Unisa’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Puleng LenkaBula, has identified ten catalytic niche areas that will hopefully not only activate and enhance Unisa’s academic agenda but will also enhance academics' experiences as engaged scholars who will care to address the needs of our society.
Central to this initiative is Unisa's College of Science, Engineering and Technology, which has already received eight proposals relating to these niche areas, of which five have been supported as flagship projects and possible centres of excellence status. The college is encouraged by the fact that most of the submissions have commercialisation aspects embedded in their planning, a feature that will go a long way towards addressing the engaged scholarship aspect of the academic agenda.
According to the Marine Research Plan of the Department of Science and Technology (2014), coastal oceanography is still in its infancy. There exists a plethora of commercial activities and trade along the 2 800km coastline of South Africa. The Port of Durban is the biggest and busiest port in South Africa. Unisa needs to tap deep into the opportunities for supporting economic growth through teaching and learning, research and innovation as well as engaged scholarship, while at the same time creating awareness of how to protect our marine world from degradation.
South Africa has 18 airports, with OR Tambo, Cape Town and King Shaka being international airports. These airports cater for people and goods coming into South Africa or transiting to and from other countries.
The South African Automotive Master Plan (SAAM) 2021 - 2035 envisages the automotive industry to grow from 600 000 to 1.4 million vehicles a year in production at its peak (Businesstech.co.za). This is a confirmation that there is a potential to be explored in Unisa’s commitment to producing quality students in this specific niche.
The energy mix spectrum in South Africa comprises generation, distribution and service (including sales), all requiring different and specific knowledge and skills. Developments concerning power shortages are proof that there is an urgent need to review how we provide energy to the growing and transforming population.
Unisa has been involved in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project since 2012. SKA is a $1billion international project to create an array of antennas for detecting radio waves that will have a receiving area of one square kilometre.
The impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is upon us and has drastically changed production methods and trade methodologies. Disruptive technologies such as 3D printing, the use of cryptocurrencies, machine learning, the use of big data and algorithms to create data analytics, robotics, and so on, are defining the new normal of conducting daily business and studies. Such developments speak to the need for building capacity in the legal, commercial and technology fields at the university. It is clear that embracing the effects of 4IR cannot be left to "catch-up" processes at the tail end, but should be part and parcel of training and development by institutions of higher learning, such as Unisa.
The current need for the development of vaccines illustrates the need to improve and rapidly develop research capacity and technology. With these studies, our lives and the health of our planet, including sustainable food production methods that are friendlier to the environment, could improve significantly.
Covid-19 has in many ways tested our capacity to respond to health challenges, including any other pandemic that may erupt. Research in molecular biology, healthcare, the development of health equipment and the development of specialised skills in pulmonary medicine is urgently needed.
It is often stated that the most disrespected person in society is the black woman. The most unprotected person is a black woman. This is why mainstream/Western feminism is not enough, there is a need for intersectionality - feminism that protects all, regardless of one's race, gender identity or capabilities.
Being an African university that caters for numerous student populations drawn from different walks of life, including (and especially) those coming from poor backgrounds, proper support and tutelage to such students is important to Unisa.
UThishanhloko kanye neSekela-Shansela wase-Unisa, uSolwazi Puleng LenkaBula, uhlonze izindawo eziyishumi ezibalulekile ngethemba lokuthi ngeke nje zivuse futhi zithuthukise i-ajenda yezemfundo ye-Unisa kodwa futhi zizothuthukisa ulwazi lwezemfundo njengezifundiswa ezibambe iqhaza ezizonakekela izidingo zomphakathi wethu.
Okubalulekile kulolu hlelo yiKolishi leSayensi, Ubunjiniyela Nobuchwepheshe base-Unisa, eselithole kakade iziphakamiso eziyisishiyagalombili eziphathelene nalezi zindawo eziyingqalasizinda, ezinhlanu zazo esezisekelwe njengamaphrojekthi ahamba phambili kanye nezikhungo ezingase zibe nezinga eliphezulu. Ikolishi likhuthazwa ukuthi iningi leziphakamiso zinezici zezohwebo ezigxile ekuhleleni kwazo, okuyisici esizohamba ibanga elide ekubhekaneni nesici somfundazwe wokuzibandakanya ku-ajenda yezemfundo.
NgokoHlelo Locwaningo Lwezasolwandle loMnyango Wezesayensi Nobuchwepheshe (2014), isayensi esifundweni solwandle yasogwini isaqala. Kunenqwaba yemisebenzi yezohwebo kanye nokuhwebelana ngasogwini logu lwaseNingizimu Afrika olungamakhilomitha ayi-2 800. Ichweba laseThekwini liyichweba elikhulu nelimatasa kakhulu eNingizimu Afrika. I-Unisa idinga ukungena ngokujulile emathubeni okuxhasa ukukhula komnotho ngokufundisa nokufunda, ucwaningo nokusungula okusha kanye nemifundaze yokuzibandakanya, ngesikhathi esifanayo iqwashisa ngendlela yokuvikela umhlaba wethu wasolwandle ekucekeleni phansi.
INingizimu Afrika inezikhumulo zezindiza eziyi-18, i-OR Tambo, iKapa kanye neKing Shaka kuyizikhumulo zamazwe ngamazwe. Lezi zikhumulo zezindiza zibhekelela abantu nezimpahla ezingena eNingizimu Afrika noma ezidlulayo ziya noma zibuya kwamanye amazwe.
Uhlelo Olukhulu Lwezimoto lwaseNingizimu Afrika (SAAM) 2021 - 2035 luhlose ukuthi imboni yezimoto ikhule isuka ku-600 000 iye ezigidini eziyi-1.4 zezimoto ngonyaka ezikhiqizwayo ezingeni eliphezulu kakhulu (Businesstech.co.za). Lokhu kuyisiqinisekiso sokuthi kukhona okungahle kubhekwe ekuzibophezeleni kwe-Unisa ekukhiqizeni abafundi abasezingeni eliphezulu kulesi singqalasizinda esithile.
Uhlelo lwamandla avuselelekayo eNingizimu Afrika luhlanganisa ukukhiqiza, ukusatshalaliswa kanye nensizakalo (okuhlanganisa nokuthengisa), konke okudinga ulwazi oluhlukile noluqondile kanye namakhono. Intuthuko ephathelene nokushoda kukagesi iwubufakazi bokuthi kunesidingo esiphuthumayo sokubuyekeza ukuthi sinikeza kanjani amandla ebantwini abakhulayo nabashintshayo.
I-Unisa ibambe iqhaza kuphrojekthi ye-Square Kilometre Array (SKA) kusukela ngo-2012. I-SKA yiphrojekthi yamazwe ngamazwe eyizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-$1 yokwakha uxhaxha lobuchwepheshe okuthola amaza omsakazo azoba nendawo yokwamukela eyikhilomitha-skwele elilodwa.
Umthelela weNguquko Yezimboni Yesine (4IR) uphezu kwethu futhi ushintshe kakhulu izindlela zokukhiqiza nezindlela zokuhweba. Ubuchwepheshe obuphazamisayo obufana nokuphrinta kwe-3D, ukusetshenziswa kwemali evikelwe wubuchwepheshe, ukufunda ngomshini, ukusetshenziswa kwemininingwane emikhulu nemithetho elandelwayo ekubaleni ukudala ukuhlaziya imininingwane, amarobhothi, nokunye, kuchaza okujwayelekile okusha kokuqhuba ibhizinisi nezifundo zansuku zonke. Intuthuko enjalo ikhuluma ngesidingo sokwakhiwa kwamakhono emikhakheni yezomthetho, ezohwebo nezobuchwepheshe emfundweni ephakeme. Kuyacaca ukuthi ukwamukela imiphumela ye-4IR angeke kuyekwe ukuthi kube yizinqubo “zokubambisa” ekugcineni, kodwa kufanele kube yingxenye yokuqeqeshwa nokuthuthukiswa kwezikhungo zemfundo ephakeme, njenge-Unisa.
Isidingo samanje sokuthuthukiswa kwemithi yokugoma sibonisa isidingo sokuthuthukisa nokwenza ngokushesha umthamo wocwaningo kanye nobuchwepheshe. Ngalezi zifundo, izimpilo zethu kanye nempilo yeplanethi yethu, okuhlanganisa nezindlela ezisimeme zokukhiqiza ukudla ezinobungani kumvelo, zingathuthuka kakhulu.
I-Covid-19 ihlole ngezindlela eziningi amandla ethu okubhekana nezinselele zezempilo, okuhlanganisa nanoma yisiphi esinye isifo esiwubhubhane esingase siqubuke. Ucwaningo lwebhayoloji yamangqamuzana, ukunakekelwa kwezempilo, ukuthuthukiswa kwemishini yezempilo kanye nokuthuthukiswa kwamakhono akhethekile emithini yamaphaphu ludingeka ngokushesha.
Kuyaye kuthiwe umuntu ongahlonishwa kakhulu emphakathini ngowesifazane omnyama. Umuntu ongavikelekile kakhulu ngowesifazane omnyama. Yingakho ubufazane obujwayelekile/baseNtshonalanga bungenele, kunesidingo sokuhlangana - ubufazane obuvikela bonke, kungakhathaliseki uhlanga lomuntu, ubulili noma amakhono.
Ukuba imfundo ephakeme yase-Afrika ebhekelela abafundi abaningi abaphuma emikhakheni eyahlukene yempilo, okuhlanganisa (ikakhulukazi) labo abavela ezizindeni ezimpofu, ukwesekwa okufanele kanye nokufundiswa kwabafundi abanjalo kubalulekile e-Unisa.
Mosuwehlooho le Motlatsamokanseliri wa Unisa, Prof Puleng LenkaBula, o kgethile dibaka tse leshome tsa bohlokwa tseo re tshepang hore di ke ke tsa kenya tshebetsong feela le ho ntlafatsa morero wa thuto wa Unisa empa hape di tla ntlafatsa boiphihlelo ba barutehi e le barutehi ba tshwarehileng ba tla hlokomela ditlhoko tsa setjhaba sa habo rona.
Ntlha ya bohlokwa morerong ona ke Kholeje ya Mahlale, Boenjinere le Theknoloji, ya Unisa, e seng e amohetse ditlhahiso tse robedi tse amanang le dibaka tsena tsa maqheka, tseo tse hlano tsa tsona di tsheheditsweng e le merero e ka sehloohong le ditsi tse ka bang teng tsa boemo bo botle. Kholeje e kgothatswa ke taba ya hore boholo ba ditlhahiso di na le dikarolo tsa kgwebo tse kenyelleditsweng moralong wa tsona, e leng tshobotsi e tla thusa haholo ho rarolla karolo e amehang ya dihlapiso ya lenaneo la thuto.
Ho ya ka Leano la Patlisiso ya Mawatleng ya Lefapha la Mahlale le Theknoloji (2014), pono ya lebopo ya lewatle e ntse e le boseeng. Ho na le bongata ba mesebetsi ya kgwebo e haufi le lebopo la lewatle la 2 800km la Afrika Borwa. Boemakepe ba Durban ke boemakepe bo boholo le bo phetheselang ka ho fetisisa Afrika Borwa. Unisa e hloka ho kenella ka botebo menyetla ya ho tshehetsa kgolo ya moruo ka ho ruta le ho ithuta, diphuputso le boiqapelo hammoho le boithuto bo kopanetsweng, ha ka nako e tshwanang e ntse e etsa tlhokomediso ya ho sireletsa lefatshe la rona la mawatle ho senyeheng.
Afrika Borwa e na le maemafofane a 18, OR Tambo, Cape Town le King Shaka e le maemafofane a matjhaba. Maemafofane ana a sebeletsa batho le thepa e kenang Afrika Borwa kapa e yang kapa e tswang dinaheng tse ding.
Moralo o Moholo wa Dikoloi wa Afrika Borwa (SAAM) 2021 - 2035 o rerile hore indasteri ya makoloi e hole ho tloha ho 600 000 ho ya ho 1.4 milione ya makoloi ka selemo tlhahisong ka sehlohlolong sa yona (Businesstech.co.za). Ena ke netefatso ya hore ho na le monyetla wa ho hlahlojwa boitlamo ba Unisa ba ho hlahisa baithuti ba boleng bo hodimo sebakeng sena se ikgethileng.
Motswako wa matla Afrika Borwa o kenyelletsa tlhahiso, kabo le ditshebeletso (ho kenyeletswa thekiso), kaofela di hloka tsebo le bokgoni bo fapaneng. Dintlafatso tse mabapi le kgaello ya motlakase ke bopaki ba hore ho na le tlhokahalo e potlakileng ya ho hlahloba mokgwa wa ho fana ka matla ho baahi ba ntseng ba eketseha le ba fetohang.
Unisa e bile le seabo porojekeng ya Square Kilometre Array (SKA) ho tloha ka 2012. SKA ke projeke ya matjhaba ya $1billion ya ho bopa letoto la dika bakeng sa ho lemoha maqhubu a radio tse tla a amohela sebaka se lekanang le sekwere sa metara e le nngwe.
Tshusumetso ya Phetohelo ya Bone ya Diindasteri (4IR) e hodima rona mme e fetotse haholo mekgwa ya tlhahiso le mekgwa a kgwebo. Theknoloji e sitisang jwalo ka kgatiso ya 3D, tshebediso ya di-cryptocurrencies, ho ithuta ka motjhini, tshebediso ya data e kgolo le di-algorithms ho theha data analytics, robotics, jwalojwalo, di hlalosa mokgwa o motjha ho tsamaisa kgwebo le dithuto tsa letsatsi le letsatsi. Dintlafatso tse jwalo di bua ka tlhokeho ya ho aha bokgoni mafapheng a molao, kgwebo le theknoloji yunivesiting. Ho hlakile hore ho amohela ditlamorao tsa 4IR ho ke ke ha tlohelwa ho " tshwara" ditshebetso tsa ditsamaiso qetellong ya mohatla, empa e lokela ho ba karolo le sephuthelwana sa kwetliso le ntshetsopele ya ditsi tsa thuto e phahameng, jwalo ka Unisa.
Tlhokahalo ya ha jwale ya ntshetsopele ya diente e bontsha tlhokeho ya ho ntlafatsa ka potlako bokgoni ba dipatlisiso le theknoloji. Ka dithuto tsena, bophelo ba rona le bophelo bo botle ba polanete ya rona, ho kenyeletswa mekgwa e tsitsitseng ya tlhahiso ya dijo e leng botswalle ho tikoloho, e ka ntlafala haholo.
Covid-19 e lekile bokgoni ba rona ba ho arabela mathateng a bophelo bo botle ka ditsela tse ngata, ho kenyeletswa le sewa sefe kapa sefe se ka qhomang. Dipatlisiso ka baeloji ya dimolekhule, tlhokomelo ya bophelo bo botle, ntshetsopele ya disebediswa tsa bophelo bo botle le ntshetsopele ya tsebo tse kgethehileng tsa meriana ya matshwafo di hlokahala ka potlako.
Hangata ho bolelwa hore motho ya sa hlomphuweng ka ho fetisisa setjhabeng ke mosadi wa motho e motsho. Motho ya sa sireletsehang ka ho fetisisa ke mosadi wa motho e motsho. Ke ka lebaka lena botshehadi bo tlwaelehileng/Bophirima bo sa lekaneng, ho hlokeha hore ho be le mekato e fapaneng - ya basadi e sireletsang bohle, ho sa natswe morabe wa motho, botho ba hae kapa bokgoni ba hae.
Ho ba yunivesiti ya Afrika e hlokomelang baithuti ba bangata ba tswang maemong a fapaneng a bophelo, ho kenyeletswa (haholoholo) ba tswang malapeng a futsanehileng, tshehetso e nepahetseng le thuto ho baithuti ba jwalo ke tsa bohlokwa ho Unisa.
Unisa se rektor en visekanselier, prof Puleng LenkaBula, het tien katalitiese nisareas geïdentifiseer wat daarop gemik is om Unisa se akademiese agenda te verlewendig en versterk, en akademici se belewenisse as vakkundiges wat met die behoeftes van ons samelewing gemoeid is, te bevorder.
Sentraal tot hierdie inisiatief is Unisa se Kollege vir Wetenskap, Ingenieurswese en Tegnologie (College of Science, Engineering and Technology), wat reeds agt voorstelle rakende die nisareas ontvang het. Vyf van dié voorstelle is as leierprojekte en moontlike sentrums van uitnemendheid geoormerk. Die kollege word bemoedig deur die feit dat kommersialiseringsverwante aspekte die beplanning van die meeste van die voorleggings onderlê, wat baie daartoe sal bydra om die komponent van betrokke vakkundigheid van die akademiese agenda uit te bou.
Volgens die Plan vir Mariene Navorsing van die Departement van Wetenskap en Tegnologie (2014) staan kusoseanografie nog in sy kinderskoene. Daar is etlike kommersiële en handelsbedrywighede langs Suid-Afrika se 2 800 km lange kuslyn.
Suid-Afrika het 18 lughawens, waarvan OR Tambo, Kaapstad en King Shaka internasionale lughawens is. Hierdie lughawens maak voorsiening vir mense en goedere wat Suid-Afrika binnekom of na en van ander lande onderweg is. Hierdie nisarea sal gevolglik ’n groot komponent van die land se ekonomie ondersteun.
Volgens Suid-Afrika se Meesterplan vir die Voertuigbedryf 2021–2035 sal produksie in die voertuigbedryf na verwagting van 600 000 tot 1,4 miljoen voertuie per jaar toeneem (Businesstech.co.za), wat getuig van die potensiaal wat ontgin kan word deur Unisa se verbintenis om gehalte-studente in hierdie nis op te lewer.
Die energiemengsel-spektrum in Suid-Afrika beslaan opwekking, distribusie en diens (insluitend verkope), wat elkeen eiesoortige en spesifieke kennis en vaardighede verg. In die lig van die huidige kragtekort moet die manier van kragvoorsiening aan die groeiende en veranderende bevolking dringend hersien word.
Unisa is sedert 2012 by die Square Kilometre Array-projek betrokke. Die Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is ’n internasionale projek van $1 miljard wat ten doel het om ’n versameling antennas met ’n ontvangsgebied van een vierkante kilometer vir die opvang van radiogolwe op te rig.
Die Vierde Nywerheidsrevolusie het tot drastiese veranderinge in produksiemetodes en handelsmetodologieë gelei. Ontwrigtende tegnologie, soos 3D-drukwerk, die gebruik van kriptogeldeenhede, masjienleer, die gebruik van Groot Data en algoritmes vir data-ontleedkunde en robotika, bepaal wat die nuwe normaal is wat alledaagse sakebedrywighede en studies betref. Vanweë hierdie soort ontwikkelings is daar ’n behoefte aan kapasiteitsuitbreiding in die kommersiële, tegnologiese en regsveld by die universiteit. Dit is duidelik dat die aanvaarding van die uitwerking van die Vierde Nywerheidsrevolusie nie bloot op ’n “inhaalproses” moet neerkom nie, maar ’n integrale deel van opleiding en ontwikkeling by hoëronderwysinstellings soos Unisa behoort te wees.
Die huidige behoefte aan entstof-ontwikkeling illustreer hoe belangrik die verbetering en vinnige ontwikkeling van navorsingskapasiteit en tegnologie is. Navorsingstudies kan tot aansienlike verbeterings in ons lewens en die welstand van ons planeet, insluitend volhoubare en omgewingsvriendeliker metodes van voedselproduksie, aanleiding gee.
Covid-19 het ons vermoë om op gesondheidsuitdagings, insluitend ander moontlike pandemies, te reageer op verskeie maniere getoets. Navorsing op die gebied van molekulêre biologie, gesondheidsorg, die ontwikkeling van gesondheidsorgtoerusting en die ontwikkeling van gespesialiseerde vaardighede in pulmonologie word dringend benodig. Die land moet trouens die kapasiteit ontwikkel om opleiding in verskillende velde wat van kritieke belang sal wees wanneer pandemies en lewensgevaarlike siektes in die toekoms opduik, aan mediese spesialiste te bied.
Die swart vrou word dikwels beskryf as die persoon wat die minste respek in die samelewing geniet. Die swart vrou is die mees weerlose persoon. Dit is waarom hoofstroomfeminisme/Westerse feminisme nie voldoende is nie; daar is ’n behoefte aan interseksionaliteit, met ander woorde, feminisme wat almal beskerm, ongeag ’n persoon se ras, genderidentiteit of vermoëns.
Aangesien Unisa ’n Afrika-universiteit is wat voorsiening maak vir vele studentebevolkings met verskillende agtergronde, insluitend (en in die besonder) studente wat uit ’n arm agtergrond kom, ag die universiteit dit as belangrik om behoorlike ondersteuning en leiding aan studente te bied.