive to the immediate community in which we are located, the Ga-Rankuwa community. By signing this protocol today, we agree to give effect to this aspiration. The protocol will help us to outline the modalities on how this will be done and govern our relationship moving forward”, emphasized Prof Mbati.
Mbati further emphasized that SMU is a University first and foremost and operates in terms of the Higher Education Act with a specific mandate to produce a certain caliber of health professionals. “This means that the teaching and learning must be correct, the support we give to our students and staff must be correct and the environment and training platform must also be conducive for them”, he said.
The Vice-Chancellor also told the community representatives that SMU is at an advanced stage of finalizing the process of commercializing the University land wherein business and the community will be given an opportunity to work with the institution on a variety of projects. He cautioned that it is important to be prudent when utilizing the University funds and be accountable for every cent spent. Furthermore, Mbati stressed that the university will not compromise on quality and pricing and will continuously conduct market surveys to have an appreciation of costs of goods and services to ensure value for money.
He lauded the teams that worked hard for the improvement of the community engagement protocol and called for all stakeholders to have an appreciation of their different roles. Speaking for business and the community, Mr N Maselela said when the first protocol was signed in 2016, they felt that the University was not listening to the community and a decision was made that a document that will guide the relationship between the two parties be created.
“Today we have revised the old document. In order for us to achieve the benefits, the must be a continuous process of engagement and it must be a peaceful process and therefore, no one should be undermined”, said Maselela. He called upon all parties to play their role so that the material conditions of people can change for the better. Maselela further said going forward, they want to see a company from the community of Ga-Rankuwa being given a huge responsibility by the University as part of building capacity. He cautioned against any form of segregation in business.
The Chief Financial Officer of SMU Mr Eminos Manyawi explained that the process to finalize the community engagement protocol was not easy with a lot of concessions having to be made. He mentioned that Council requested that the protocol should be revised considering that a lot had changed since the 2016 version was put in place. The CFO said despite the difficulties endured along the way, the protocol was a reflection of the harmonious relationship between the University and the community of Ga-Rankuwa. Manyawi explained that through this protocol, the University will communicate to the Ga-Rankuwa community the employment, business and developmental opportunities associated with the implementation of the infrastructural and other supply projects of the University.
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Newsflash - SMU and Ga-Rankuwa Community signs a protocol of engagement
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Created: 18-07-2022
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