The CEAD Directorate hosted its second annual stakeholder engagement meeting, Inguyazana, on October 17, 2024. Inguyazana is a family meeting that discusses critical issues. What is noticeable about this meeting is that the discussions are respectful and frank. It is a constructive meeting to find solutions and chart a clear way forward. Professor Busisiwe Nkonki-Mandleni, CEAD Director, said this critical gathering aimed to improve Community Engagement (CE) at MUT and share best practices among colleagues and stakeholders. A total of 83 people, including community members, attended the meeting. These were academic staff, students with registered CE projects, and external stakeholders that support MUT’s strategic goal of Excellence in Community Engagement. Premier Emeritus Nomsa Dube-Ncube emphasized the importance of building the local economy. Professor Angela James from UZKN facilitated the discussions, leading to insightful debates on adopting an asset-based approach to grow the Umlazi economy.
Professor Nkonki-Mandleni said the following transpired during the meeting: Adopting innovative solutions to stimulate economic development and improve living standards in Umlazi; a need for the University community to unlearn and relearn in engaging with communities, acknowledging the complexity and disruptiveness of community spaces; enhancing networking opportunities and sharing community engagement scholarly work and outreach programmes; understanding various research and development programs undertaken by the university in different communities; and infusing community ideas into MUT’s strategic and development plans.
Professor Nkonki-Mandleni said that participants pledged to engage with the University’s community engagement priority areas. “They recognised the importance of simplifying research to make it accessible to community members, enabling them to solve problems through the university’s knowledge development,” said Professor Nkonki-Mandleni.
Some of the recommendations were continued stakeholder engagement. “There was a call to host events to maintain open communication channels with stakeholders regularly,” said Professor Nkonki-Mandleni. She also said participants also felt a need for community-centered research that would foster research collaborations addressing community-identified needs. Other recommendations were providing training and resources for academic staff and students to enhance community engagement effectiveness and adopting Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) as a strategic approach to community engagement. “This innovative approach shifts the focus from deficiencies to harnessing existing community assets,” said Professor Nkonki-Mandleni. Participants also highlighted a need to amplify social and economic impact in Umlazi and Isipingo. A Community Enterprises Incubator to foster innovative entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship was also recommended.