Keynote Address by the Minister of Higher Education and Trianing, Dr. B.E. Nzimande, MP at the DHET Summit on the Post-Administration pediod at Walter Sisulu University Mthatha Health Resource Centre, 25 March 2014 We are gathered here today to map out the road ahead for Walter Sisulu University (WSU), a university that has been in the public spotlight over the past few years and has evoked strong emotions, and holds the baton of hope for thousands of young people in this region and beyond. We all have the task of taking this university into the future as this institution has the potential to fulfil the dreams of many. The future is beckoning to us with new hope now that the foundations,which have been laid over the past two and a half years,have indeed stabilised and strengthened the university so that it can move ahead with pride and confidence. On 31 October, 2011, after receiving the report from the Independent Assessor which indicated that WSU was an institution in crisis with the all-encompassing collapse of systems, governance and financial management, I appointed Professor Lourens van Staden as the Administrator of the Walter Sisulu University in terms of section 41 of the Higher Education Act (Act No. 101 of 1997) as amended. Our intervention in the governance of Walter Sisulu University has proven to be highly successful. Regular reports from the Professor van Staden have kept me abreast of developments here at WSU and I am very pleased with his significant achievements in a highly charged and complex environment. Let me outline some of these achievements which have been put in place since Professor van Staden took office in November 2011. A new, ground-breaking statute for WSU was gazetted on 17 January this year. This has made it possible for us to commence with the implementation of a more appropriate divisional governance and management model for a university of this unique kind. The new Council, which is presently being constituted, will need to take over this responsibility to ensure the health and well-being of this national asset. It is envisaged that today’s deliberations will contribute positively to the continuation of the institution’s stability. The new Institutional Management Committee is being constituted in accordance with the terms of reference for the extended six-month period of the Administrator. A number of appointments have already been made and positions continue to be filled to ensure a stable and accountable leadership at this level. Student governance has stabilised with a new Student Representative Council (SRC) constitution agreed upon with a divisional governance system. Labour unions have also made progress with a single Recognition Agreement placed on the table which I believe will bring about the smooth transition towards harmonious institutional labour relations. Walter Sisulu University is the only university in the country born out of the merger of three historically disadvantaged institutions established in apartheid times to support the despised and much hated homeland system. These institutions were the former University of Transkei, Border Technikon and Eastern Cape Technikon. The management of this merger has contributed to the challenges facing this university. Over the past 29 months, the Department has made R858 million available to WSU to attend to the key deliverables of the turnaround strategy. I am happy to announce that significant progress has been made in this regard with visible projects including the construction of the new R40 million residences here in Mthatha, the first to be built at the 9-year old WSU. Yesterday was marked by the sod-turning event of the new facility for the Health Sciences Faculty at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital precinct made possible by the Department’s Infrastructure and Efficiency Fund. On the financial front, I am pleased to report that this university has a break-even budget for 2014 and admirably achieved an unqualified audit for 2013. Whilst WSU has not yet reached a state of healthy financial sustainability, clearly a great deal of effort has gone into clearing the backlogs and overdrafts as well as resolving some of the inefficiencies created by the complex WSU environment. Since the dawn of democracy in 1994, headcount enrolment in our universities has almost doubled with just fewer thanone million students today in the university sector. We are expecting a further two thirds increase in university headcount enrolment to over 1.6 million by 2030. My office has given serious attention to student funding, a particular concern for the young people from this region who aspire for a university education and deserve access to post-school education. An additional R1 billion was made available from the National Skills Fund to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme to reduce the 2013 and 2014 bursary and loan shortfalls. The NSFAS budget from the Department for 2014/15 amounts to R6 billion, comprising of R3.9 billion set aside for universities and R2.1 billion for FET College bursaries and loans. This budget has grown from R578 million in 2005 to over R9 billion in 2014, taking into account all bursaries and loans administered by NSFAS from other Government departments and entities. I am aware that this budget is still not enough to cover all deserving students as there are many other pressing demands on the country’s fiscus.It should be noted that NSFAS allocations to WSU has totalled over R1 billion over the 4 year period from 2011 to 2014, increasing year-on-year fromR216.4 million in 2011 to R251.5 million in 2012, further increasing to R272 million in 2013 and R288 million in 2014. Students debt has been reduced with R310 million with a further R48 million for this financial year. This substantial injection of state funds into student financial aid will go a long way in providing access for academically deserving students and towards opening the doors of higher education and training to all deserving young people. There is no doubt in my mind that WSU has the ability to produce the type of graduates our developing nation requires. WSU is a comprehensive university that offers both traditional academic programmes and technologically-focused programmes. It caters for many diverse career paths in science, engineering and technology, teacher education, law and business skills. In health sciences it has a medical school that has produced its first cohort of Clinical Associates. In particular, I wish to compliment the ongoing SAICA/WSU project to re-accredit WSU to produce chartered accountants. The success of this project is most encouraging with student performance rated at over 90%. The R80 million invested through the National Skills Fund in this project is clearly bearing fruit. All signs point to a promising future for this young university. The terms of reference which provide the framework for the work of the Administrator have all been met and I am encouraged by the progress made in all the eight Turnaround Projects, namely: 1. Institutional Governance; 2. Academic Enterprise; 3. Student Governance; 4. Financial Management; 5. ICT Infrastructure; 6. Human Resource Management; 7. Teaching and Learning Technology and Equipment; and 8. Physical Infrastructure and Resource Planning. Professor van Staden will undoubtedly provide more detail on the milestones achieved in these projects in his presentation. Whilst much has been done to stabilise WSU, a great deal of work is still required to entrench a culture of hard work and pride in this university. The WSU turnaround intervention is not a 30-month ‘quick-fix.’ What is required is the sustained effort from all role players to build upon these stabilised foundations and continuously work at implementing efficiencies, improving facilities and enhancing student life. The opportunity presented to WSU this time around is unique. This university has been overhauled, given a new framework and an opportunity to refocus itself. This unique opportunity must be grasped by all stakeholders. WSU belongs to the nation, not to any individual interest group and it beholds all those who hold the university dear to join hands and move together. There is a long road ahead of us. There are therefore a lot of challenges and responsibilities resting on the shoulders of all stakeholders. We must therefore use this Summit to identify the challenges and opportunities, and firmly reject an approach and posture which simply says: What can WSU do for me or what maximum benefit can I derive from being a worker or student at this institution? Instead all stakeholders must take responsibility for the future survival and development of this institution. Yes, students must demand affordable access but simultaneously commit to improve pass and throughput rates. Workers and lecturers must seek decent wages and conditions of service but this cannot be at the expense of the future viability of the institution. At the height of the unfortunate and protracted workers strike, there emerged some opportunistic voices from some small town local politicians who sought to exploit the situation for narrow vote grabbing attention. It is incumbent upon all stakeholders not to allow such situations to develop as this may run the risk of de-focusing us. At no stage, during the entire duration of this period of administration has the Department or myself as the Minister abandoned our responsibility to this institution. It is important that when faced with difficult challenges, we must collectively seek to resolve them and not embark on a blame game. If we properly understand the challenges that face us, no problem is insurmountable. We must therefore come out of this Summit with clear deliverables that commit us to what role and responsibility each stakeholder will take and the kind of institution we would like to build. A university is an enormously valuable asset and must be seen and treasured as such. It provides an environment for nurturing the knowledge of young minds, developing researchers and academics, assisting and supporting the communities it serves. It is a valued partner for local businesses as an economic generator as it provides employment opportunities with thousands of families relying upon it and sharing its achievements in many different ways. The continued future success of WSU depends on YOU – the leadership, staff, students, labour unions, communities and all who have an interest in the ongoing development of our people towards a better life for all. I trust that history will judge us kindly. I thank you!
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 10:16:46 +0000
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