The University of Venda (UNIVEN) officially ushered in the 2026 academic year with a vibrant and well-attended First-Time Entering Students (FTENS) Orientation Programme held on Friday, 30 January 2026, at a fully packed UNIVEN Auditorium. The event marked a significant milestone for hundreds of new students embarking on their higher education journey.
The Orientation Day served as a formal welcome into university life, providing first-year students with a comprehensive introduction to academic expectations, campus culture, and the extensive range of support services available to them. The programme reflects UNIVEN’s commitment to ensuring a smooth transition from secondary education to higher learning, while nurturing graduates who are locally relevant and globally competitive.
DVC: Teaching and Learning, Prof Eucebious Lekalakala-Mokgele
The 2026 Orientation Programme was officially opened by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning. When delivering her official opening address, the Deputy Vice-Chan-cellor Teaching and Learning, Prof Eucebious Lekalakala-Mokgele, warmly welcomed first-year students at what she described as a pivotal moment in the university’s evolution. She high-lighted the institution’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan and its vision of engaged scholarship, under-pinned by student-centred, research-informed, and digitally enabled teaching and learning. Prof Lekalakala-Mokgele encouraged students to take responsibility for their learning, actively engage beyond the classroom, uphold academic integrity, and confidently embrace their place within the UNIVEN community.
Acting Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education, Prof Tawanda Runhare
Welcoming the Class of 2026, the Acting Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education, Prof Tawanda Runhare, congratulated students on securing a place at the University of Venda, describing their admission as the beginning of a transformative journey. He emphasised that entering university is more than registration; it is joining a move-ment that shapes character, leadership, and purpose. Prof Runhare highlighted UNIVEN’s core values of integrity, respect, excellence, accountability, and diversity as essential pillars for pro-fessional and ethical growth, reminding students that they are ambassadors of the institution and future leaders in society.
SRC President, Mr Tirani Mathye
Adding a student leadership perspective, SRC President Tirani Mathye congratulated new stu-dents for choosing the University of Venda as their institution of choice. He outlined the Stu-dent Representative Council’s role in advocating for and protecting students’ interests, partic-ularly in matters related to academic, accommodation, and financial challenges. He assured students that the SRC leadership remains accessible and committed to ensuring that no ob-stacle stands in the way of their academic success.
A key highlight of the programme was the introduction of first-year students to critical support and administrative structures within the university. Representatives from Legal Services, Occu-pational Health and Safety (OHS), International Relations and Partnerships, Financial Aid, Stu-dent Affairs, Centre for Higher Education Teaching and Learning (CHETL), and the Directorate for Community Engagement, Entrepreneurship, Inclusive Innovation and Commercialisation shared valuable information aimed at supporting academic achievement, innovation, and stu-dent wellbeing.
The programme highlighted UNIVEN’s comprehensive approach to student development, blending academic success with entrepreneurship, global exposure, wellness, and responsi-ble citizenship. Speakers outlined how the university connects learning to real-world impact through community engagement, entrepreneurship training, innovation support, and interna-tional opportunities that cultivate globally competitive graduates. Strong emphasis was placed on student wellness, academic support, and holistic development, alongside access to coun-selling, career guidance, disability support, and learning assistance. Student Affairs reinforced that academic excellence is central to leadership and personal growth, while Legal Services underscored the importance of ethical conduct and adherence to institutional rules. Collec-tively, the presentations encouraged students to take responsibility for their choices, embrace entrepreneurial thinking, and actively utilise available support structures to succeed and grad-uate as well-rounded, employable citizens.
UNIVEN 2026 first-year students were informed of the university’s bold and strategic deci-sion to introduce a compulsory, university-wide core module in entrepreneurship, effective from 2026. The module is designed to equip students across all faculties with foundational entrepreneurial knowledge, practical business skills, innovation thinking, and problem-solving competencies. It aims to nurture an entrepreneurial culture within the university community, encourage self-employment and innovation, and prepare graduates to respond creatively and sustainably to socio-economic challenges.
University Registrar, Dr Joel Baloyi
The Orientation programme concluded with a vote of thanks from the University Registrar, Dr Joel Baloyi, who expressed appreciation to university leadership, staff, and student represen-tatives for their collective support. He urged first-year students to remain focused, disciplined, and committed to completing their qualifications within the prescribed time, making full use of the academic, financial, health, and personal support services available.
In closing, Dr Takalani Dzaga, Director: Marketing, Branding and Communication, informed students that the Official Opening of the 2026 Academic Year will take place on Wednesday, 04 February 2026, at the University Auditorium, with classes commencing on Monday, 09 Febru-ary 2026. He also outlined the faculty-specific orientation schedules and encouraged students to attend all sessions to maximise their orientation experience.
Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
