Exciting News for Zululand: Professor Nokuthula Kunene Appointed as New Vice-Chancellor of UNIZULU
In a move that promises to enhance the academic landscape of South Africa, the University of Zululand (UNIZULU) Council has officially appointed Professor Nokuthula Winfred Kunene as the new Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the institution. Her official tenure will commence on January 1, 2026, and the anticipation surrounding her leadership is palpable.
Professor Kunene is not just an outstanding academic; she is also a renowned agriculturalist, making her the ideal candidate to lead UNIZULU into a new era of innovation and excellence. As the current Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at the university since 2021, she has already demonstrated exceptional leadership and vision across various domains, including postgraduate studies and strategic partnerships.
Her tenure has been marked by a remarkable increase in student success and graduation rates, alongside advancements in technology transfer. Such achievements reflect her commitment to creating a nurturing ecosystem for research and innovation. Throughout her impressive career at UNIZULU, Professor Kunene has held several prominent roles, including Dean of the Faculty of Science, Agriculture, and Engineering from 2016 to 2021, and Deputy Dean for Research and Internationalisation from 2014 to 2016.
Professor Kunene is particularly noted for her research on the conservation of indigenous Nguni (Zulu) sheep and her studies on indigenous chickens in South Africa. Her academic credentials are robust, featuring degrees from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the University of Swaziland. She has also been a research fellow at the University of Perugia and holds a leadership certification from the University of Stellenbosch.
Beyond her academic roles, Professor Kunene is a proactive member of the South African Society of Animal Science (SASAS) and the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP), actively contributing to the academic and agricultural community. She also served on the council of Owen Sithole College, indicating her deep commitment to educational development in South Africa.
What makes Professor Kunene stand out is her dedication to transformative and decolonial leadership, a vision she aims to implement at UNIZULU to position the university as a beacon of African thought and innovation. With such a dynamic leader at the helm, the future of UNIZULU looks brighter than ever.
As South Africa continues to evolve in the realms of education and research, Professor Kunene’s leadership will be instrumental in steering UNIZULU towards becoming a powerhouse of knowledge and sustainability in Africa.
Stay tuned for more updates as we follow Professor Kunene’s journey in her new role!
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