Staff and stakeholders joined hands to ensure that Welcome Day, which was hosted on 26 January, was a success.

The University of Pretoria hosted a Welcome Day at Hillcrest Campus on 26 January which was attended by new undergraduate students and parents. The new Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UP Prof. Tawana Kupe and the newly elected SRC President David Kabwa were among the speakers of the day. 
It was all hands on deck for UP staff as they ensured that the event became a success.  “I have been the designated events manager for Welcome Day for the past 10 years,” said Events Manager Laverne Gardner. 
“The planning for this year’s event commenced in October 2018. What interests me about this event is that it is the first formal event that the new students attend and meet the VC,” she said.  
“It is important for me to ensure that it is a pleasant and positive experience for all. It is also a wonderful experience to see how the relevant stakeholders and staff join hands and work together to ensure that the event is a success.” 

On the administration side, registration continued smoothly while Welcome Day was underway. The registration venue at the Hillcrest Campus provided a one-stop service to clients. This involved the handling of contracts, faculty advice, on-line registration assistance, student finance and funding and the printing of student cards. 

According to Elmarie Liebenberg, Deputy Director: Student Services, “The registration project was a coordinated effort involving many stakeholders. DESA was primarily responsible for the registration process, but also played a big role in the coordination of the project. A DESA project manager was allocated to oversee all the registration activities and ensure coordination between the different stakeholders. Other departments/units at UP were also involved: Facilities Management, Security, Faculties and Student Finance, Residences, International Students and Disability Units,” she said.