Prioritising excellence

University of Cape Town (UCT) Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Mosa Moshabela has told senior officials to continue to prioritise excellence during a formal dinner held on 30 July. The annual academic heads of departments (HoDs) gathering was held in Newlands, Cape Town, on a frigid Wednesday evening.

The HoDs were joined by deans, deputy deans, directors, and members of the UCT executive and Leadership Lekgotla. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) for Teaching and Learning Professor Brandon Collier-Reed steered the programme, Professor Moshabela delivered the keynote address and Deputy Vice-chancellor for Transformation, Student Affairs and Social Responsiveness Professor Elelwani Ramugondo offered the vote of thanks.

“You carry complex responsibilities with grace and no small amount of stamina. Between having to make curriculum decisions and mentoring staff, the multitasking you go through is truly an extreme sport. Tonight is to say thank you – not just for what you do, but how you do it: with generosity, intellect and commitment to UCT,” said Professor Collier-Reed as he welcomed guests.

When Collier-Reed called on Moshabela for his remarks, he noted that in August it will be a year in office for the VC, which means it was also his first HoDs dinner at the helm. “I’ve spent a year getting to grips with what is a very complex institution that has got a powerful brand and reputation. People hold the institution in high regard,” Moshabela said. “We are at a wonderful university which offers opportunities to young, talented people who are driven and [have] aspirations.”

“We’ve had the privilege of thinking about what we can do together to take the institution forward.”

Moshabela themed his address around sustaining the university for the future and much of that rests on the academic project which should translate into societal impact. In demonstrating his leadership, he said he has no problem allowing staff their own autonomy; however, that does not mean there is no room for collaboration.

“When we are talking about academic endeavours, autonomy is important, but in speaking about building institutions, we do that together because what happens on one side affects what happens on the other, whether you know it or not.”

Principle of excellence

“There’s one thing that everyone I speak to … agrees on: excellence. We share in this idea of excellence and it’s a principle that everyone upholds and agrees on. I realise that we have got more in common than what differentiates us. But we also have opportunities to harness the pain points. And if you do that properly, they can inform your improvement, and you can become better.”

Moshabela added: “I’m excited that I am completing my first year in office. We’ve had the privilege of thinking about what we can do together to take the institution forward. Our teaching and learning has to be future proof, but we also think about how we become an institution that is appreciated in society.”

He said that he recently heard a comment that universities lack societal legitimacy. “Many of us who engage in the work we do may not agree with that; however, a case can be made that we hold the brain power of society and [are] the bedrock of society. We have the imperative to deal with the challenges society faces to the point that society feels the impact of our work directly.

“A lot of responsibility and expectations is placed on you, and I know there is a lot of pressure. But you have my support. I want you to feel empowered in the work you do.”