Professor Letlhokwa George Mpedi has been appointed as the University of Johannesburg (UJ) new vice-chancellor and principal effective from March 2023.
Mpedi takes over from professor Tshilidzi Marwala, who becomes the Rector of the United Nations University in Tokyo, Japan from March 2023. Currently, Mpedi serves as the university’s deputy vice-chancellor: academic and a member of the university’s management executive committee.
Mike Teke, UJ’s chair of the council, said the panel was impressed with Mpedi’s commitment to continuing with the university’s strategic objectives and its values of transformation, social justice, and environmental sustainability.
“Prof Mpedi has also demonstrated an unwavering and outstanding commitment to continuing our efforts for the university to be recognised as an innovative and rigorous place of learning in the Fourth Industrial Revolution with impactful research. We are delighted to welcome him to lead our ambitious plans,” said Teke.
Mpedi was the executive dean of the faculty of law at UJ, elected to the board of governors of the International Association of Law Schools, and was awarded the Titans: Building Nation, Continental Award for Education and Training: Academic.
He holds an advanced management and leadership qualification from the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford (2022), as well as in Leading in Artificial Intelligence: Exploring Technology and Policy Programme from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Executive Education (July 2022).
“I’m delighted and deeply honoured to be taking up the role of vice-chancellor of this great university,” said Mpedi about his appointment.
“Prof Marwala and his predecessor, Prof Ihron Rensburg, have built a strong university and I see many opportunities to take the institution’s ambitious strategy forward. I am particularly looking forward to working with staff and students to build a truly inspirational and transformative institution where all are included and supported to thrive.”
Marwala congratulated Mpedi on his appointment. “I look forward to working with him over the next few months to ensure a smooth transition, and I offer him and the university my very best wishes for every success in the future.”
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