Page 3 - EC Highlights 2024

5. Participate in the Catalytic Niche Areas (CNAs): The university has launched 10 catalytic niche areas to re-position itself well within the global education landscape, to ensure well-focused research in certain areas and align itself with society and industry. Everyone in the university should find a space within the CNAs. In collaboration with Colleges and other Departments within the university, and external stakeholders, the Eastern Cape Region is participating in the following CNAs:
• Marine Studies
• Automotive
• Fourth Industrial Revolution and Digitalisation • Feminist, Womanist, Bosadi Theorisations
• Student Support and Co-Curricular Activities
6. Invest in People: people are important assets to any organisation, and they enable the organisation to achieve its strategic objectives. Dr Molotja’s focus is on encouraging staff to take advantage of development opportunities offered by the university to ensure that they enhance their skills and knowledge and build positive attitudes that would contribute to improved services to students and other stakeholders; thereby resulting in positive experiences and enhanced brand reputation. Moreover, she would like to build a conducive working and learning environment, an environment characterised by high performance. This would be achieved by working closely with the regional management team and all staff members in the region, irrespective of their positions. Ongoing engagements with the Regional Student Representative Council, including the representation for Students with Disabilities would help us improve on creating positive student experiences. Building a cohesive and transformed workforce cannot happen overnight but is a process that requires a lot of efforts, patience and an optimistic mindset.
7. Smart Campuses in the region: The university currently owns one building in East London and has leased the buildings in Gqeberha and Mthatha. Molotja’s vision is to see the university owning campuses within the Eastern Cape Province. These envisaged buildings should be ‘state of the art’ smart campuses with multipurpose venues to support the university’s CODeL identity and delivery mode. This will ensure that the university’s brand is enhanced in the province and all stakeholders (students, staff, partners, communities and others) are catered for, to enhance relations and harness opportunities for growth. The visibility of UNISA within the Eastern Cape Province is crucial and this would require a clear and focused marketing strategy.
Dr Molotja plans to ensure that the region is well governed within the policies and procedures of the university and improves its financial sustainability.