The University of Mpumalanga (UMP) has appointed Prof Moses Mbewe and Dr Aldo Stroebel as deputy vice chancellors.
The UMP announced this on July 4. Mbewe will be responsible for providing strategic leadership for all aspects related to postgraduate studies, engagement, institutional planning and continuing education services.
Tlangelani Ubisi, the unversity’s director of stakeholder liaison and communication, said, “Prior to his appointment, Mbewe was the dean of agriculture and natural sciences at UMP from 2016. Before joining the institution, he served as the head of Department of Water and Sanitation and acting director of the School of Computer and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Limpopo. He also worked at the North-West University as an associate professor and director of the School of Agricultural Sciences from 2005 to 2011, teaching microbiology. He holds a PhD in microbial genetics and molecular biology from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
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“Stroebel will be responsible for providing strategic leadership for all aspects related to research, innovation and partnerships, library and information services and institutional centres and institutes. Before joining UMP, Stroebel was the executive director of strategic partnerships at the National Research Foundation from 2013 to 2023. From 2003 until 2013, he worked at the University of the Free State (UFS) as a senior lecturer. He was the associate professor at the centre for sustainable agriculture; he was the founding director of international affairs and director of the International Academic and Transformation Projects in the office of the vice chancellor and rector. He holds a PhD in sustainable agriculture, which is a joint programme between the UFS and Cornell University, USA,” said Ubisi.
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“The appointment of Mbewe and Stroebel coincides with the university’s 10th anniversary. Over the years, we have grown in stature and academic offerings. We now offer 65 programmes, ranging from higher certificates to doctoral degrees, and have more than 8 200 students have enrolled. We firmly believe they will contribute positively to the university’s academic projects and in our pursuit of being an African university leading in creating opportunities for sustainable development through innovation,” said Prof Thoko Mayekiso, UMP’s vice chancellor.
