Even before touching down on South African shores last month, Norma Reid was aware of the route she will embark as vice-chancellor at the University of the Witwatersrand.
As she settles in and adjusts to the new surroundings at Wits, the Irish academic is adamant that she would have to go out and meet the students of tomorrow at schools throughout South Africa.
“She wants to visit schools, particularly those in rural areas, and listen to the needs of learners, especially their views on how Wits could become more accessible,” says the university’s spokesperson Prim Pillay.
She adds that Reid plans to set up a scholarship for a student from a disadvantaged background with money given to her in lieu of presents for her farewell gifts from colleagues at the University of Plymouth.
“She is keen on ensuring that the university fosters a greater link with schools because pupils of today are the students and future leaders of tomorrow,” Pillay says.
Reid plans to attend school speech days and other functions if she is invited.
Reid is the first woman to head Wits in its history and currently one of three female vice-chancellors in the country.
The former Irish statistician and ex-deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Plymouth replaces Colin Bundy, who is now head of the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies.
Reid is aware of the exciting challenges facing her at Wits, and her arrival at one of the country’s premier institutions co-incides with an R100-million facelift aimed at making the university more user-friendly and attractive to students.
Her arrival coincides with a 22% increase in student intake at Wits this year over last year. The university has 18 500 students and also boasts a 15% increase in post-graduate students, both figures being the highest in nine years.
Despite the positive student growth, Wits is keen to spruce up its image and maintain its status as a world-class university.
In order to achieve this, the university has to become more appealing to students in an increasingly competitive tertiary education system.
In addition to making the campus more attractive, the university is streamlining services and beefing up security.
Earlier this year the academic restructuring of Wits resulted in nine faculties being absorbed into five, and 99 departments into 33 schools. Some of the schools are being moved into upgraded facilities. R80-million has been earmarked in the next three years for modernising the campus: another R20-million has been secured from outside.
The university’s Great Hall and medical school foyers are being redecorated and its main library is being modernised, with new computers and a coffee shop. A huge deck with outdoor seating will connect the library to the students’ union.
One-stop student services are being introduced and external investors are building a multilevel student centre, with banks, shops, entertainment facilities, a new clinic and upgraded student and club offices.
Director of marketing and communications Peter Bezuidenhoudt says the major projects to revamp and upgrade stems from confidence in the future. “Professor Reid has come to Wits at an exciting time,” he adds.
– The Teacher/M&G Media, Johannesburg, August 2001.