Page 56 - Transformation Indaba Report

welCome And golden threAds from dAy 1

The moderator, Dr Ruby-Ann Levendal, opened Day Two Language & multilingualism - the language policy is a crucial
of the Indaba. Before outlining the session’s objectives, she element that would drive that, and then also contributing
reflected that the University had hosted a previous Trans- towards student access and success, and the African identity,
formation Indaba under the aegis of its former name, the especially in terms of institutional culture and the academic
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Ruby-Ann present- project.
ed an overview of the themes emerging from Day One:
Holistic support and development - and this is at the level
From the six break-away discussion rooms, the following of both staff and students - where the support that is being
themes and concepts emerged in the plenary feedback provided to students to include both academic as well as other
session: curriculum transformation, decolonisation, the dimen- dimensions of support, especially in terms of mental wellness,
sions of institutional culture, and student success. Ruby- as there has been an increase in mental illnesses both within
Ann noted that the conceptual framing of these concepts our student population and staff. An increase in burnout diag-
needs to be unpacked so that there’s a common understand- nosis and mental illness and this was found to impact on indi-
ing of these concepts. A clear breakdown and understanding viduals’ attitudes and behaviors within the institution, which in
would provide guidance in terms of what needs to be done turn impacts on institutional culture. The need to look at
to embed these in the system. resourcing and whether the capacity within the various func-
tional units is adequate. With a changing HE environment,
The conceptual framing of different concepts that arose in staff need to be well-equipped to deal with the changes that
breakout room discussion, where curriculum transformation, they are encountering and have appropriate skills develop-
decolonisation, the dimensions of institutional culture and ment opportunities.
even student success needs to be unpacked so that there’s a
common understanding of these concepts and also guidance Measurement - there needs to be contextualisation of what-
in terms of what needs to be done to embed that in the system. ever is being measured in relation to transformation, at both
institutional as well as functional unit or entity level. Measure-
Uneven implementation - there was a sense that transfor- ment needs to be at both quantitative and qualitative level.
mation wasn’t really cascading down to departmental level Accountability regarding reporting – the TMF colleagues will
because everybody takes ownership of transformation in the speak on this issue and share experience.
institution, and if people don’t know then they cannot par-
ticipate and cannot even dialogue around transformational Resource stewardship - it was quite concerning to hear of the
issues at their level or in various spaces, and student partici- reliance of the university on subsidy as well as fees, and with
pation is a crucial element in those discussions. quite a huge proportion of our students being funded by
NSFAS the issue around that over-reliance was raised. Also,
Diversification of the academy - where we do mention the issue of increased student debt and enrollment targets
diverse knowledge systems, but it isn’t necessarily reflected not being met, and the University being penalised because
in the current status quo. Also contributing towards that missed targets. The issue around the teaching input-units
would be issues of internationalisation, African partnerships was quite a shocker and it’s anticipated that the University
and collaborations, and the process of decolonisation which will have a reduction in subsidy allocation of R90 million in
would be enriched through the diversification of our acad- 2025, which will obviously impact resource availability. Util-
emy. There was also a sense that there was rigidity of the isation of digital technologies and other sustainable initia-
systems, currently and that issue feeds into Theme 4. tives, as cost saving mechanisms was part of feedback to
plenary on Day One, as well as the concern about the cost
Conventional approaches while doing things are maintain- associated with maintaining a hybrid teaching model (online
ed, and therefore there’s not necessarily creativity and inno- and coming onto campus periodically). The issue of look-
vation, and the constraints are at the regulatory level where ing into alternative models of resource mobilisation. Lastly,
one is constrained to not think outside-the-box. international funding specifically in terms of research, to
become more competitive at the international level.

NelsoN MaNdela UNiversity • traNsforMatioN iNdaba • 2022 50