In a formal ceremony marked by a call for academic renewal, the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) Senate officially welcomed Professor Rushiella Songca as the Institution’s new Interim Vice-Chancellor and Principal. The welcome message, delivered by Dr Anette Mienie, outgoing Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal, and member of the University Senate, centred on the critical “bicameral” relationship between the University Council and Senate. Dr Mienie emphasised that while Council oversees general governance, Senate remains the “custodian of the academic project.”
Dr Mienie addressed the evolving nature of higher education, warning against the global trend of “managerialism” where academic decisions are sometimes shifted away from faculty-led bodies. “There is a danger that Senate can become a space of rubber-stamping or the playing out of petty politics,” Dr Mienie noted. “To enact Senate’s responsibilities fully, we need to explicitly deliberate on and reimagine our role in an ever-changing university environment.”
To guide Professor Songca’s leadership, the Senate outlined five key considerations for a high-functioning academic institution. The first one was regular self-evaluation, about which they said that a healthy university requires a balance between the fiduciary responsibilities of the Council and the collegial governance of the Senate. Dr Mienie highlighted that tensions often arise over resource allocation, requiring the Vice-Chancellor and Principal to act as a skilled mediator between the two bodies.
The second consideration was the stewardship of the academic project. Citing Professor Jonathan Jansen’s 2023 book Corrupted, the address warned that dysfunctional universities often marginalise their Senates. To combat this, MUT has initiated the Senate Colloquium, a space designed for deeper engagement with the University’s mission beyond routine administrative tasks.
Dr Mienie, on behalf of Senate also mentioned overcoming managerialism. This highest academic body expressed concern that “academic capital” (individual status) is sometimes valued over the “intellectual capital” of the collective. The address called for a shift away from hierarchical cultures and traditional formalities that can stifle robust debate.
And lastly, the Senate highlighted the necessity for exemplary leadership, saying that the role of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, as Chairperson of Senate, was described as an “unenviable position” that requires transparency, a lack of defensiveness toward critique, and a commitment to protecting academic freedom.
The Senate concluded by defining the three pillars of the Academic Project that will guide Professor Songca’s tenure. These are learning and teaching, which refer to exploring innovative approaches to enhance student experience; the research and innovation, referring to the advancing of knowledge through national and international collaborations; and community engagement, that is strengthening MUT’s connection to society.
“We look forward to working with you, may your tenure be one of growth and achievement,” Dr Mienie concluded.