By Phiwa Sikhondze
The University of Eswatini (UNESWA) Task Team, appointed to investigate the institution’s operational and governance challenges, is set to present its first preliminary report in mid-December 2024.
This development was disclosed by Muzi Siyaya, chairperson of the task team, during a media briefing aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability as the team undertakes its work.
Siyaya emphasized the importance of transparency, stating that the task team’s role, though primarily reporting to the Minister of Education and Training, required accountability to the public.
“We are using taxpayers’ money, so we want to create a culture of accountability from the onset,” Siyaya said, underlining the need to keep the public informed about their work.
The task team officially commenced its duties on August 19, following its appointment in July and subsequent gazetting on August 18. The team comprises 11 members with diverse expertise, including academics, financial experts, and representatives from governmental institutions.
According to Siyaya, the team has met five times since its appointment and is divided into four work streams to ensure a clear focus on addressing the university’s challenges. These work streams cover academic programs, financial management, and resource efficiency, the university’s funding model, and governance and management capacity.
The task team will review critical aspects of the university’s operations. The academic programs workstream will assess the relevance, quality, and alignment of current programs with market demands while benchmarking UNESWA’s offerings against both aspirational universities and those facing similar challenges.
The financial management stream will analyze expenditure, financial controls, and the effectiveness of resource management. It will also explore the university’s debt situation and the possibility of restructuring its financial commitments, particularly to major creditors such as Eswatini Water Services Corporation (EWSC) and Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC).
A separate stream will evaluate the governance framework and decision-making processes, aiming to determine whether the university’s structures align with best practices. Another key focus will be on the funding model, with the task team examining whether current funding mechanisms provide adequate support and how the university could explore alternative revenue streams.
To gather the necessary data, the task team is reviewing a range of documents, including government strategic plans, financial reports, and academic assessments. They are also conducting inspections of university-owned assets and benchmarking their findings against other institutions.
Siyaya stressed the importance of public participation, noting that parents and stakeholders directly affected by the university’s challenges will have an opportunity to make submissions. He indicated that the task team aims to engage with various stakeholders to gather comprehensive insights. Internal stakeholders include the university’s executive management, deans, heads of departments, and the Student Representative Council (SRC). The task team also plans to engage external stakeholders, such as financial institutions, service providers, and relevant government ministries.
“The public will be given a window of one to two weeks to submit their contributions, and we encourage as many people as possible to participate,” he said. The public hearings are expected to take place at a period in due course to allow sufficient time for preparation.
The task team plans to submit a preliminary report to the cabinet in December, offering an early assessment of the university’s challenges and potential solutions. The final report will include recommendations for improving the university’s operations and governance and is scheduled for submission by March 2025. The report will include recommendations based on stakeholder input and comparative analyses with peer institutions.
The task team has highlighted its commitment to investigating cost-effectively, utilizing a hybrid meeting format that combines public, physical, and virtual engagements. They will also conduct site visits to university assets for firsthand insights into operational challenges.
In concluding the briefing, Siyaya acknowledged the cooperation of UNESWA management and the support provided to the task team.
“We are working closely with the Vice Chancellor, Professor Justice Thwala, the university’s leadership, and other internal stakeholders to ensure that this process is thorough and cost-efficient,” he said.