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Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
THE University of Pretoria in South Africa has appointed Zimbabwean academic Professor Tawana Kupe as its new Vice Chancellor and Principal after he outshone five other shortlisted candidates.
Prof Kupe was appointed to the university’s top post on Wednesday following the resignation of its Vice Chancellor Professor Cheryl de la Rey.
“The University of Pretoria (UP) is pleased to announce that, at its meeting held on 21 November 2018, the University Council appointed Professor Tawana Kupe as the new Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University,” reads a statement from the university.
“The process included, among other steps, presentations by the shortlisted candidates to a joint meeting of the Council, Senate and Institutional Forum, voting by the Senate and Institutional Forum on the suitability for appointment of the shortlisted candidates, and interviews with the six shortlisted candidates by the Joint Committee of Council.”
In his acceptance statement posted on the university’s website, Prof Kupe said universities have a role to play towards contributing to development of societies.
“Universities have a responsibility to develop educated, well-informed and professionally skilled people who can address local and global challenges and contribute towards creating successful and thriving societies,” said Prof Kupe.
“To be able to play these critically important roles, universities must enjoy academic freedom and institutional autonomy, allow for freedom of inquiry and be transparent, accountable and ethical in their practices in all respects.”
The university said prior to his new appointment, Prof Kupe was the University of the Witwatersrand Vice-Principal responsible for the day to day running of the institution and the co-ordination of operations across all executive portfolios. He also once served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Advancement, Human Resources and Transformation from January 2013 at the University of the Witwatersrand.
The University of Pretoria said Prof Kupe also worked as a lecturer at Rhodes University between 1999 and 2001, and briefly acted as the Head of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies.
It said before joining the South African universities, he worked at the University of Zimbabwe from 1988 holding several positions including being Chairperson of the Department of English, Media and Communication Studies. He went to South Africa in 2001.
The university said Prof Kupe is holder of a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree and Masters in English from the University of Zimbabwe, as well as a Doctor of Philosophy in Media Studies from the University of Oslo in Norway. — @nqotshili
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