After a comprehensive recruitment and selection process Universities South Africa is proud to announce the appointment of Professor Ahmed Bawa as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Professor Bawa, who has been Vice-Chancellor of the Durban University of Technology since 2010, brings an impressive set of credentials to Universities SA. Most of his professional life, which included a term as Programme Officer at the Ford Foundation, has been dedicated to the South African university sector.

Previous positions include terms as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Knowledge Production and Partnerships) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Principal of the Durban Campus of the same university and Vice-Principal of the Pietermaritzburg Campus. By virtue of his Vice-Chancellorship, Professor Bawa was a member of the Board of Directors of the former Higher Education South Africa (HESA) – now renamed Universities SA – and served as its Chairperson until December 2013.

Regarding this appointment, Universities SA’s Chairperson Professor Adam Habib says that Professor Bawa is ‘the most appropriate candidate, having experienced the complexities and challenges of change at a national and institutional level, [he] understands what it takes to lead a repositioned and revitalised university association’. Supported by his management team and staff, Professor Bawa will play a critical leadership role in realising the strategic goals of Universities SA to achieve success, not only in the university sector, but ultimately in South Africa’s national economic growth and social development.

Professor Bawa will assume office with effect from 1 May 2016.