Page 8 - Transformation Report

ENGAGEMENT AND

TRANSFORMATION PORTFOLIO

OVERVIEW: 2020 - 2021

The ‘new’ Engagement and Transformation Portfolio (ETP) confirms Mandela University’s commitment to be a good,
different kind of university. As an institution recognised for furthering equalising interconnections with broader society.

Over the past two years, the ETP has consolidated its strategic intent, procedures, and processes; and built strong
connections between its constituent entities and programmes. It has taken shape as an integrated portfolio capable of
advancing transformation and engagement research and praxes.

The sketch of the portfolio is being collectively drawn by countless engagements across the University and its publics, with
first-rate support and guidance from the Council, colleagues, partners, collaborators, communities, and friends. The key
objectives of the portfolio articulate well with the crucial messages of Vision 2030 as depicted in the diagram below.

Aligning
Advancing engagement Embedding
the praxes of an and transformation with engagement and
engaged, transformative the vision and strategic transformation across the
university; locally priorities of the University; University portfolios for
responsive, nationally including oversight of the socio-economic impact
active, regionally alive, and institutional transformation and in the interest of the
globally plan and the engagement public good
aware strategy and
philosophy In Service
of Society
Articulating
engagement and Leading creative and
transformation as an To create a innovative engagement and
transformation projects;
institutional orientation Sustainable,
that supports the positioning Nelson Mandela
aspiration of excellence in Socially Just World University strategically
research as well as learning within the national and
ATTRIBUTES holistic learning advance agency & scholarship sector
and To provide Engage with all Pursue global
teaching transformative, publics in mutually impactful higher education
beneficial
lifelong,
partnerships that
& innovation
sustainable
liberate full
Anchoring, experiences that promote co-creation to promote Cultivating a
of African-purposed
conceptually and potential solutions futures culture of scholarship as
programmatically, an intellectual resource
the strategic goals Cultivate socially Foster a more equal Address grand base that buttresses
of engagement and conscious, globally and just society societal challenges the engagement
transformation BENEFITS connected citizenship to change the world and transformation
that serves the
through action &
within and beyond public good stewardship approaches and
the University programmes of the
University
The establishment of the portfolio is directly linked to the strategic re-directions of the University as reflected in the Vice-
Chancellor’s inaugural address, the listening campaign, the organisational redesign processes, and the discussions and
workshops within and beyond the University over the past three years. More recently, the portfolio also completed its firmer
alignment with and cascading of Vision 2030 into the planning processes of its divisions and entities.
In the ETP, we work in an iterative manner, on the understanding that we are part of a developing conversation on how to
give form to and receive expression from the idea of a university in service of society. Key to our team, is a tight articulation
with the principles that led to the creation of the portfolio: deepening transformation; advancing radical conceptions of
social justice; reimagining and unburdening engagement across and beyond the university; and giving

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