To groom future leaders and foster mutually beneficial partnerships, the Student Governance and Development unit in collaboration with Student Housing and Residence Life, Student Council and Health and Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT) at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) recently hosted a community engagement meeting to unpack its Representative Council of Learners (RCLs) Leadership Capacity Development Programme at the Coastlands Musgrave Hotel.

Chairing the meeting was Mr Masiza Ngculu, Manager: Student Governance and Development. Invited at the meeting were teachers from four high schools based in Durban and Midlands.

Student Governance and Development Officer, Ms Thokozani warmly welcomed the external stakeholders to the meeting, with a hope that it would lead to an impactful long-lasting relationship.

Mr Andile Masuku, Student Development Officer under the Student Governance and Development unit gave a brief insight on the proposed programme and how it will benefit the RCLs.

“The roles and functions of the RCL can be strenuous to be managed by learners who also have their matters to deal with. Most often these are vulnerable learners who are exposed to situations that are beyond their control and imagination. The Leadership Capacity Development Programme (LCDP) is therefore imperative to empower RCLs with key leadership skills and other techniques that are related to leadership. It also intends to educate RCLs with leadership competencies which will eventually contribute to how they behave in school among their peers and the skills that they would need to possess to leverage their performance in executing their duties,” shared Masuku.

He further unpacked the objectives of the Leadership Capacity Development Programme, which are to:

• Unleash the potential of leadership, holistic growth, and development among the RCLs.

• Enable the RCLs to understand their role while executing their duties within the school.

• Equip RCLs with appropriate skills and knowledge for them to create needed networks to harness their passion and contribute to a culture of positive social change.

• Build and strengthen the learner’s level of self-awareness and confidence for them to identify and recognise their weakness and strengths which will eventually improve their abilities of leadership.

Speaking on the selection of the four schools that will be part of the LCDP, Masuku said the representation of schools was based on DUT campuses being in Durban and in the  Midlands, hence choosing two schools in Durban and two schools in the Midlands. He revealed that the programme will include elements of mentorship, leadership training, and development, and awarding of RCLs who have completed the programme.

Through the LCDP, the Student Governance and Development unit aims to create partnerships and lasting relationships with the identified schools and put DUT on a global map in driving change and contributing to the development of its surrounding communities through community engagement.

Mr Sandile Mnyandu, a teacher at Sibusisiwe Comp-Tech High School expressed his excitement on his school being one of the selected schools to be part of the LCDP. He shared that his school is mostly focused on academics and it would be great for the learners to be involved in other activities at the school over and above the academics. He felt this would help them to prepare for the university life, which will require more than academic excellence.

A matric Maths and Physics teacher at Bonela Secondary, Mrs Shashika Maharaj also felt the LCDP will help in the development of their learners. She had pleaded with DUT to ensure the sustainability of this programme in order to develop the learners to be better leaders in the future.

In closing, Ms Refilwe Twala, a Senior Residence Life Officer at the DUT Housing and Residence Life unit thanked all the attendees for their fruitful discussions and commitment to the LCDP. She mentioned that the LCDP is aligned to DUT’s ENVISION2030 strategy which encouraged DUT to be an engaged university, which strives to improve lives and livelihoods in the region, country and the world.

Pictured:

Photographer: Mnqobi Ngobese

Simangele Zuma