Page 27 - Transformation Report 2021

TRANSFORMATION

GOAL 4

ENSURE THE IMPROVEMENT OF HOLISTIC STUDENT SUPPORT (ACADEMIC,
PSYCHOSOCIAL, FINANCIAL, INFRASTRUCTURE) TO ENABLE INCREASED
STUDENT SUCCESS/THROUGHPUT, PARTICULARLY THOSE FROM
HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED GROUPS.

1. Student Representative Council As part of a drive to create platforms for reflective practice
and experimentation, we have adapted the concept of
social laboratories through piloting “youth labs”, focusing
Student Representative Council (SRC) elections were
on the themes of education, human potential, and youth
held online for the first time in 2021, and this practice will
entrepreneurship.
be continued since it improved the participation rate of
students. The voter turnout improved significantly from 3. Enhance Co-Curricular
an average of approximately 24 percent (over the past Programmes to Support Integrated
several years) to 39 percent. This can be attributed to a Student Learning - Student
shift from ‘in-person’ and online voting.
Entrepreneurship
Development
Two SRC elections were held in 2021 owing to the
delayed start to the academic year caused by the
COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 SRC elections took place As part of our efforts to expand the University’s focus on
in March 2021, while the 2022 SRC elections were held student entrepreneurship, Small Enterprise Development
successfully on 27 and 28 October 2021. A comprehensive Agency granted the University R4-million funding to
SRC induction workshop was held from 3-5 May for the establish a Centre for Entrepreneurship and Rapid
incoming 2021 SRC members who were deployed to Incubator.
various University statutory committees. The investiture
of the SRC was held on 13 May, and strategic planning Thirteen female student entrepreneurs completed She
concluded on 28 May. Journeys, a six-week online program. They were provided
with the opportunity to assess their growth as part of a
The newly elected SRC assumed office in January 2022. pilot programme by Chaya Legal (Alumni) in collaboration
with the Madibaz Youth Entrepreneurship Lab. The She
2. Co-Curricular Student Leadership Journeys Programme consists of a weekly online interactive
Programmes session aimed at equipping participants with skills to
achieve success in their businesses through recognising
All student leadership development initiatives commenced the value of their unique identities and life stories.
again this year via online platforms, combining groups
from Gqeberha and George. Our flagship student Our University students won three of the four categories in
leadership development programmes such as Beyond the regional round of the Entrepreneurship Development
the Classroom, Leaders for Change, and Ebuhlanti Men’s in Higher Education Intervarsity and competed in the
leadership programme continue to be offered through national finals:
virtual platforms. • Deborah Balogun (New Ideas category);
• Randolph Meth (Existing Business: Tech
The fourth Nelson Mandela Annual Youth Convention category); and
took place in September 2021, with the keynote address
delivered by Advocate Thembeka Ngcukaitobi focusing on • Siyathemba Mbhele (Existing Business: General
the topic “Rethinking structural inequality in South Africa: category).
Towards youth development and social justice”.

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