CHAIR OF COUNCIL MESSAGE
Planning for better futures FOR SOUTH AFRICA, AFRICA AND THE WORLD Ms Futhi Mtoba
The University of Pretoria has a compelling story to tell. In a complex and fast-changing environment, we have differentiated ourselves and are making solid progress towards achieving our goals as set out in the UP 2025 Strategic Plan.
The University of Pretoria (UP) is one of the largest
Today’s dynamic world requires that every organisation
research-intensive universities in South Africa, with
and individual should find a way to unlearn what they
seven exceptional campuses and nine highly regarded
have experienced in the past and relearn so that they can
faculties spanning the knowledge spectrum: from
create new solutions for the future. It is an opportunity
traditional academic fields to rapidly evolving 4IR-
the University embraced enthusiastically in 2019 when
focused programmes. It is committed to making a
what it could be and how it could thrive in an increasingly
decisive contribution to transforming South Africa’s and
uncertain environment was considered.
Africa’s future through excellence in knowledge creation, impactful and relevant research, high-quality academic
Following the Universities South Africa’s (USAf) national
programmes, innovative teaching and learning, and social
higher education conference – Reinventing South Africa’s
responsiveness and engagement.
universities for the future – it was clear that universities cannot be ivory towers. They need to positively engage
The University enjoys a stellar reputation for the
with their varied publics and grow their trust in universities
quality of both its professional and research-orientated
as creators of future-proof knowledge. As a top higher
academic programmes. Yet, the profound scientific and
education institution, we, at UP, regard it as our duty to
technological developments linked with the 4IR, where
focus on innovation and transformation in all spheres of
machines are increasingly becoming smarter, require
society, the economy, and the environment. UP believes
that it continuously enhance its learning ability, skills and
that education for the 4IR is our greatest opportunity to
technological knowledge. “The illiterate of the 21st Century
achieve this and to contribute to a prosperous continent.
will not be those who cannot read and write, but those
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who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” This statement by
The development of the Future Africa Institute and campus
Alvin Toffler, an American futurist, predicts the way forward
and the Engineering 4.0 complex on the UP Hillcrest
for all universities.
Campus is stimulating the convergence of expertise across
UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA Annual Review 2019
