Professor Brian Figaji has committed to improving the calibre of leadership in South Africa. Professor BrianFigajihas committed to improving the calibre of leadership in South Africa, a pledge made at his installation as the new Chancellor of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), the Western Cape’s largest university. Figajiis CPUT’s third Chancellor and dedicated 25 years of his distinguished career to one of its legacy institutions, the Peninsula Technikon, where he served as Vice-Chancellor for a decade until the merger creating CPUT in 2005.
Figajimade his remarks at his Installation as the new Chancellor of the CPUT at a ceremony held on Wednesday. Figajitold the audience that during his tenure as Pen Tech Rector he often had to lean into his values, even when it was challenging to do so. “If we are to build a values-based society with ethical leadership, then Higher Education has a significant role to play in the formation of those future leaders.
“I would certainly want to support an institution that foregrounds its values not only for the enhancement of its own culture but as the institution’s contribution to the building of a new South African society,” he said. .CPUT Registrar Dr Phumzile Masala, CPUT Chair Of Council Dr Laurine Platzky, Chancellor Prof Brian Figaji and CPUT VC Prof Chris Nhlapo. Figajistressed that everything undertaken by the institution needed to align with the university values system, and that both staff and students should be held equally accountable.
Read Full Article on Cape Argus
[paywall]
“Students must be exposed to some form of knowledge exchange on what ethical leadership is about and what it demands of every individual. “It is not enough to adopt a set of values that we hang on the wall and print in booklets for passive reading. No, it requires a plan of action that may well require resourcing and drive from the very top of the organisation,” he said. CPUT Chair of Council Dr Laurine Platsky said thatFigaji’sappointment was a purposeful one because he represented ethical leadership.
[/paywall]
