Welcome to yet another year, where as an institution we gear up to fulfil the strategic goals we set for ourselves. One of these is to create and support an environment that fosters research quality and productivity; to develop and sustain the research capacity of staff and students and; to conduct research that contributes to local, regional, national and global sustainability.
With these goals in mind we aim to increase the number of rated researchers because, if the institution produces researchers of good standing, we will be able to generate more funding for the university.
My colleagues and myself were honoured at an intimate function to acknowledge the research work that was done in the past year. Congratulations to those that keep making UMP shine.
An interesting read this month is how one student studying agriculture used all the knowledge he gathered in class to start his poultry farming business. He shares how three years ago he started with few chickens and today he supplies eggs to his community. Read his story and be inspired!
UMP students and staff are continuing to respond positively to the Love My Campus campaign, which aims to promote an environmentally friendly and clean campus. The initiative launched in 2017 has been revived with a competition where students and staff have to do an initiative that shows they are aware of their environmental surroundings. This campaign also encourages UMP community to take deliberate steps to love and protect university assets. We already have six students that have won. The competition is still open. We are still accepting entries.
As we prepare to release another group of graduates, a former UMP student Floyd Ndhlovu who is now employed by a local farm, shares his job seeking tips with those that will be going out to seek employment. He shares more about what employers are looking for in candidates and how graduates can sell their skills. Have a fruitful 2020.
Professor Thoko Mayekiso
Vice Chancellor