Albert van Jaarsveld Installed as UKZN’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal

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Dr Albert van Jaarsveld was sworn in as the new Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) at an official Installation ceremony on the Westville campus on Saturday, 7 March 2015. Van Jaarsveld takes over the reins from UKZN’s founding Vice-Chancellor, Professor Malegapuru Makgoba, who served the University with distinction since its creation in 2004.

The well attended occasion included Cabinet Ministers, MECs, Director-Generals, Members of the Diplomatic Corp, Members of the judiciary, Vice-Chancellors and senior members of other South African Universities, as well as senior representatives from the business fraternity and University stakeholders.

Welcoming the new Vice-Chancellor, Chair of Council, Dr Phumla Mnganga, said ‘the ceremonial act of installing the Vice-Chancellor is our way of not only welcoming him to the Institution but entrusting him with more than 100 years of academic achievement on which he can make his mark’.

Robed in a traditional gown made especially for him, van Jaarsveld took a solemn oath to serve the University before being capped by Chancellor, Dr Zweli Mkhize. In his address, van Jaarsveld reflected on the achievements of the Institution and expressed his commitment to furthering the University’s aspirations of advancing excellence and transformation.

‘…Possibly because of the Institution’s extraordinary and rich history, buried deep inside its belly there burns a sense of urgency and excitement; a passion that is straining to be unleashed on the African continent; an innate desire that can transform this country and KwaZulu-Natal into an ever more important powerhouse. I am proud to have been afforded the honour to assist and nurture this inherent passion to its full potential.’

Van Jaarsveld spoke fervently about the national challenge of providing tuition loans for the many students who cannot afford the fees. He described the challenge as a ‘pressure point’ that would remain.  ‘As difficult as it may seem, UKZN will continue to fight for approaches and resources that will support the maximum number of underprivileged and academically sound students.’

Inspired by systems implemented in the UK and US, van Jaarsveld proposed alternative mechanisms that included providing possible tax incentives to individuals, corporates and financial institutions, to complement the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

On the trajectory to advance transformation and excellence, van Jaarsveld spoke of the aggressive post-doctorate recruitment programme that is aimed at increasing the number of African and especially African women scholars in academia. He indicated a particular interest in “growing young academic stars”, and how ‘this explicit focus on growing young talent will increasingly become the distinguishing characteristic of UKZN’. 

KZN Premier, Mr Senzo Mchunu, delivered the keynote address, welcoming van Jaarsveld to KwaZulu-Natal and commending him for getting to this milestone in his career. Mchunu spoke of the challenge of strengthening collegiality among staff at all levels and asked that the Vice-Chancellor, ‘find a creative way to ensure high morals among staff and students’.

Minister Naledi Pandor of the Department of Science and Technology, Deputy-Minister Mduduzi Comfort Manana of the Department of Higher Education and Training, as well as the Chair of Higher Education South Africa (HESA), Professor Adam Habib, delivered messages of support.

Pandor praised the new Vice-Chancellor, saying he was probably the first Zoologist and the first former CEO of the National Research Foundation to become a Vice-Chancellor. Pandor added that his ‘understanding of our national facilities’ and his ‘insight into the training of a new generation of scientists in SA will benefit UKZN’.

Manana called upon van Jaarsveld to focus his attention on furthering the national policy objectives for transformation and to increase the number of doctoral graduates. ‘Although the situation has improved a lot, it remains a concern and these imbalances need to be addressed.’

Habib commented on some of the major Higher Education challenges in South Africa. ‘We are in a moment in history where it is not easy to be a Vice-Chancellor… in this context you need a leader who is empathetic but strategic; managerially nuanced but also academically ensconced; politically wise but rigorously independent. Albert is all of these things and more…I do not believe that UKZN could have made a better choice.’

Dr van Jaarsveld’s experience in research, teaching and leadership spans two local universities and multiple local and international institutions, as well as local and international industry committees. In that light, the new Vice-Chancellor of UKZN brings with him a wealth of experience and new ideas on how to keep the University on an upward trajectory, building on its record of excellence through transformation.