MESSAGE FROM THE VICE-CHANCELLOR AND PRINCIPAL, Prof LOYISO NONGXA

Prof. Loyiso Nongxa
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Among South African research intensive universities, Wits is a unique institution in relation to its location, student demographics and research capacity. This University occupies a significant role in the national research and innovation landscape by producing highly skilled graduates, generating groundbreaking research and participating in innovative knowledge transfer arrangements.

Since 1922 when it received its full university status, Wits has established itself as one of the world’s leading research intensive Universities. This university is now globally regarded as a gateway to intellectual engagement and research excellence in Africa. In the past five years Wits has repeatedly been ranked as one of the top 500 universities in the world where more than 20 000 universities exist. As we celebrate our achievement, we have a huge task to safeguard our reputation and aggressively enhance our international recognition as a research intensive university.

Over the next 12 years, we have to change gear to position this University in the top league of world leading universities. Our renewed commitment to internationalisation and development of teaching and learning, and research infrastructure is one way of expressing our firm belief in academic and research excellence, and rigorous public engagement at Wits.

In 2022, Wits will celebrate its centenary. As we approach our centenary we need to demonstrate our commitment to global standards of academic and research excellence. This we will do by increasing our high quality research output, improving postgraduate enrolment and throughput, attracting and retaining more highly talented staff, and attract more academically talented students. We need to improve financial investment in our intellectual and research projects, and commit ourselves to service excellence across all levels and aspects of university activities. We strive to be firmly embedded in top 100 world universities by 2022. The Vision 2022 Strategic Framework and the Wits 2013 Strategy articulate our strategic commitment to these goals and ideals.

Our ambitions demand that we reposition the University as a creative, innovative and publicly engaged institution which draws on strong scholarship and research.

The University’s strategic objectives as outlined in the Wits Vision 2022 Strategic Framework and the Wits 2013 Strategy are premised on our ambition to:

• pursue the top 100 goal as a proxy for world-class excellence
• amplify our generation of groundbreaking knowledge in niche areas of research
• optimise our visibility in the global environment
• maintain a high proportion of international students and staff
• recruit highly talented students for undergraduate education
• maintain a high proportion of highly talented postgraduate students
• produce highly influential graduates for the global civil society
• widen our footprint globally through extensive strategic networks
• attract and retain the best academic and support staff
• contribute to society through research, teaching and social engagement
• grow our local and international strategic networks and partnerships
• provide highly supportive research and educational environments
• establish and sustain a sound base for diversified sources of income
• provide world-class business systems, processes and administration
• retain a high degree of academic freedom and institutional independence

We aspire to be a publicly engaged institution, committed to developing strategic partnerships that will make Wits an active, committed, creative, innovative force that advances the public good. This engagement will locate the University in the community as a meaningful and responsive entity that makes a significant contribution to the advancement of our society.

The future and success of this University in achieving our goals will depend strongly on our leadership capacity, full support of the University community, and collective commitment of all staff to excellence. Wits 2013 Strategy marks the change of gear towards the top 100 goal which is embedded in our commitment to leading edge scholarship. This strategy was written after extensive consultation with students, staff and alumni, and external stakeholders including employers, donors, science councils, independent intellectuals and government entities. Achievement of our strategic goals will not only signal success for Wits, but will equally mark the significance of this University as part of the national research and innovation system. Our extensive consultation has reminded us that all Wits stakeholders are committed to academic excellence, leading edge research and scholarly activities and efficient administration and governance arrangements. Wits 2013 Strategy makes a call to all of us to demonstrate our renewed commitment to these principles, standards and values by unambiguously supporting Wits’ Vision 2022.

Professor Loyiso Nongxa

Vice-Chancellor and Principal