The Division of Student Affairs (DSA) in partnership with the Centre for Diversity, Inclusivity and Social Change (CDISC) and the Convocation recently hosted a successful workshop to conceptualise a holistic and transformative student leadership Incubation programme.
The theme of the workshop was: Preparing and Influencing the next generation Student Leaders: Incubating Change.
The organising team, which included CDISC Transformation Coordinator, Tumiso Mfisasa and Melanii-Ann Hara, Student Development Officer, acknowledged that the university has the mandate to contribute to the development of students to become global citizens who can take the country forward by making valuable inputs economically and socially. However, this can only be achieved in an enabling environment for them.
Acting Dean of Students, Nonkosi Tyolwana, presented the purpose of the symposium in which she talked about transformation and decolonisation across the academic and social architecture of universities.
The workshop was an opportune moment to shape the direction of the incubation programme to respond to this mandate. The Student Leadership Incubation programme also acknowledged that student leaders:
- Come from different areas of leadership such as political, academic, economic, spiritual, psychological and professional spheres and there is a need for a holistic approach that enhances graduate attributes across faculties
- Are members of society as they reflect their respective communities, and they need to be involved in strategic policies or opportunities available for post-university life to participate as South African, African, and global young citizens amongst others.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, Dr David Phaho said: “If we are to develop the capable state envisaged by Nelson Mandela and his Rivonia Trial Immortals, the focused development of student leadership is non-negotiable. The fact that we are specifically looking at students’ leaders is also significant. These are students who out of their own volition are actively involved in university political structures and still advance and do well in their studies will make their development as envisaged by this Workshop a worthwhile investment for any institution and indeed society.”
Reflecting on the workshop, Mfisa said: “The workshop was a huge success as it was able to host 150 participants as well as to launch and consult on the key deliverables in preparing for the next generation of student leaders.” Through the workshop the facilitators and participants developed students as future leaders and provided them with the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to their sphere of leadership interest be it social, academic, cultural, political, psychological, spiritual, economic and entrepreneurship through the five commissions they had.
During the workshop a platform to mentor and develop the upcoming student leaders on campus and prepare them for the world beyond university life was also witnessed. “And through the feedback the participants had provided during engagements proved to be a success as we received support from participants and where we may expand the leadership programme,” Mfisa observed.
“In that way we were able to strengthen the role of student leadership and deepen the principle of participatory democracy while teaching servant leadership values. Whereas we managed to recruit, develop, and nurture senior and aspiring student leaders who display exceptional commitment and passion in various leadership skills which proved a success for the participants.” Mfisa and Hara’s role were to facilitate and oversee all preparations of the workshop, which included liaising with all guests and arranging all workshop needs to make it a success with additional support coming from colleagues and interns within the respective offices.
Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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