Page 43 - Transformation Report 2023

support, and community engagement. In September, CANRAD collaborated with the Azanian
• Hub 2: Food Sovereignty operates the Food Systems People’s Organisation and the Pan-Africanist Students
Internationalisation Centre for the Advancement of Non-
Programme, involving research funding, the VC’s Movement Association to host events commemorating
Giving Campaign, and projects to address student Racialism and Democracy (CANRAD) Steve Biko, culminating in the Annual Steve Biko Me-
International Student Recruitment hunger. Collaborations with students and organiza- morial Lecture. The Centre also co-hosted a public de-
tions are creating solutions for food insecurity and bate with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) regarding
stigma. CANRAD introduced Black History Month into its calen- “South African Youth Perspectives on the Energy Crisis
Literature is replete about the benefits of diversity in • Hub 3: Gender Engagement leads the End Period dar for the first time in 2023, with the inaugural event held and its Impact”.
the learning and working spaces, respectively. However, Poverty project, initiating conversations and engage- on 28 February. An Africa Month event was held on 31
over the past several years, the number of international ment with learners and stakeholders to address peri- May with the theme: Higher Education in Africa Today:
students has declined. There have been significant chal- od poverty challenges. Roles, Challenges, and Possible Solutions.
lenges faced by international students with visa applica- • Hub 4: Community-driven Initiatives involve collabo- Centre for Women and Gender Studies
tions not being processed timeously by the Department rations with local CBOs such as Zwide Development CANRAD launched Decolonising African University (CWGS) and DSI-NRF SARChI Chair for
of Home Affairs. Similarly visas of post-doctoral fellows Forum and Umphanda Foundation for Autism. Initia- Knowledges: Volumes 1 and 2, thereby actively contrib- African Feminist Imaginations (AFEMI)
were not renewed, which prevented them from continu- tives include sports events, student placements, and uting to Mandela University’s decolonisation imperatives.
ing their employment contracts. leadership workshops. The Director, Prof Bheki Mngomezulu, delivered a key-
• Hub 5: Knowledge Communication & Application note address at the UN Nelson Mandela International Professor Babalwa Magoqwana was appointed as the
The efforts of the University to extend its African foot- disseminates converged engagement practices to Day event in Perth, Australia, themed “Reflections on Centre’s Director from the start of August. Ongoing
print, as well as South-South partnerships, including oth- stakeholders within and beyond the University. Racial Discrimination, Self-Determination and Justice in projects undertaken to advance gender equality include
er BRICS nations, will provide an opportunity to attract • Hub 6: The Education Ecosystem encompasses col- South Africa and Australia”. developing a Gender Transformation Framework and a
students to further their studies at the institution.
laborations in teaching and learning with various en- Gender Mapping Database, as well as designing two new
tities and universities. A Men’s Conference was hosted on 4 August as part of PG programmes in gender studies.
• Hub 7: Indigenous Knowledge Systems fosters Women’s Month celebrations. On 22 August, an event
Partnerships – BRICS, Asia, Global North, partnerships with First Nations groups to transform was hosted titled: “South African Youth Perspectives to- CWGS received the HSRC-USAF Team Award on Social
and Expansion of African Footprint knowledge and establish equalizing partnerships. wards National Elections: A Critical Analysis”, supported Justice, surpassing competitors from the University of Jo-
• Hub 8: Sports, Arts & Culture Hub organises events by funding from Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. hannesburg and Rhodes University.
Several opportunities were created during 2023 for the like Cyclathon, Relay Race, and Soccer & Netball
University to explore partnerships with visiting Brazilian, Tournament, showcasing the transformative power
Russian, Indian, and Chinese delegations, which included of sports, arts, and culture in community engage-
government officials and senior academics. The annual ment.
report will reflect further details regarding these partner-
ships. As previously mentioned in the student nutrition section
(page 25), long-term sustainable solutions for food secu-
rity is being investigated. The Mandela University Food
Reimagining Engagement Systems programme, associated with Hub 2, focuses on
three key signature projects, namely:

• The student hunger project, which implements
The Engagement Conceptual Framework was widely
consulted and approved during 2023. This reimagining approaches that are student- centred, sustainable,
of engagement has stimulated interest from national and and humanising.
international HEIs, with invitations being extended to the • The greenhouse project, which converges the
Engagement Office team and/or delegations being host- development needs of unemployed young students
ed to conduct benchmarking of community engagement and the need of community farmers for seedling
initiatives. production.
• The community kitchens project, which evolves tra-
Projects being lead in the thematic Hubs address local ditional “soup kitchens” into catalysts for communi-
and global challenges: ty agency.
• Hub 1: Individual and Collective Wellness focuses The Engagement Office collaborates with the Transfor-
on the “Creating Cycles of Hope” project, aiming to mation Office across different hubs, partnering with vari-
prevent substance abuse through community-based ous organisations on projects related to disabilities, sub-
approaches. Twelve Hope Sites have been estab- stance abuse, self-defence, and wellness.
lished, acting as resource centres for counselling,

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