by Kegorapetse | Aug 21, 2020 | SMU Media
- The President of the Republic, Mr. Ramaphosa has announced that the country should be moved to alert level 2 of the risk adjusted strategy by midnight on 17 August 2020. The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation has announced sometime back that each University would be allowed to bring back a total of 66% of the total student headcount to the campus during alert level 2.
- Informed by the above, the Executive Committee of Senate (ECS) met on 20 August 2020 to discuss the matter, and resolved to bring back to the University owned residences and University leased residences the students as follows guided by the 66% maximum limit allowable:
For more details, please follow the link below:
by Kegorapetse | Aug 9, 2020 | SMU Media
Women of 1956, who defied all odds and confronted the erstwhile Apartheid regime. Through a peaceful and organized protest, over 20 000 women from all races staged a historic march to the Union Buildings as a sign of defiance to the unjust pass laws that were extended to women in the country. Led by Lillian Ngoyi, Albertina Sisulu, Sophia De Bruyn and Helen Joseph amongst others, these women challenged the state in a manner unparalleled and their valiant deeds continue to inspire many across the globe.
The 2020 commemoration of Women’s Day however, takes place under very difficult circumstances as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic that has affected the whole world. In our country it is also important to mention that we are still under a government imposed lockdown with clear restrictions on some activities.
We also sadly are aware about the current challenges still confronting our women even during this period of the lockdown. Many women continue to face the menace of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and femicide. Sadly, it is also widely reported that members of the LGBTQI community are still subjected to serious levels of abuse as well. The rural women, the young girls, women with disabilities and elderly women continue to bear the brunt of poverty, inequality and in some cases perennial abuse.
It is for this reason that we all need to stand up and support these women and play our part by acting in a manner that is consistent with respecting their rights. In line with the 2020 Theme “Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights for an Equal Future”, we call upon Women to reclaim their space and determine their own future like the 1956 generation did.
At Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, it has to be part of our organizational culture that Women are treated equally and with the respect they deserve. As part of celebrating our women in the university, we pause and recognize those who have been given leadership and management responsibilities and hope that they will inspire more women to develop themselves and also take up huge responsibilities. We celebrate all academic and administrative support staff at all levels, our message of gratitude also goes to the cleaners, the security personnel and all our female students. We salute these female students and urge them to continue to fight for equal education opportunities and equal representation.
How can we also forget the fallen heroines – the SMU Alumni who passed on? They have made a meaningful contribution in the lives of the people.
In order to give meaningful impetus to the call for the realization of this year’s Theme, our policies in the university should continue to speak to the emancipation, protection and recognition of women as part of addressing the inequalities that women are subjected to.
We join the rest of the country in wishing everyone a very happy Women’s Day.
Issued by: Marketing and Communication
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
Download: SMU-WomensDay-Message-2020
by Kegorapetse | Jul 30, 2020 | SMU Media
The memo serves to inform the University community of the decisions of the Executive Committee of Senate meeting held on 29 July 2020 on matters related to the reorganization of the 2020 academic calendar. It should be noted that the calendar provides a broad framework for Schools to work within. For this reason, some Schools or even some academic programmes might finish the academic year earlier than the latest date indicated in the calendar.
More details can be accessed by following the download below:
Revised-2020-Academic-Calendar-from-29-July-2020
by Kegorapetse | Jul 24, 2020 | Accolades and Achievements, SMU Media
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) made history when it broke into the uniRank’s top 200 popular and recognized higher‐education institutions in Africa. Since its inception in 2014, SMU is ranked for the first time at position number 184 out of about 1300 higher education institutions in Africa, 23rd in South Africa and 6907 of 13,000 Universities and Colleges in the world.
UniRank selection criteria involves the commissioning, certification and/or accreditation by the appropriate higher education‐related organization in each country, offering at least four‐year undergraduate bachelor or postgraduate degrees (masters or doctoral), delivering courses mainly in a traditional face‐to‐face platforms. The independent web intelligence sources provide uniRank with valid, and unbiased web metrics, rather than using data submitted by the respective Universities themselves.
While we value our entry into the world of university rankings in just five years of our existence, our focus remains on pursuing academic excellence and making significant impact in the lives of ordinary people in South Africa and in the region.
by Kegorapetse | Jul 16, 2020 | SMU Media
In accepting the donation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)s from SANLAM, Prof Peter Mbati, SMU’s Vice-Chancellor highlighted that the donation would go a long way to minimise the risks of student exposure to COVID 19 during their clinical commitments.
“The COVID 19 pandemic has brought to the institutions of higher learning very unique challenges. It has forced us to rethink the way we do many things. It has had an impact on how we use resources. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)s have become a major challenge to SMU.” said Prof Mbati.
SMU trains health professionals who are in many ways working in the frontline of the war against COVID 19. No effort should be spared to make sure that these students are protected so that they complete their training. The donation will go a long way to ensure that they graduate and proceed to heal the sick in the health care industry.
Prof Mbati expressed his gratitude that the PPE’s were handed over at the time when students communicated their concern that the university should have done better to provide more PPE’s to protect the students against exposure to COVID 19.
“The fact that SANLAM has risen to the challenge to support SMU with PPE’s, is something we are very grateful about” said Prof Peter Mbati.
Mr Tendani Matshisevhe, Head, Group market Development, in handing over the donation, pointed out that the donation signals the level of confidence SANLAM has in the future health professionals that the university is producing. South Africa’s economy needs healthy people. The students must graduate in good health for them to go on to create their own private practices. SANLAM will thrive if the economy is doing well.
“Medical students are in the frontline against COVID 19 and they need our assistance. Our involvement is that we are looking at the relationship with the future in mind. These students are the future that we must look after. SMU is very important to us and we will keep on supporting it as a good partnership means being together in good, and in bad times”, said Matshisevhe.
SANLAM donated the following PPE’s:
- 2000 N95 face masks
- 1000 protective gowns
- 300 face screens
- 300 Aprons
The total value of all these PPE’s is R80 000.
Prof Mbati also expressed the wish to see SANLAM contributing much more than the donation of the PPE’s. Matshisevhe also articulated his wish to take the relationship to a higher level.
By Maditsi Matlala
