Adam Habib secures second term in office as Wits commander-in-chief
BRAAMFONTEIN – Wits vice-chancellor and principal, Prof. Adam Habib, has been appointed for a second term in office commencing from 2018 and running until 2023.
Vice-chancellor and principal of Wits University, Prof. Adam Habib, has been appointed for a second term in office.
His mandate will be to continue with leading the university which is regarded as one of the leading institutions of higher education on the African continent.
Following consultations with various constituencies, the council of the university reached consensus on extending Habib’s contract for a further five years, commencing in 2018.
“Professor Habib is a dynamic leader with immense experience in managing higher education institutions within South Africa’s complex political and socio-economic context,” said chair of the council, Dr Randall Carolissen. “In the last few years, he has consolidated Wits’ academic programmes, enhanced its research and innovation standing, restructured its managerial and technological operations, whilst ensuring the university’s financial sustainability.
“Wits University has [had] tremendous achievements in the last few years, which should not be overshadowed by the challenges that the university faced in recent months. Despite the student protests pertaining to funding issues, the university made incredible strides.”
Carolissen outlined that in addition to the institution securing a State subsidy, Habib has been instrumental in ensuring that Wits continues to secure additional resources from donors for teaching and research. “Student funding is a priority and Professor Habib and his team are working to maximise income through creating an endowment for student funding from the possible development and/or sale of land owned by the university.”
Speaking of the university’s plans for a revision of the language policy, renewal of the curriculum, reforming of the institutional culture, creating a diverse student and residence experience, renaming of certain places and spaces within the institution and insourcing workers, Carolissen said, “These achievements are not the sole consequence of the vice-chancellor but that of the entire university community.
“However, under his leadership, he has created the conditions to enable these accomplishments. On balance, it is my belief that Wits is a far stronger institution in 2017 than it was in 2013. Given this performance, the council of the university has agreed to renew Professor Habib’s contract for a second term.”
Regarding Habib’s stance on one of the most significant challenges to emerge from universities over the past 18 months, the student protests for free education, Carolissen said, “These were extremely difficult periods for the university but I believe that Professor Habib acted at all times with integrity and with the best interests of the university at heart. He implemented council decisions and managed difficult situations which enabled the completion of the 2016 academic programme.”
