CUT hosted an annual prestige lecture as part of its efforts to stimulate intellectual engagements, foster a culture of debates and discussions on prevalent issues and challenges facing societies, strengthening partnerships and re-positioning itself in the in the country. The 2014 lecture was unique as it coincided with 10 years anniversary as a University of Technology (UoT), Women’s month and 20 years of Democracy.  Hosting Dr Zanele Bridgette Gasa who is remarkable, young intellect, a leader and influential business woman was a highlight of the day. 

In her introductory speech, she congratulated CUT for the role it was playing coming with solutions to the challenges facing the country. “We are delighted as a commission by the great strides that CUT has achieved in deeper research and development with the intent of making new and better discoveries that can lead to the development of new products. We watch in great interest as Universities and Universities of Technologies cease to be just academic institutions where people can go course schooling to universities that become the hub of knowledge, deeper research and better solutions to the societal challenges and medical mysteries.” Prof. Henk de Jager, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic and Research, commended her for sharing the current thinking on the national development agenda for South Africa.  “This lecture is by no means a routine exercise for us at CUT. Instead, it provides an opportunity to help us to constantly re-examine the role of the higher education sector against prevalent issues and challenges facing our society at large, and to seek solutions and ideas that will carry us into the future,” he said. Dr Gasa is an Architectural practitioner, affiliated with many well-known professional associations, which include Project Management South Africa (PMSA) and the Institute of Directors (IOD). 

She was appointed by the President of South Africa: J.G. Zuma to serve as the youngest National Planning Commissioner. Bridgette Gasa is the 2008 recipient of the Department of Science and Technology Award for a Leading Woman Scientist in Industry, the company of which she is Founder and Managing Director. She completed her PhD in Construction Management with the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. When she unpacked the National Development Plan (NDP), Dr Gasa mentioned that Government is interested in injecting funds into Science, Innovation and Technology (SIT). She also tapped into the OECD review where she highlighted the findings that are regarded as role players in hindering the growth and development of the country. According to her, one of the Government wishes is to see an increase of PhD graduates, especially from UoT. This is imperative in terms of improving the scope of skills and knowledge transfer amongst South Africans thus addressing the aspirations of the NDP. “Only 34% of the academic staff possesses PhD. We need to see an increase in PhD holders being academic staff from 34% to over 70% by 2030. We also say it is possible to increase the number of graduate from 167 000 to 425 000 in 2030 with the majority of those coming from SIT fields,” she alluded. Dr Gasa also said that research capacity should be strengthened with Masters and PhD increase from 14% to 25%, with more than hundred doctoral graduates per million per year which will have doubled the number of graduates and postgraduate scientist by 2030. “The future of this country depends entirely on this,” she concluded. 

Image(s) 

Professor Henk de Jager, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic and Research; Dr Nothemba Mrwetyana, Registrar; Prof. Neil Garrod, Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal of CUT; and Dr Bridgette Gasa. Dr Gasa during the prestige lecture.