The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) was to bestow an honorary doctorate on its former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Anthony Staak on Wednesday, April 9.

Professor Staak retired in 2018 after dedicating 37 years of his career to advancing higher education in South Africa.

The Constantia resident played a crucial role in integrating technology into the core operations of CPUT. The sector has not been robbed of his immense talent though – the Minister of Higher Education recently sought Professor Staak out to be an independent assessor at Mangosuthu University of Technology.

Professor Staak says the challenges in higher education today are similar to those he faced as a deputy vice-chancellor and board member. He believes many governance issues in universities come from councils not fulfilling their fiduciary responsibilities.

“Increased student enrolment in the face of funding constraints and infrastructure deficits, ongoing student protests along with declining throughput rates are not new issues. These challenges only appear to be much greater now,” he says.

But the seasoned academic says good work is being done and that there is much to be positive about.

CPUT will celebrate the achievements of more than 7 500 graduates, with 16 doctoral degrees being conferred, during its autumn graduation this week. Sixteen graduation ceremonies will be held from Monday April 7 to Saturday April 12.

The 69-year-old, Professor Staak, has overseen the graduation of thousands of students and encouraged young people not to consider this day as the end of their education journey but rather as one milestone in a lifetime of future goals and ambitions.

“The extent to which you will attain these goals and realize your ambitions, will depend crucially on the choices that you make. Your successes in life will be a product of those choices, as well as the conviction and hard work you are prepared to commit to those choices,” he says.

“Stay true to your morals and values that are aligned with your goals. You have the power to influence your life through the choices that you make.”

Professor Staak joined the then Peninsula Technikon in 1982 when he assumed the position of Head of Department in Electrical Engineering. After serving a period as Dean of Engineering, he was appointed as Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, a position he held for 17 years until his retirement.

The Lansdowne-born Professor Staak was always a remarkable student and academic, from his school career at South Peninsula High School where he received a top 10 position in the National Senior Certificate examinations in 1973, to receiving a first-class honours with distinctions in Physics and Mathematics in his BSc Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cape Town.

Professor Staak has been a recipient of both Rhodes and Fullbright Scholarships, which saw him study at both Oxford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).