The new name offers us an opportunity to enhance the repositioning and rebranding and rethink the kind of university we can, and should, become in line with Nelson Mandela’s own legacy. This name will further offer us national, continental and international standing since Nelson Mandela is renowned and revered around the globe.
In many ways, our present name restricts us. It binds us to a city and particular geographical area. The new name will make it easier to build a national, continental and international brand.
Background
This University had always hoped to become Nelson Mandela University. Even before the merger of 2005, requests were made for this to happen.
This desire and objective strengthened with the adoption of our Vision 2020, which clearly articulated our ambition of becoming a new generation university. So over the years the university leadership worked quietly on the project of getting the name changed.
On 23 June 2016, that persistence was rewarded as the new name – Nelson Mandela University – was announced in the Government Gazette by Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr Blade Nzimande.
Plans to officially launch the new name in October 2016 had to be postponed due to the Fees Must Fall protests that necessitated a serious rethinking, particularly of the business model of the university. This has in turn lead to the University embarking on a sustainability programme and an efficiency drive.
Benefits vs costs
The launch of the new name forms part of the strategy of investing into projects and programmes like the new and dedicated Ocean Sciences Campus and in establishing the country’s 10th medical school. Such projects will enhance the university’s ability to generate new revenues, attract increased amounts of third stream funding and form mutually beneficial strategic partnerships.
The budget devoted to the new name project has been carefully thought through, given the sustainability and efficiency drive, such that the only direct cost involved in embracing the opportunities associated with the revered name of Nelson Mandela, will be with the actual launch. All other costs, such as new signage, for example, will be absorbed by normal annual operational budgets.
The University is confident that the long-term benefits of being the only university in the world to carry former President Mandela’s name will far outweigh any initial investment for the launch. The date for this has not yet been confirmed.
Transition
Our next communication will offer some practical advice on the transition process from NMMU to Nelson Mandela University.
Communication and Stakeholder Liaison