Photo: CUT Registrar, Dr Sally Dzingwa vesting Prof. Pamela Dube at her inauguration.

On 17 February 2023, the Central University of Technology celebrated a milestone and a historic moment at the inauguration of Professor Pamela Dube, first woman Vice-Chancellor and Principal to be inducted since the establishment of the University.

When delivering her inaugural address titled, 'the question of technology and the human at a university of technology'. She stated that the higher education in South Africa is increasingly under siege by violent threats to the academy and its leadership, acts of corruption and disregard for institutional integrity, by instances of dysfunctional governance structures, challenges of student funding, gender-based violence, mental health issues and slow pace of meaningful transformation among others. " As a specifically designated University of Technology, we have been tasked with both the process of inventing the instruments of our survival and prosperity as well as the means of holding the human condition in view."

When sharing her vision, Prof. Dube mentioned four educational priorities for a University of Technology which she said provide the foundational pillars for debate and discussion amongst the council, senate, faculty, students, professional staff, and workers of CUT.

She said that a university's educational vision is:  

• To reassess the meaning of technology in the broader population and demystify its force, while bending its potential to the ideal of post-apartheid freedom.
• To offer the best teaching for students in the arts of design and invention.
• To steer clear of the idea of technology as delivering a static world, one where civil war is the order of the day, and to lead students to the position of self-sufficiency.

"An educational institution such as ours is destined to play a bigger role in the future we are building by creating new relations and attitudes to technology. We have a threefold responsibility to build an institution, human capacity, and technological means. If we hold to these commitments, a future CUT graduate would not only be a self-serving entrepreneur but a social entrepreneur who enables others.  This will require our collective efforts to liberate ourselves from the stranglehold of race, ethnicity, gender discrimination and the many other forms of exclusion and segregation conservable and achievable. "

She asked that we attend to the educational principle of collegiality across all sectors of the University and have a common interest in the success of the educational vision, institution, and the world that we are meant to serve. "Collegiality can only thrive in an institution of higher learning if we dedicate ourselves to consistent study and problem-solving. We are inventors and as such, we need to function in the most enabling environment necessary."

"As part of our educational project, our mission is to instil trust in our commitment to our role and responsibility in society and reshape the narrative of whom we are including quality academic programmes, leading niche areas and our research and innovation endeavours. It is indeed to instil hope in our students, that CUT is set to walk the academic journey with them, to co-create platforms and opportunities to enable them to innovate, lead and improve the world around us. It is now my honour and duty to provide leadership at this remarkable institution, build on past achievements and collectively chart a future that we can all be proud of."

In conclusion, Prof. Dube expressed her gratitude to the CUT council and executives for putting the trust in her to lead the university to greater heights. She also acknowledged her family and late parents for walking with her through her life journey. "These are your sacrifices and the fruits of your labour. Thank you for building and shaping me to the person that I am today."

WATCH the inauguration on CUT’s YouTube Channel or Facebook page.

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