The University of Venda (UNIVEN)’s Governance, Ethics and Compliance Unit, in collaboration with the Research Ethics Unit, proudly commemorated Global Ethics Day 2025 on Wednesday, 15 October 2025. The hybrid Global Ethics Day commemoration was held at the Research Conference Centre, with over 50 participants attending in person and more than 40 joining online. The theme ‘Ethics Re-envisioned’ underscored the need to rethink, renew, and reinforce ethical values in a rapidly changing global landscape. The celebration provided a reflective platform for discussing the role of ethics in shaping responsible governance, academic excellence, and societal trust. This commemoration further aimed to inspire the UNIVEN community to view ethics not merely as a regulatory requirement, but as a living principle that guides conduct, decision-making, and institutional culture.
Group photo of attendees
Prof Fulufhelo Netswera, UNIVEN’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Postgraduate Studies
In his opening address, Prof Netswera warmly welcomed all attendees and underscored the universal importance of ethical conduct across all spheres of life. He noted that ethics form the cornerstone of human interaction, guiding individuals and institutions to act with fairness, respect, and dignity. Drawing from both moral and religious frameworks, he emphasised that ethics should extend beyond mere compliance in research, encompassing governance, politics, and leadership.
Prof Netswera expressed concern over unethical practices within government and public institutions, arguing that such conduct fosters inequality, corruption, and societal decay. He called for stronger ethical codes and stricter accountability measures for those in positions of authority. Within the university setting, he urged both staff and students to uphold fairness and integrity in all endeavours, academic, administrative, and interpersonal.
Mr Fhatuwani Ndou, Head: Governance, Ethics and Compliance
Mr Fhatuwani Ndou provided an overview of the event’s objectives, noting that the celebration formed part of the 12th Annual Global Ethics Day, observed internationally every third Wednesday in October. The occasion, he explained, sought to reaffirm UNIVEN’s commitment to ethical governance and integrity across all facets of university life.
He highlighted that the collaboration between the Governance, Ethics, and Compliance Unit and the Research Ethics Unit aimed to cultivate a culture that transcends compliance, embedding ethics as a lived value throughout the institution. The programme, he said, was designed to strengthen ethical governance mechanisms, enhance research integrity, and ensure accountability in alignment with both national and global standards.
Encouraging participants to move “from discussion to action,” Mr Ndou called on all members of the university community to play an active role in institutionalising ethics. He concluded his remarks with a scriptural reflection from Psalm 118:24: “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.”
When delivering an insightful online presentation titled ‘University Ethical Identity as the DNA of its Governance’, Ms Zibuyile Jafta who is a Certified Ethics Officer and an Applied Workplace Ethicist shared her expertise and passion for institutional ethics. She sought to dispel common myths, such as the assumptions that universities are inherently ethical, that compliance guarantees ethical behaviour, or that leadership alone determines an institution’s moral standing.
Ms Jafta emphasised that true ethical identity must be actively cultivated and demonstrated by every member of the university community, from senior leadership to students and external stakeholders. She further noted that ethics is dynamic, continuously evolving in response to emerging challenges such as technological innovation and artificial intelligence.
She concluded by asserting that an institution’s ethical identity is not defined by polished policies or vision statements, but by everyday actions and decisions that reflect moral consistency and integrity. “Ethics,” she reminded participants, “is not a fear-driven obligation; it is a shared culture that nurtures trust, accountability, and collective purpose.”
Presenting online, Mr Sydney Engelbrecht, Bioethicist and AI ethics researcher, discussed the question of whether machines can be moral, focusing on the evolving role of AI tools like ChatGPT that have become increasingly human-like in their interactions. He explained key concepts of ethics and morality, drawing on historical ethical theories such as virtue ethics, deontology, and utilitarianism to frame the debate. Central to his presentation was the issue of whether AI can possess agency and autonomy, which are necessary for moral responsibility. Engelbrecht highlighted real-world challenges, including accountability in sectors like autonomous vehicles and the justice system, where AI’s decisions have significant consequences.
He further distinguished between machine ethics, which concerns how AI systems are designed to behave ethically, and AI ethics, which encompasses the broader social, legal, and governance implications of AI use. Engelbrecht noted differing philosophical views on whether consciousness is required for moral agency, with some arguing that machines can only simulate moral behaviour rather than genuinely possess it. He emphasised the importance of ethical frameworks and careful oversight to navigate the complex challenges posed by AI, urging society to consider responsibility and accountability as these technologies become increasingly integrated into everyday life.
Ms Vanecia Khoza, Research Ethics Coordinator, and Ms Tracy Madigoe, from Governance, Ethics,
and Compliance, conducting the ethics quiz
The event was fuelled by insightful discussions that deeply engaged participants in exploring important ethical concepts. Towards the end, a quiz was held to reinforce these ideas, focusing on key principles of ethical decision-making such as informed consent, integrity, and accountability. The quiz encouraged participants to share their reasoning, emphasising that ethics is multifaceted and influenced by context and per-spective.
Prof Jabulani Makhubele, Director, Research and Innovation, University of Venda
In his closing remarks, Prof Jabulani Makhubele expressed appreciation to attendees and participants. He acknowledged Professor Fulufhelo Netswera for his opening ad-dress, which underscored the importance of ethical behaviour from national to institu-tional levels. Prof Makhubele emphasised embedding ethical culture and integrity across university operations, encouraging respect, fairness, and accountability in daily interactions.
He also commended Mr Sidney Engelbrecht who raised thought-provoking questions about the role of AI in research ethics and the limits of outsourcing morality. Profes-sor Makhubele reiterated that ethics should be institutionalised, forming part of every-day practice rather than mere compliance. The UNIVEN Global Ethics Day 2025 event served as a timely reminder of the vital role ethics plays in shaping responsible institutions and societies. Through thought-provoking reflections and dialogue, participants were encouraged to reaffirm their commitment to ethical values, ensuring that integrity remains at the heart of teaching, research, and leadership at the University of Venda and beyond.
Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding & Communication University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811
