Access to East London, an Unprecedented Opportunity for Re-Branding Fort Hare – Ian Russels

The Cabinet approved Transformation and Reconstruction of The Higher Education System has proclaimed the retention of the University of Fort Hare as an autonomous institution while also incorporating the East London campus of Rhodes University and the Medical School of the University of Transkei. This development signals a huge victory for the campaign to save Fort Hare and an immense display of the government confidence in the financial sustainability and academic viability of the university.

Commenting on the Fort Hare presence in East London, former Manufacturing and Human Resources board member of Daimler Chrysler South Africa and executive member of the Boarder Kei Chamber of Business, Ian Russell in an article published in the daily Dispatch said, “Access to the East London market will give the University of Fort Hare unprecedented opportunity for re-branding itself beyond its traditional markets of the rural communities and humanities. These strengths should be retained but it makes sense to makes sense to build links with modern business.” Russell went on to say that Buffalo City metropole needs a fully-fledged campus to support the fledging auto motor sector, bolster port initiative and grow the city’s competitiveness.” Our city has a major opportunity for revitalization based on strong synergies with the new Fort Hare. The university’s strong political links to major decision-makers will help unlock major investments for our future developments.”

While upbeat about the opportunities that the transformation will unlock for Fort Hare, Professor Swartz was quick to alley the feelings of insecurity among the staff and students at Rhodes East London. He reassured the Rhodes staff and community in East London that, “The transaction will be sensitively managed to protect respective market interest and brands. Certainly there has to be recognition of the brand aspirations of the current students and professional concerns of staff affected by the proposed incorporation.”

Guided by the world acclaimed corporate re-engineering plans, the Strategic Plan 2000 (SP 2000), the University of Fort Hare has over the past two years consolidated its flagship faculties that reflect its niche areas, competencies and strengths. Under the pragmatic leadership of Prof Swartz, the university has been able to reposition its market focus, operational presence and programes. The sweeping programme of reforms and the university turnaround has won the phenomenal support of all stakeholders and improved public perception of the university, brought about an increase in student numbers, and bolstered worker morale and donor confidence.

Excited about the prospects the University of Fort Hare will bring to Buffalo City, Mzwandile Radebe a father of two college attending teenagers in Mdantsane bemoaned the fact that he could not afford the steep tuition fees charged by Rhodes East London, he said, “I hope the arrival of Fort Hare here will provide us with accessible quality tertiary education for our children. It should bring an end to the mushrooming of schools with dubious qualifications that are ripping us off and I hope it will not assume the elitist status of other universities here with exclude a vast majority of the poor who can not afford their exorbitant fees.

“The Radebe teenager’s plight mirrors countless others, who lacking the funds to meet tuition and other university going costs, find their poverty not only affecting their decision whether to attend university but also influencing their choice of which tertiary institution to attend. It is Radebe’s hope that the University of Fort Hare will provide the key to unlock education opportunities for the low-income black students of Buffalo City. “The new policy position offers exciting opportunities for Fort Hare to reach into, and support, the development of a major city, forge linkages with industry and commerce, move into areas such as coastal and marine resource management and gain access to a market of close to two million people. It is imperative that the short-term challenge of Fort Hare extending its campus into Eastern London must be sensitively managed. This can only work with the positive and generous support and partnership of the city leadership and business community.” said Prof Swartz.

By: Tigele Mokobi and Luthando Bara