The University of Venda (UNIVEN) marked the beginning of the 2025 academic year with an inspiring and memorable official opening ceremony held on 04 Tuesday February 2025, at the University Auditorium. The event, graced by students, academic and support staff, set the tone for a year of excellence, innovation, and strategic growth for the institution.
On Photo: Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Bernard Nthambeleni
When delivering his keynote address, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Bernard Nthambeleni, outlined an inspiring message of hope and determination. Welcoming both new and returning students, he emphasised the significance of academic excellence, inclusivity, and innovation in driving the university’s mission. Prof Nthambeleni congratulated new students for securing their places out of a competitive pool of over 120,000 applicants, highlighting their exceptional matric results and encouraging them to take full responsibility for their academic journey.
For returning students, Prof. Nthambeleni commended their resilience and dedication, urging them to set new goals and strive for greater achievements. He shared the university’s remarkable milestones, including its consistent performance in national and international rankings, such as being listed among the top 15 universities in South Africa and ranking 11th out of 88 universities in Sub-Saharan Africa by Times Higher Education. These accolades reflect the hard work of the uni-versity’s staff and students, as well as the institution’s dedication to research, teaching excellence, and community engagement.
Prof Nthambeleni also outlined the university’s core values, including quality, accountability, re-spect, and diversity, encouraging students to embody these principles in their academic and per-sonal lives. He concluded, by reaffirming the university’s commitment to providing quality educa-tion, enhancing infrastructure, and supporting student success.
On Photo: Director Centre for Higher Education, Teaching and Learning, Prof Lindiwe Mulaudzi
Prof Lindiwe Mulaudzi, Director of the Centre for Higher Education, Teaching, and Learning, rec-ognised the academic excellence of 338 undergraduate students across all four faculties who achieved a minimum 75% average in their final exams without second attempts. These awards, established in 2010, celebrate students’ dedication and perseverance while promoting a culture of academic excellence. Prof Mulaudzi highlighted the importance of values such as objectivity, discipline, and integrity, and emphasised the role of both personal determination and external support in student success. She also expressed gratitude to sponsors and academic staff for cre-ating an environment that nurtures growth and learning. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the awards, which continues to motivate students and inspire excellence.
On photo: The Best Overall student of the Vice-Chancellor’s Student Academic Excellence Awards, Pir Sabnam (right), receiving her awards from the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Bernard Nthambeleni
On Photo: Mr Botwe Kraziya, Chief Operating Officer
Mr Botwe Kraziya, the Chief Operating Officer expressed his gratitude to all attendees, particularly the students being honoured, academic staff, and university leadership for their contributions to the success of the awards ceremony. He commended the academic staff for their hard work and dedication in supporting students’ achievements and encouraged all students, including those who did not win awards, to continue striving for excellence. He congratulated the prize winners and, encouraged them to celebrate their hard work responsibly. Mr Kraziya acknowledged the need to consider similar recognition for postgraduate students in the future. Concluding his remarks, he encouraged students to remain focused and work hard, reiterating the university’s commitment to supporting them in both academic and operational aspects of their journey.
A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the Vice-Chancellor’s Student Academic Ex-cellence Awards. These prestigious accolades were awarded to students who demonstrated out-standing academic performance in the previous year. The awards serve not only as recognition of hard work and dedication but also as inspiration for the broader student community to strive for similar achievements. As the academic year unfolds, the University of Venda remains steadfast in its mission to empower students and staff to excel. The official opening ceremony has set a high benchmark for what promises to be a transformative year for the institution.
Group photo of award recipients posing with their certificates
Group photo: Award recipients posing with the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Bernard Nthambeleni (3rd from
right), University Registrar, Dr Joel Baloyi (2nd from right) and Director CHETL, Prof Lindiwe Mulaudzi (3rd from left).
Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
