CUT held its 4th Transformation Summit on 27 and 28 October 2022 at the Bloemfontein campus. The two-day event focused on advancing transformation in higher education within the context of the continued consequences of segregation. The summit discussions also focused on the following sub-themes: Demystifying the interconnectedness of race, gender, and class in the context of higher education transformation in South Africa.

In ensuring that transformation at CUT is focused on education of higher learning, Prof. Alfred Ngowi, acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal, said that transformation at the university has undergone many changes starting from the days when it was seen as compliance to equity statistics, to the current state where it is part and parcel of the university’s Vision 2030. “Our transformation plan is a project-based plan consisting of projects that are supportive of the vision, which requires the university to be engaged in producing quality social and economic developments mainly in the central region and become a leading African University of Technology leading the future through innovation.”

He further said that there are still certain disparities in the country, including those related to economic involvement, higher education teaching, and learning. “The nation's reform program, however, has gained traction as institutions and residents work to close disparities and make their country an egalitarian and prosperous place for everyone to live. The summit, moreover, is aimed at addressing some of the existing challenges faced,” he said.

Cllr Stefani Lockman-Naidoo, Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality Speaker and Free State SALGA NCOP delegate, touched on inequalities in societies, education, unemployment, and segregation. She mentioned that societies and different communities deal with special segregation and its consequences, racial justice, and equality that makes education and higher education a challenge to students in institutions. She further highlighted that the youth must change their mindsets and become more imperative in changing the current state of affairs.

“It is time for us as the youth to have progressive thinking rather than be reactive, it is time for us to come up with strategies to solve real problems affecting us otherwise, we will be frustrated without hope. We need to change everything and start doing things differently this time,” she said.

Mr Leemisa Ramatiisa from Goldfields TVET College said “we believe that the efforts of institutions such as CUT, will make an impact and help accelerate the pace of transformation. Furthermore we trust that the policy that will emerge from the process will be the one to fast-track the pace of transformation. As partners in education, we support the noble idea which aims to promote, implement, and monitor transformation at the university.”

Caption

Prof. Alfred Ngowi, acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal and Cllr Stefani Lockman-Naidoo, Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality Speaker, and Free State SALGA NCOP delegate.

News Archive

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