Wits bids farewell to a prodigious leader
- Wits University
Wits Vice-Principal, Professor Andrew Crouch, to lead one of South Africa’s newest universities.
Professor Andrew Crouch, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic and Vice-Principal announced his resignation from Wits University late last year, when he was offered the position of Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Sol Plaatje University, one of South Africa’s newest universities based in Kimberley. He takes up the position on 1 April 2020.
Members of the Wits Senior Executive Team bade a virtual farewell to Professor Crouch last week, acknowledging the important roles that he played in his eleven years at Wits, first as the Dean of the Faculty of Science, and then later in several senior executive management positions.
“Professor Crouch has made a significant contribution to Wits in multiple roles and capacities, including leading Wits’ digital programmes, uplifting our teaching and learning programmes and spearheading several projects in the Faculty of Science. We are immensely grateful and will miss his skills, expertise and experience. On behalf of the entire University community, I would like to express our collective appreciation for all that you have done for Wits,” said Professor Adam Habib, Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal.
Professor Ruksana Osman takes over the role of Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic as from 1 April 2020. “I appreciated Professor Crouch’s ongoing, support, trust, guidance and integrity in all situations. I will miss his sense of presence and calmness most of all.”
A close counterpart, Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research acknowledged that despite adopting different approaches, he had achieved much with Professor Crouch. “We have worked through many difficult issues together and collaborated on numerous projects, and I am grateful for all that I have learnt from him.”
Generous, wise, committed and principled
Professor Crouch was recognised by all five Deans for his aptitude to resolve complex problems, his ability to remain calm under pressure and his commitment to advancing the academic project.
“Professor Crouch has always provided stewardship and then allowed us to get on with our jobs as Deans. We all know that Professor Crouch could always be relied upon to attend to the most difficult issues when it mattered most, and for this we were all grateful,” said the Dean of the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Professor Imraan Valodia.
“On behalf of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, I would like to thank Professor Crouch for building a relationship based on trust with the Faculty and Deans,” said Professor Ian Jandrell, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment. “You must be lauded for your turnaround of the academic development unit and for contributing to a successful teaching and learning environment.”
The Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Professor Garth Stevens concurred, and added: “This is an apex moment for you as an individual and as an academic, and distinguishes you as a leader. You have done much for the Faculty and the University over the past decade and you have shared your knowledge and wisdom with such generosity – thank you.”
“From the Faculty of Health Sciences, I would like to thank you for your remarkable contribution Wits and the Faculty,” said Professor Martin Veller. “We wish you well as you take up the reins at Sol Plaatje University. If you take what you did at Wits to Sol Plaatje, the University will undoubtedly succeed.”
Speaking from Professor Crouch’s home faculty, the Faculty of Science, Professor Nithaya Chetty paid tribute to Professor Crouch as an academic, researcher, leader and mentor. “I admire your ability to continue to conduct research and supervise students, even at the level of Vice-Principal. You have helped me greatly with my transition to Wits and I have learnt tremendously from you. Thank you.”
Professor Crouch also worked closely with the Chief Financial Officer, Prakash Desai, who said: “I admire you for always remaining calm and level-headed even in a crisis, and your ability to always get the job done with a less is more approach. We will miss you dearly.”
His words were echoed by Fana Sibanyoni, the Chief Operating Officer: “I appreciate your systematic approach to work. You have left a legacy in your wake and have transformed the academic project,” and the Registrar, Carol Crosley: “Thank you for having faith in me and for allowing me to do my job. You gave me the latitude to be creative and demonstrated confidence in my ability. Congratulations to you and your family. I wish you all the best.”
The Dean of 足球竞彩app排名 Affairs, Jerome September, expressed his heartfelt thanks to Professor Crouch: “You deserve the appointment and you are going to do great things at Sol Plaatje University. It is wonderful that you can enjoy and end your career in your home town and province, and I would like to thank you in advance for the great things that you are going to do. If I reflect on my time here working with you, two aspects stand out – the calmness with which you approach difficult situations and your sense of right and wrong. You are always principled and firm, and this has helped us to resolve many issues. You always give us a sense of direction, draw the line in the sand and encourage us to think beyond boundaries – this has allowed us to lower the walls between student affairs and academic affairs. I wish you all the best for the future!”
Professor Crouch responded emotionally to the tributes, and said the following:
“I would like to thank Wits University for the opportunity to serve over the years, but especially the last two administrations. Thank you for the great support from academics and professional and administrative staff. I am very proud of the many projects that I have led at the faculty and institutional levels, which would not have been possible without the support of many colleagues. I am glad that a different approach to teaching and learning is finally on the cards - I have always said that we must integrate our online teaching and learning activities into the day to day pedagogies and I am glad to see that a new norm has now been established both in South Africa and around the globe. I am also glad that decisions are now being made on data and the facts. Thank you very much for the opportunity, I will always remember my time at Wits and will take much of what I learnt here to Sol Plaatje University.”