Professor Tawana Kupe, a University of Zimbabwe (UZ) protege, has raised the Zimbabwean flag high above others after his appointment on Wednesday as the Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Pretoria (UP) in South Africa.
Prof Kupe outclassed five other shortlisted candidates.
The appointment was made in terms of the procedure set out in the University’s Regulation and Procedure for the Appointment of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal.
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.
“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,” UP said in a statement.
His appointment follows the resignation of Professor Cheryl de la Rey, who is set to take up the position of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.
In his statement of intent, the learned professor said, “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. 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.”
Futhi Mtoba, Chairperson of the UP Council, congratulated the Zimbabwean intellectual on his appointment and wished him well in his new position.
“We believe that Professor Kupe comes to the position with considerable experience at executive level and is the best candidate to lead the University into the future.”
The professor holds a BA Honours degree and Masters in English from the University of Zimbabwe, as well as a DPhil in Media Studies from the University of Oslo in Norway.
From UZ, Prof Kupe went to join Rhodes University where he worked as a lecturer for several years before undertaking several duties and positions at Rhodes and at the University of the Witwatersrand.
He is currently the Vice-Principal at Wits, responsible for the daily running of the University and the coordination of operations across all executive portfolios.
