Her steely resolve and determination, guts and forthrightness coupled with her erudite nature have seen Prof Puleng LenkaBula rewarded with another five years at the helm of Africa’s foremost distance education mecca that is Unisa.
“At its sitting on Monday, 9 December 2024, the University of South Africa’s (Unisa) Council announced the re-appointment of Prof Puleng LenkaBula as Principal and Vice-Chancellor, for another five years, effective 1 January 2026,” the statement from the university read.
Prof LenkaBula’s reappointment is music to the ears of many not only throughout the Unisa community, but also many external stakeholders who have watched her steer the Unisa ship with aplomb during her first term of office.
“This announcement follows a recent review process undertaken of her first term of office. Council was satisfied that the process was robust, rigorous and turned out to be fair. The decision by the Unisa Council is in line with the Higher Education Act 101 of 1997 in South Africa, which allows a university principal to be reappointed for a second consecutive term after their first term expires,” the statement added.
Prof LenkaBula was appointed as the first woman Principal and Vice-Chancellor in the University’s almost 150 year-history in January 2021. The university council further said “her first term has been marked by notable achievements in the University’s improved scientific output, teaching and learning, and research; increase in internationalisation and partnerships, student-centredness and improvement in the university’s academic rankings and financial growth. Under her leadership, there has also been a notable increase in commitment from academics, researchers and support staff.”
Speaking on behalf of the Unisa Council, Chairperson, Dr Dan Mosia elaborated as follows: “Council reaffirms its confidence in the leadership of Professor LenkaBula. She has been instrumental in fostering sustainable growth and stability at the institution and is ideally positioned to lead Unisa into its next chapter of growth and innovation.”
Prof LenkaBula was expectedly elated about the massive vote of confidence expressed toward her leadership. She said: “I am deeply honoured and appreciative of the confidence expressed by the University Council in me. I am committed together with the University’s management to advancing the university’s mission of Shaping Africa’s Intellectual Futures and to continue to create opportunities for students and staff alike to succeed. I look forward to working closely with the various university communities, alumni and diverse stakeholders to bring this vision to life”.
Prof LenkaBula assumed the leadership of Unisa at a time when the university was often making news for wrong reasons. She turned all the negativity into opportunity within a very short space of time. Among her notable achievement in a long list of attained objectives has been ending endless labour-related strife that often hampered progress in the teaching and learning programmes.
As things stand, Prof LenkaBula ends her first time on a very high note, a clear indicator about how she is set to scale the heights during her much-anticipated second term of office, taking Unisa to the zenith of national, continental and international academia.
Professor Puleng LenkaBula, the Vice Chancellor of the University of South Africa (UNISA) Professor Puleng LenkaBula, the Vice Chancellor of the University of South Africa (UNISA), speaks at the Ethiopian UNISA Graduation Ceremony
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