Abstract
The University’s Preamble to the UJ Strategic Thrusts: 2011 – 2020 is/states
that UJ strives to provide education that is accessible and affordable,
challenging, imaginative and innovative, and a just, responsible and
sustainable society.
An educational institution is not just about the teaching and learning,
but also the contribution it makes to society and the distance it would
go to ensure that education is accessible to all, but also inexpensive.
The second Strategic Thrust which was set out to be achieved by 2020
states that UJ work towards “a reputation as a comprehensive institution
with a unique identity in the higher education sector because of the stature
and quality of its scientific and technology-rich programmes and its scientific
and technology-driven research, innovation and technology transfer”.
In this edition we commemorate researchers and scholars at UJ who
have made an impact with the work they’ve done. We encourage those
on the outside looking in to be involved in shaping the futures of young
minds and making a difference in society and in South Africa. There is so
much that is yet to be discovered and shared with the rest of the world.
Highly qualified and innovative professors and scholars are crucial
to building a world-renowned reputation. These are the people our
students will look up to and aspire to emulate when they choose the
route to contribute to education, research, science and technology in our
country, and be forward-thinking and cutting edge young scholars.
Partnerships are vital to enabling collaboration, commercialisation and
innovation at the University. These are the people who provide much
needed support, in the form of funding, sponsorships or otherwise, for
ground-breaking initiatives and projects to come to fruition with aweinspiring
results.
There is so much more that many at UJ are doing behind the scenes;
in the laboratory, in the lecture halls and internationally. They all form a
crucial part of this institution.
I leave you with these last words of inspiration. If nothing else, let them
spark a desire to be part of the efforts that staff, students and scholars
from all walks of life are contributing to making UJ one of the best.
“To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new
angle, require creative imagination and marks real advance in science.” –
Albert Einstein
Be bold enough to be great. Be bold enough to be brilliant.