For the University of Venda (UNIVEN), the story of Emeritus Professor Azwidohwi Philip Kutame is one of unwavering dedication, intellectual resilience, and leadership that transcends retirement. His recent appointment as Acting Director of the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education, while the position is being formally advertised, marks not simply an administrative milestone, but a profound affirmation of a lifetime of service.
Prof Kutame’s journey began humbly in 1974 as a classroom teacher. From rural and township schools to secondary school leadership, he spent decades shaping young minds before transitioning into higher education. Across 51 years in the profession, his path reflects steady growth rooted in discipline, scholarship, and a deep belief in the transformative power of education. What began in 1974 as a young teacher evolved into a distinguished career that bridged classroom practice, school leadership, and university scholarship. At every stage, he embraced continuous learning, upgrading his qualifications, refining his research expertise, and expanding his leadership responsibilities.
His growth was never abrupt or opportunistic; it was deliberate and values-driven. From principalship to postgraduate supervision, from local school engagement to international research collaboration, his trajectory demonstrates how consistency, ethical leadership, and intellectual rigour build lasting impact. For Prof Kutame, education has never been merely about content delivery. It has been about empowerment, dignity, and social transformation, particularly in rural and underserved contexts. His career embodies the conviction that education remains one of the most powerful tools for societal renewal.
Academically, his pursuit of excellence took him across South Africa’s leading institutions. He obtained a BA from the University of South Africa (UNISA), followed by a BA Honours and Master’s degree from the University of Cape Town (UCT), culminating in a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Social Science Research Methodology from Stellenbosch University. These qualifications were not endpoints, but foundations upon which to build and develop others. Over the years, Prof Kutame has supervised more than 55 doctoral and 47 master’s graduates, scholars who now occupy influential academic and leadership positions across Southern Africa and beyond. His mentorship philosophy is grounded in Ubuntu: scholarship must uplift communities, strengthen institutions, and create generational impact.
After serving UNIVEN for ten years before retirement, he continued contributing in a post-retirement capacity at the University of Zululand (UNIZULU) for eight years, mentoring and strengthening postgraduate research. In February 2025, he returned to University of Venda as an Emeritus Professor, a title bestowed in recognition of sustained scholarly excellence, institutional contribution, and distinguished academic leadership. Emeritus status is not merely honorary; it recognises a scholar whose work has significantly shaped postgraduate education, research culture, and institutional development.
For Prof Kutame, the conferment represented both affirmation and responsibility. It affirmed decades of supervision excellence, research productivity, and capacity-building initiatives that strengthened UNIVEN and partner institutions. At the same time, it symbolised continued service beyond formal retirement. His return to UNIVEN reflects a reciprocal relationship between scholar and institution, one built on trust, legacy, and shared commitment to advancing knowledge production in Africa. Rather than marking closure, the Emeritus title opened a renewed chapter of contribution, mentorship, and leadership.
Yet what makes his story extraordinary is not simply longevity, but relevance. Post-retirement, Prof Kutame has intensified his research capacity-building initiatives: research webinars, proposal development workshops, collaborative supervision models, and national and international partnerships funded by the NRF, DHET, and global collaborators. His work continues to strengthen postgraduate throughput and institutional research culture.
His recent appointment as Acting Director of the Faculty is a clear demonstration of the confidence placed in his wisdom, integrity, and vision. It is uncommon for retirement to signal the beginning of a new chapter in leadership; however, for Professor Kutame, this period has become one of renewed influence. He regards this appointment not merely as a personal achievement, but as an affirmation that experience, consistency, and sustained commitment remain essential in shaping the future of the University. Professor Kutame often emphasised that success is not a destination, but a responsibility to mentor, to serve, and to leave institutions stronger than one found them. For him, academic achievement carries an ethical obligation. Supervising more than 100 postgraduate students is not a statistic; it represents lives shaped, careers launched, and research cultures strengthened.
He believes that true success is measured not by titles held, but by people developed and systems improved. Mentorship, in his philosophy, is an investment in institutional sustainability. Service, whether through leadership roles, collaborative projects, or community engagement, is an expression of gratitude for the opportunities received.
In accepting the role of Acting Director post-retirement, he exemplifies this principle. Leadership, in his view, is stewardship; it is guiding others, building capacity, and ensuring that structures, policies, and academic programmes outlive one’s tenure. His journey affirms that the highest form of success is legacy. His story demonstrates that leadership is not confined by age, nor scholarship limited by formal titles. When passion meets purpose, even retirement becomes a new beginning.
UNIVEN celebrates not only an Emeritus Professor and Acting Director, but a legacy still in motion.
Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication
University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
