Page 66 - Transformation Indaba Report

ADDITIONAL THEMES
o Build approaches and systems that are:
• Comprehensive
• Holistic
• Integrative
• Collaborative
• Values-driven
• Student-centric
o The students’ life beyond/after Nelson Mandela University

SUMMARY OF POINTS MADE DURING BREAKAWAY

o Student-centric approach. Define student-centric.
o Integrate disabled students fully. Students with special needs must feel they belong to Nelson Mandela University and
not to a particular corner of the university.
o Bridge the gap between us (staff) and them (students). Staff renewal and capacity development to deal with changing
student profile. Staff should hold stewardship over discomforts students face.
o Collaborative and integrated approach to student leadership development, for all students.
o Comprehensive, holistic, collaborative and integrated student-centric support services.
o Comprehensive, collaborative and integrated student recruitment. Need to start actioning collaboration and integration.
o Institutional culture emerges from practices. What culture do we wish to see? Culture that is values-driven.
o Curriculum content must reflect values and Mandela attributes. Define Mandela graduate attributes and incorporate in
curriculum. (Or maybe have a separate formalised module/programme?) Cultivate African values – e.g. at student
residences. Empower student for life beyond university. University students to become ethical agents for society. All
students should enjoy the same value-driven experience while at NMU. Experience should be same, at least at policy
and principles level. Make concerted effort to find hidden PG supervision expertise within in the institution to avoid
turning postgraduate students away.
o Can we track the relevancy of our offerings, after the student leaves? How responsive are our offerings to our student
profile. Prepare students for world of work and society and track their progress.

KEY POINTS EMERGING FROM B/A DISCUSSION • Empower student for life beyond the university. Continual
Career Counselling as prep for life beyond university.
• Proposed a shorter list of high-impact catalytic interven- Navigate both university and life outside/beyond uni-
tions that straddle the whole institution. Interventions versity.
would build internal collaboration, foster integration, be • Student engagement as a responsibility of all staff/
cascaded and break down the silo-approach. The interven- divisions. Not only focus on elected student leadership.
tions will have a transformative and transformation out- • See Crain’s input: Produce an ‘agent that is ethical’ that
come. comes through Nelson Mandela University, for society.
• A “champion” is needed to facilitate the construction of a • A holistic approach. Holistic student support and holistic
student-centric approach. student development. Holistic approach to drive student
• Integrate students living with disability. health, safety, and wellness.
• Comprehensive and integrated student recruitment • Institutional culture is a consequence of practices. We
approach. A partnership bringing all sections involved in want an emergence of a culture that is congruent with
student recruitment. the values of the institution. We must live the values then

NelsoN MaNdela UNiversity • traNsforMatioN iNdaba • 2022 60