The largest ever graduation ceremony of the Sol Plaatje University (SPU) in Kimberley since it began operating in 2014 took place recently.
Judge Steven Majiedt, chancellor of the SPU, presided over the university’s 571 undergraduate and postgraduate students graduating at the first in-person ceremony since 2019.
It took place at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre on 7 May, with 313 viewers following the event via YouTube.
Qualifications were conferred in two sessions. The morning session was for those graduating from the School of Education, while the afternoon session was for graduates of the School of Economic and Management Sciences, the School of Humanities and the School of Natural and Applied Sciences.
Dr Muki Moeng, dean of the Faculty of Education at the Nelson Mandela University (NMU), was the guest speaker at the first session. Moeng strives to foster an environment in which students and staff can critically examine the conditions that hamper and improve education.
Prof. Randall Carolissen, dean of the Johannesburg Business School (JBS), was the guest speaker at the second session. Carolissen is strategically repositioning the JBS as a leading business school, specialising in digital transformation in Africa.
Prof. Andrew Crouch, SPU vice-chancellor and principal, reminded graduates they were part of the fortunate few who have achieved a university qualification. It comes with the responsibility to contribute towards the development of South Africa and society in general, he explained.
The SPU has more than 1 500 graduates, and its growing alumni base is expanding its footprint in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
