Prof Dan Kgwadi, vice-chancellor of the North-West University (NWU), visited academic staff members from the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the NWU’s campus in Mahikeng on 16 March 2018.

He was accompanied by Prof Fika Van Rensburg, NWU vice-principal and deputy vice-chancellor responsible for operations at the campus in Potchefstroom, and Prof Marilyn Setlalentoa, deputy vice-chancellor responsible for operations at the campus in Mahikeng.

According to Prof Kgwadi, these walkabout visits will take place across all three campuses during the year and play a vital role in ensuring that the NWU strategy is fully implemented throughout the university.

“I have adopted this approach of visiting staff members at their work places to experience their working environment first-hand and to assess equity in the provision of resources,” says Prof Kgwadi. “This will also assist management – when we make decisions – to understand what staff members need to provide quality service to students.”

Prof Kgwadi says he was impressed to see how diverse the faculty is, and to see the faculty recruiting former students into academia.

Prof Janse van Rensburg also says that he was impressed with the passion demonstrated by staff members, and Prof Setlalentoa requested staff members to work together with management to ensure the growth of the NWU brand.

“It was a great honour to meet the vice-chancellor and to know that he appreciates the work we are doing, says Eunice Chesa, a lecturer in the Department of Public Administration. “The vice-chancellor was so humble and welcoming, and the whole experience made me proud to be part of the NWU family.”

“This visit will empower senior management to identify issues and challenges that affect the advancement of the unitary model of the university at large,” says Thabo Mashoene, a lecturer in the School of Accounting. “This approach will enable management to find appropriate solutions from grass-root level. I see this as a beneficial effort and really appreciate it.”

 Prof Fika Janse van Rensburg and Prof Dan Kgwadi visit Eunice Chesa at her office.