UNESWA Launches the 2024-2029 Strategic Plan to Internal Stakeholders

KWALUSENI – The 2024-2029 University of Eswatini Strategic Plan was launched to internal stakeholders at a ceremony held at the University’s Multi-Purpose Hall, Kwaluseni on Tuesday 07 May 2024.

The University’s vision for the next five years is to be “A Sustainable Public University Impacting Society and Improving Lives.”  In his welcome remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Justice Thwala mentioned that the University was established though the University Act, 1982 whose main mandate is to avail quality education and produce human capital for both private and public institutions not only in the Kingdom of Eswatini, but within the global village at large.  He noted that the University has delivered on this mandate over the years but have been facing financial challenges since the global meltdown in 2010 which worsened during the advent of Covid-19 with its associated lockdowns and civil unrest in the period, 2019-2021.

Professor Thwala further noted that “the university found itself unable to meet its financial obligations which include, Medical aid and utilities, Staff members’ stop orders to financial institutions, Pension Fund contributions, Statutory Pay As You Earn, Part-time teaching claims, Gratuity, Leave pay, Suppliers of teaching materials, maintenance of infrastructure and support for research activities.

In recognition of the questionable going concern of the Institution, the University initiated development of a strategic plan for the period 2024-2029. I am therefore pleased to present the University of Eswatini Strategic Plan for 2024–2029, which is the culmination of extensive consultations. This process, though extensive, symbolizes the continuous growth and advancement of the University since its inception in 1982. The University has adopted a bottom-up approach to engage all internal and external stakeholders significantly in shaping this strategic roadmap for our public higher education institution.”

The Vice Chancellor then appreciated all stakeholders that have participated in crafting the strategic plan document.  “May I now take the opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the faculties, departments, institutions, and centres of the University for their invaluable contributions to the plan’s development. My gratitude extends to the University Council, Senate, and Management for facilitating this inclusive process and granting their final approval. I hold great appreciation for the University staff involved in the Steering Committee and Task Teams and the consultants led by Dr Bafana Dlamini with his team that consists of Mr Mfundo Msibi (Faculty of Commerce) and Ms Virginia T. Dlamini-Akintola from the Faculty of Humanities, for overseeing the process and synthesizing the strategy. I commend the University Management, Deans, Directors, CEOs, and department heads for their exceptional efforts in designing strategic initiatives informed by prior analyses.

We extend our sincere appreciation for the invaluable support received from over 470 internal and 100 external stakeholders who actively shaped the University’s future. Special gratitude is offered to the Principal Secretaries from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Education for enabling connections with High Commissioners and Ambassadors, and for orchestrating the involvement of foreign representatives in Eswatini. Recognition is also warranted for other Principal Secretaries and senior government officials for their substantial contributions to the strategic plan’s development through their participation in the Council’s consultative sessions. Moreover, we acknowledge the President of the Senate, the Speaker of Parliament, and Members of Parliament for their valuable insights in formulating this strategic plan. Our appreciation also extends to the public entities of the Kingdom of Eswatini, Non-Governmental Organizations, affiliated Colleges, and all relevant stakeholders for their active engagement.”

He also mentioned that that the Strategic Plan for 2024-2029 aligns with the National Development Plan for 2023-2027, focusing on “”Good Governance: The Anchor for Economic Recovery, Sustainable Growth, and Livelihoods.”

Professor Thwala further mentioned that “this Strategy and the Implementation process will involve concerted efforts to:

  • Reducing reliance on government subvention through innovative fund raising initiatives. These include commercialisation of our programmes and university intellectual property. This will also unavoidably include initiatives to increase tuition fees by as high 30% which will increase our internal revenue from 27% to 40%.
  • Embarking in Cost containment without compromising efficiencies and quality of education.This will mean that we need to reduce our wage bill from 92% of total revenue to 60%,
  • Diversify and overhaul programmes offered to be relevant to the skills required by local and regional markets and produce graduates who are job creators rather than job seekers.

 

One is desirous of seeing successful implementation of new signature and strategic projects in faculties:

 such as advancement in agricultural technology and introduction of veterinary science in the faculty of agriculture, advancement in Agroprocessing in consumer sciences, supply chain in commerce, introduction of programmes in school administration and finance management for school administrators and a training school in the faculty of education, mounting of a practising clinic and establishmenst of a medical school in the faculty of health sciences, introduction of performance arts in the faculty of humanities, mounting programmes in corporate , patent and environmental  law in the faculty of social sciences, introduction of data analytics, health informatics, genomics,forensic science, mechanical, civil and manufacturing engineering in the faculty of science and engineering.”

The Strategic Plan as presented by the Director of the University Planning and Institutional Advancement Centre (UPIAC) has six pillars:

  • Teaching and Learning;
  • Research, Innovation and Enterprise;
  • Human Resource Development and Management;
  • Institutional Effectiveness and Efficiency;
  • Stakeholder Engagement and Management; and
  • Financial Sustainability.

The six pillars encompass all facets of the University’s mission.

The new Mission of the University is “To be responsive to national and international needs through teaching and learning, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and community engagement for inclusive and sustainable development.”

Internal stakeholders were given the opportunity to discuss the strategy.

In making his closing remarks, Professor C. Maphosa, the Chairperson of the Steering Committee thanked all who participated in making the launch a success.  He thanked members of the Steering Committee, the Technical Committee and the Consultants.  He mentioned that the consultants were from the University and had a though understanding of the context. He also thanked the University Council for approving the road map for the University – the strategic plan document.