Thousands of returning and first-entry students, general staff and academic staff converged at the university auditorium for the traditional official opening of the academic year. It took place last Wednesday.

Those who attended did so for different reasons; some came for the official opening and others attended specifically to welcome the new principal of the university. Lectures started late at the university due to the ongoing recovery process taking place on campus. The multi-million-rand recovery plan is now in its third phase and a major revamp has taken place on campus.

Addressing those gathered, the university registrar, Mr Khuliso Nemadzivhanani, said the University of Venda was an institution under physical construction, cultural and moral reconstruction, and an institution in transition. Nemadzivhanani invited all new and returning students to join in the intellectual endeavor.

He also encouraged all students to take their studies seriously as they won’t succeed without expanding their knowledge horizons. He urged all to give momentum and impetus to the reconstruction moment and welcome the new vice-chancellor, Professor Peter Mbati, in a positive mood. He concluded by thanking all and gave a special thanks to the acting vice-chancellor, Dr Jim Leatt, for taking Univen to where it is today.

Dr Leatt said the university was faced with challenges: there was a worrying trend of students´ dropping out and many not completing their qualifications within a reasonable time frame. "We do not yet understand why they drop out and why they fail to complete their degrees. We must endeavour to find out in order to stop the waste of human and financial resources," he said. He said the other greatest challenge facing universities in the country was the improvement of undergraduate teaching and learning. "We are finally beginning to understand that what is called the problem of the poor ´student retention rates´ ultimately is about improving undergraduate teaching and learning," he said.

The new vice-chancellor and principal of the university, Prof Peter Mbati, said he was ready for the challenge. He promised to work together with other stakeholders to take the university to greater heights.