Wits: Transforming students into public leaders of tomorrow

04 May 2018

Set upon the vibrant backdrop of South Africa, the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) welcomes both national and international students to its exquisite campus settings.

Rated as the Number 1 university in the country by the Centre for World University Rankings (CWUR 2016), Wits has a global reputation for supplying students with countless opportunities and content-rich courses. By equipping learners with a prime set of tools and techniques, students have the potential to become effective changemakers and successful 21^st-century leaders.

World-class education

If you’re wondering why you should choose Wits as your next study destination, you should first know about its world-class education strategy. With a range of valuable facilities and services, the University provides a multidimensional learning environment in which students can learn and grow.

Having produced over 160,000 annual alumni, Wits takes world-class education to a new level. From day one, students are taught the importance of social justice. Alongside undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, a diverse selection of extra-curricular activities trigger critical thinking skills and expand the professional capabilities of participating students.

To deepen your cultural knowledge and refine your artistic flair, the Wits campus presents an array of social activities and sightseeing trips. For creative minds, there’s one of the finest performing arts facilities in the country, the Wits Theatre. Or, for the world’s next best scientists who wish to view incredible collections of medical and historical artefacts, there’s the Adler Museum of Medicine.

Wits understands what it takes to achieve academic excellence. With a multitude of engaging campus resources and off-campus experiences for you to try, you’ll soon develop into a well-rounded graduate with a world-class edge from Wits.

Inspirational Faculty

By connecting to the Wits community, you’ll be guided by influential professors who have completed exemplary projects and achieved great things in the world of research and innovation.

In the tech sector, Dr Benjamin Rosman, Senior Lecturer of the Wits School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics, has been granted an award from the “Machine learning and data mining” category by Research at Google. As an avid researcher in robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning and decision theory, computer science students at Wits are amazed by his recent accomplishment.

In 2017, Professor Brian Armstrong joined forces with the Wits Business School (WBS) to steer the WBS/Telkom Chair in Digital Business initiative into success. As a prominent ICT industry leader, Professor Armstrong has a passion for the science behind digitalisation and hopes to inspire Wits postgraduate students to pursue their digital dreams.

To provide knowledge to the future leaders of the minerals industry, Professor Sehliselo Ndlovu inspires students to learn about sustainable development and has mentored more than 30 MSc and PhD research students since joining Wits. Plus, another amazing factor is that she is the second female president of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy!

Top- tier Research

Powered by first-rate professors, the University of the Witwatersrand is home to a top-tier research team. Acknowledged by the National Research Foundation (NRF) for having some of the most highly cited researchers in the world, Wits is making vast progress in the areas of global development and innovation.

With regards to the booming business sector, the Wits Business School (WBS) recently launched a revolutionary executive education programme in Digital Business. As the first of its kind in South Africa, the scheme enables both individuals and companies to improve their understanding of technology and allows their business to flourish in the digital era.

For those interested in the subject of health science, Wits is supporting invisible ink research for TB. As the head of the Wits Centre of Excellence in Biomedical TB Research, Professor Bavesh Kana and his team have helped pioneer a process that detects TB bacteria. By adding a new strain called DMN-trehalose, patients with TB can now be treated and diagnosed at a much faster pace.

With the University’s undeniable research power and influence, it’s evident that undergraduates and postgraduates have the extraordinary chance to make a real impact in the world.

Strategic leaders of the future

To support strategic leaders of the future, the University of the Witwatersrand encourages learners to make the most of their entrepreneurial spirit.

As student, Dingane Hlaluku, explains in his high-tech training video, “I always thought that I’d be confined to a laboratory, but I was recruited by a Professor at Wits and now I am working in electronics and building super computers. The University sent me to the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) and I had the chance to work with cutting-edge technology and ATLAS particle detectors.”

Together with technological advancement, Wits graduates are also setting trends in international cinemas and local theatres. With a degree in theatrical performance from Wits, Atandwa Kani stars as young King T’Chaka in the 2018 superhero film, Black Panther. And, three graduates and two academics from the Wits School of Arts are taking part in the local play, The Color Purple.

With so many Wits students, graduates and professors making an impact in South Africa and beyond, it’s clear that this university grants you an outstanding opportunity to evolve into an influential innovator and public leaders of the future.

By promoting a world-class education, integrating inspirational professors, producing top-tier research and helping you become a future leader, Wits is the way forward.

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