The University of Venda (UNIVEN) has announced the appointment of two Acting Executive Deans to provide strategic academic leadership within key faculties, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to excellence in teaching, learning, and research.
Professor Tawanda Runhare has been appointed Acting Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education, effective 1 January 2026.
A respected scholar in Educational Sociology and Education Policy Studies, Prof Runhare holds a PhD in Education Policy Studies from the University of Pretoria and brings extensive leadership experience across the basic and higher education sectors. His career spans roles as a high school principal, national chief examiner, university head of department, deputy dean, dean, and director.
Prof Runhare has also held influential positions in teaching, learning, and research at the national and international levels. He has served with the Council on Higher Education (CHE) in the evaluation of education programmes, contributed to the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) Expert Reference Group on gender and socio-cultural inclusion in global climate change, and worked with UNICEF as lead consultant and author on a country report evaluating gender issues in education. His scholarship on equity in education includes journal articles, book chapters, conference papers, an edited book, and a UNICEF technical report.
He has supervised numerous postgraduate students to completion and secured research grants from both national and international funding bodies.
Professor Tharien van der Walt assumed the role of Acting Executive Dean of the Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law from 1 February 2026
An admitted advocate of the High Court of South Africa since 1996, Prof van der Walt began her career as a prosecutor in the Magistrate’s Court and later served as a State Advocate in the High Court in Thohoyandou before entering academia in 2001.
She began her academic journey at the Faculty of Law at North-West University in Potchefstroom, and in 2006 joined the University of Venda’s School of Law, where she lectured in Criminal and Procedural Law. Over the years, she has also taught at the School for Legal Practice in Potchefstroom and at Justice Centres nationwide. A prolific scholar, she has published widely in national and international journals and presented at conferences across the globe.
Prof van der Walt serves as an external examiner for several institutions, including the University of Fort Hare, the University of the Free State, Akademia, North-West University, and the University of Pretoria. She is also a regular reviewer for leading law journals, including the African Human Rights Law Journal, Speculum Juris, the South African Law Journal, and the Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal. Her national contributions include membership of the LLB Standards Development Working Group and the LLB national review reference group. In 2022, she was appointed Deputy Dean: Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law, where she has championed student-centred academic excellence.
The appointments of Prof Runhare and Prof van der Walt reflect UNIVEN’s ongoing commitment to strengthening academic leadership and advancing the university’s strategic priorities in support of student success, research impact, and institutional growth.
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University of Venda
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