The University of Fort Hare yesterday kicked off its first graduation ceremony of the season in which it will confer 88 doctoral degrees, five of them on women in science and agriculture.
UFH chancellor Dumisa Ntsebeza said the university had a great legacy that needed a specific plan to preserve it. He highlighted two major projects that had been identified with the help of vice-chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu. These were the building of the Alice campus library and hall.
Ntsebeza said: “The location of the University of Fort Hare is of great importance to the university and to the people of Alice, who have come to identify the area as home of the century-old institution. The university must have its own ‘kraal’ where it performs its sentimental ceremonies, and that place is the Great Hall,” said Ntsebeza.
Ntsebeza, an alma mater of UFH, said the university must take up its rightful position in society as a leader of thought production. A functioning library was a vital tool for thought production.
“I was in the university at a time when it only had just over 400 students – 116 female and 351 male.
“The library at Steward Hall was meant for that number but the university has now grown to 9000 students who must use the same facility,” said Ntsebeza.
UFH has a total of 16000 students across all three campuses.
The keynote speaker for yesterday’s graduation ceremony was another alumnus – advocate Vusi Pikoli, a former SA National Prosecuting Authority head. Pikoli was at the centre of instigating criminal charges against disgraced SAPS commissioner Jackie Selebi, as well as former ANC and South African president Jacob Zuma.
Pikoli said the current generation had a mission different from any other generation, which was to consolidate and sustain the gains of the liberation struggle.
“The country has entered a different stage of the struggle which is to liberate the country from poverty and to attain economic freedom in this lifetime,” said Pikoli.
The university produced 2964 graduates who will be conferred with 90 certificates, 299 diplomas, 1721 junior degrees, 654 honours degrees, 145 masters and 88 doctorates (PhDs).
Buhlungu said the year had seen an increase in the numbers of PhDs being conferred. In 2017 the institution produced 71 PhDs and this year it was already sitting at 88 just in the first season of graduation.
“We have a long-term plan that aims to increase the number of PhDs with a specific focus on the encouragement of black South African females from the Eastern Cape.” — simthandilef@dispatch.co.za
UFH reaches new heights with 88 doctorates
UFH chancellor Dumisa Ntsebeza said the university had a great legacy that needed a specific plan to preserve it. He highlighted two major projects that had been identified with the help of vice-chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu. These were the building of the Alice campus library and hall.
Ntsebeza said: “The location of the University of Fort Hare is of great importance to the university and to the people of Alice, who have come to identify the area as home of the century-old institution. The university must have its own ‘kraal’ where it performs its sentimental ceremonies, and that place is the Great Hall,” said Ntsebeza.
Ntsebeza, an alma mater of UFH, said the university must take up its rightful position in society as a leader of thought production. A functioning library was a vital tool for thought production.
“I was in the university at a time when it only had just over 400 students – 116 female and 351 male.
“The library at Steward Hall was meant for that number but the university has now grown to 9000 students who must use the same facility,” said Ntsebeza.
UFH has a total of 16000 students across all three campuses.
The keynote speaker for yesterday’s graduation ceremony was another alumnus – advocate Vusi Pikoli, a former SA National Prosecuting Authority head. Pikoli was at the centre of instigating criminal charges against disgraced SAPS commissioner Jackie Selebi, as well as former ANC and South African president Jacob Zuma.
Pikoli said the current generation had a mission different from any other generation, which was to consolidate and sustain the gains of the liberation struggle.
“The country has entered a different stage of the struggle which is to liberate the country from poverty and to attain economic freedom in this lifetime,” said Pikoli.
The university produced 2964 graduates who will be conferred with 90 certificates, 299 diplomas, 1721 junior degrees, 654 honours degrees, 145 masters and 88 doctorates (PhDs).
Buhlungu said the year had seen an increase in the numbers of PhDs being conferred. In 2017 the institution produced 71 PhDs and this year it was already sitting at 88 just in the first season of graduation.
“We have a long-term plan that aims to increase the number of PhDs with a specific focus on the encouragement of black South African females from the Eastern Cape.” — simthandilef@dispatch.co.za
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