2014 Annual Report

The Council of the University is pleased to note that during the year under review, the University’s strategic direction continued to be supported by its commitment to excellence in corporate governance at all levels. One of the effects of this commitment is an enabling academic environment in which staff and students are both inspired and supported. This Annual Report goes some way towards reflecting
the many achievements of the University over the year – achievements which have enhanced its current standing as a globally-recognised, research-led institution.
This Report also provides a fitting opportunity for me to pay tribute to the contribution of the University’s founding Vice-Chancellor, Professor Malegapuru William Makgoba, to the achievements of the University. Professor Makgoba, whose term of office ended on 31 December 2014, led the growth and transformation of the University since its formation 10 years ago. During that period he maintained
a passionate commitment to raising the research profile of the University. As the current institutional research rankings indicate, this is an endeavour in which he was highly successful and in which he was fully supported by Council. Another of his notable achievements was to place the University in a leading position in relation to its transformation profile – an achievement reflected in both the composition of
our staff and students, and in our academic focus as a globally-relevant, but distinctly African university