“Prof van Staden has a wealth of experience in the higher education sector. Over the past four decades, he has demonstrated his commitment to serving the poor and working class citizens of the country through his work. He has predominantly focused on working at historically disadvantaged institutions, including the former Technikon Mabopane East, Soweto Campus (currently University of Johannesburg), as well as Technikon Northern Gauteng, where he, among others, held the positions of Dean, Vice-Principal: Academic and Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal.

“During his career in higher education, Prof van Staden has consulted extensively in Africa and has received numerous awards, including the prestigious Ernst Oppenheimer Research Award and the Reverse Engineering Prototype award from the Design Institute:  New Product Development. He also established the Sol Plaatje Institute of Technology and a Chair in Automotive Engineering in Soshanguve.

“Prof van Staden was appointed as Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic at the Tshwane University of Technology in 2004. During his tenure the Minister of Higher Education and Training seconded him to take up the role as Administrator at the Walter Sisulu University, where he is credited for stabilising the institution and steering it back to operational and financial sustainability.

“Under his leadership over the past three years, TUT has enjoyed increased stability, seen the introduction of a decentralised management model to provide the University’s multiple campuses with more autonomy, and contributed to graduating a record number of 14 010 students this year.

“We congratulate Prof van Staden on his appointment and believe that the stability achieved at the University will be consolidated under his leadership in the years to come.  We are privileged to have Prof van Staden at the helm.”