Speaking at the year-end and long-service awards ceremony recently held at the Mbombela and Siyabuswa campuses, Professor Mayekiso said the awards honour individuals who have shown unwavering loyalty and commitment. Long-service employees possess invaluable knowledge, work experience, and problem-solving perspectives and abilities that make their worth to the institution almost incalculable.
“These are intangibles within an organisation that cannot be stored. There are seemingly tiny actions in an organisation, which have a huge impact on the overall performance of the institution.
Strong organisations and teams are built on the bedrock of the community. I must admit that there is a growing and very pleasing sense of unity among our members. People who stay long in an organisation, to a point of getting long service, are the ones whose personalities are usually most aligned with those of the institution.”
She acknowledged staff for their excellence in driving institutional success and leading in relation to the security of UMP’s data in cyberspace, the high pass rate, the sound mental health of the UMP community, to the undertaking of cutting-edge research, and the dissemination of information.
Values-driven staff
Professor Mayekiso noted that these successes happen because UMP staff are driven and held together by the institution's values of excellence, integrity, diversity, collaboration, adaptability, relevance, and inspiration by embracing and living these values. She said they were true ambassadors for the university.
She further mentioned that the individuals who were honoured for their hard work and dedication, left footprints on the institution and on the lives of the people in it; footprints that would last forever. The Vice-Chancellor also noted how the University has preserved through all the challenges with which they were faced the last couple of years.
“Change is the only constant in life, and we have faced many changes and challenges together, especially during the pandemic. But you remained steadfast in your commitment and dedication to the university and the members of its community," she further added.
“As an institution, we have learned to adapt and to focus on the positives. We have mastered the art of recognising what is good in the past and present and being optimistic about the future.
We have realised that it is possible to find growth, learning and opportunity in all the situations we find ourselves in as UMP and we continue to find silver linings even in challenging times.”
Speaking on behalf of the awardees, UMP Senior Engagement Manager, Mr Sithembiso Mbuyane acknowledged the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mayekiso and her management team for honouring employees who have served UMP well.
“This act of recognition by the university will certainly serve to motivate us to be even more loyal, committed and dedicated to the vision and mission of UMP,” he added.
“We are here because once you come to UMP, you become part of a family, a family who genuinely cares. So we must also care. We should show that care by returning year after year to the university. Today we will go out and be ambassadors, and we will use these awards as motivation to do even better and even more for this great institution.”
@ Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures by ChrisplPhoto.