Dr Naledi Pandor, the newly appointed chancellor of Nelson Mandela University (NMU), has called on the university community to honour Nelson Mandela’s legacy by joining the global effort to make a positive impact. Pandor, a veteran politician and academic, invoked Mandela’s name during her installation address, highlighting the critical threats facing academic freedom worldwide.
Pandor stressed that universities are being denied research funding, are being told what to teach, and are being told who they may admit, which are all antithetical to the essence of a university. She cited the example of universities being bombed in conflict zones, such as in Gaza, and the ideological dominance of might is right, illustrated primarily by the United States of America.
Threats to Academic Freedom
Pandor warned that the threat to academic freedom and free expression requires NMU to state its perspective on these rapid changes. She emphasized that good trouble aims for positive change, whereas bad trouble is merely a disruptive nuisance. Mandela, she said, wanted people who make good trouble, using their active conscience to change the negative conditions of millions across the world.
According to Pandor, universities must globally join together and make good trouble to protect their institutions and ideals. She thanked the university community for the honour of selecting her to serve as chancellor, saying it is a welcome pleasure to return to the academic sector and to have the opportunity to once more immerse herself in intellectual rigour.
Key Challenges
Some of the key challenges facing NMU and other universities include:
- Geopolitical conflict and its impact on academic freedom
- Ideological dominance and the threat to free expression
- Denial of research funding and restrictions on university autonomy
Pandor’s installation as chancellor marks a new era for NMU, and her call to action is a reminder of the importance of protecting academic freedom and promoting positive change.
