The University of Venda (UNIVEN) has strengthened its drive to expand healthcare education by engaging leading industry partners to explore funding opportunities for its proposed Bachelor of Pharmacy programme scheduled to commence soon.
In the picture: L-R: Mr Murendeni Matshinyatsimbi, Ms Murial Kopanye and Mr Sipho Moshoane
Representatives from Sibanye Stillwater and Air Liquide Healthcare visited the University on 9 July 2026 for a strategic engagement hosted in the Faculty of Health Sciences Boardroom. The delegation included Mr Murendeni Matshinyatsimbi of Sibanye Stillwater, Ms Murial Kopanye, Head of Pharmaceutical Regulatory and Quality at Air Liquide Healthcare, and Mr Sipho Moshoane, Director of MedGas and Public Affairs at Air Liquide Healthcare South Africa.
Professor Sebi Lekalakala-Mokgele
Welcoming the delegates, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning, Professor Sebi Lekalakala who presented virtually, described the proposed pharmacy programme as a strategic investment that will expand access to pharmaceutical education, particularly for students from rural communities, while strengthening healthcare services. She emphasised that meaningful partnerships with industry are essential to ensuring the programme meets professional standards and produces competent, innovative and socially responsive pharmacists.
Professor Frederick Veldman
Presenting the Human Impact of the pharmacy programme, Professor Frederick Veldman, Manager: Special Projects in the Offi ce of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Teaching and Learning, highlighted the growing demand for health sciences programmes, revealing that the Faculty of Health Sciences received 26,827 applications for only 250 places in 2025. He noted that while only nine South African universities currently off er accredited Bachelor of Pharmacy programmes, many academically deserving students from the Vhembe District are unable to pursue pharmacy studies because of the fi nancial burden of relocating to other provinces. He said the new programme aligns with UNIVEN’s Vision 2040 and Strategic Plan 2026–2030 and will help address the shortage of pharmacists in rural and underserved communities within Vhembe District Municipality while promoting graduate employability, innovation and community development.
Dr Alice Mkuzangwe
Presenting Virtually, Dr Alice Mkuzangwe, Director: Academic Planning and Quality Assurance, outlined the University’s Teaching and Learning Sub-strategy, which promotes inclusive, student-centred education, curriculum transformation, digital innovation, entrepreneurship and industry collaboration. She said the proposed pharmacy programme refl ects the University’s commitment to producing graduates who are locally relevant and globally competitive while responding to pressing healthcare challenges.
Professor Andries Gous
Pharmacy education specialist Prof Andries Gous, Advisor to the University of Venda, presented the programme’s vision and academic framework, emphasising its alignment with the South African Pharmacy Council accreditation standards and its strong focus on rural healthcare, experiential learning and interdisciplinary collaboration. The integrated curriculum will provide graduates with the knowledge, practical skills and professional competencies required for registration as pharmacists, supported by 400 hours of work-based learning across community, hospital, primary healthcare and pharmaceutical industry settings. The curriculum also places particular emphasis on addressing priority health challenges aff ecting rural South Africa, including infectious and non-communicable diseases, antimicrobial stewardship, pharmaceutical compounding, indigenous knowledge systems and medicine-use optimisation, while fostering research, innovation and community engagement.
Professor Tshilidzi Mulaudzi
Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Tshilidzi Mulaudzi, affi rmed the Faculty’s readiness to introduce the programme, highlighting its experienced academic staff , established clinical training platforms and extensive work-integrated learning partnerships with hospitals, government departments, non-governmental organisations, higher education institutions and the private sector. She noted that the Faculty, established in 2021 following institutional restructuring, has continued to expand its academic capacity, with 44 staff members holding doctoral degrees. She added that the pharmacy programme forms part of the Faculty’s broader strategy to introduce additional professional health sciences qualifi cations, while leveraging opportunities in the greater Vhembe District to suppor[FV1.1]t pharmaceutical research, manufacturing partnerships and future graduate employability.
Professor Bernard Nthambeleni
Addressing the session virtually from France, where he is participating in UNESCO-related engagements, Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Bernard Nthambeleni reaffi rmed the University’s commitment to building strategic partnerships that improve lives through education, research and community development. He described investment in UNIVEN as an investment in the future of Limpopo and South Africa.
Speaking on behalf of Air Liquide Healthcare, Mr Sipho Moshoane, Director of MedGas and Public Aff airs at Air Liquide Healthcare South Africa, expressed the company’s interest in establishing meaningful partnerships that respond to the University’s priorities. He highlightedthe Air Liquide Foundation’s global support for education and healthcare initiatives, and said the proposed pharmacy programme presents opportunities for local and international collaboration to strengthen healthcare education, research and innovation.
Ms Sue Govender
The engagement concluded with a presentation by Ms Sue Govender, Portfolio Project Director, who outlined the University’s infrastructure development plans, including integrated pharmacy laboratories and simulation facilities designed to support world-class teaching, research and professional training. The proposed facilities will underpin the successful implementation of the Bachelor of Pharmacy programme while benefi ting a range of health sciences disciplines.
The engagement marked another signifi cant step in UNIVEN’s mission to establish a sustainable, community-focused pharmacy programme that expands access to higher education, strengthens healthcare delivery and contributes to the socio-economic development of Limpopo and beyond by training of pharmacists equipped to serve rural and underserved communities.
In the picture: participants of the session
Below are some photographs taken during the visit to the Nursing Simulation Laboratory.
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