Hers-SA Academy hosted over 79 women in higher education sector from all over South Africa to the 14th Annual Summit in the Mother City of Cape Town from 4 to 8 September 2016.
Beauty and brains under one roof made for exciting collaborating and networking with a powerhouse of women engaging with other high profile, sector relevant men and women experts. Power packed presentations by leaders in the sector addressed a number of important issues facing the higher education institutions. These presentations by high profile individuals made a high impact and served as motivation for personal and professional development. We also learnt, shared and explored possible strategies to on how to professionally and proficiently handle challenges in the changing landscape of higher education in South Africa.
Hers SA the following areas of interests such as:
a) Training and development of females from designated groups
c) Promotion of people from designated groups
d) Steps to ensure that the corporate culture is transformed in a way that affirms diversity in the work place and harness the potential of all employees.
The soul intent is of this conference is to ensure that there is a pool of professional and competent women leaders to meet the growing employment needs for academic and non-academic responsibilities. Having experienced the academy first-hand, the 11 delegates from VUT encourage and proposed the establishment of a HERS-SA mini-Academy at VUT as our very own Vice-Chancellor and Principal; Professor Irene Moutlana is an alumni of the Hers-SA Academy. This will also form part of the Hers-SA Gauteng branch that will enhance the opportunity for further development and advancement areas of competence and experience within the work environment, as essential lessons learnt will assist development and encourage other women to advance within their working environment to make VUT an employer of choice. We found the academy enriching and stimulating with the contrast of a rainbow delegation.
The women of VUT aims to form a Hers-SA branch at VUT and later establish a Hers-SA Academy in Gauteng with the inclusion of women from other institutions that have also attended. A meeting of all VUT female staff regarding this will be held in January 2017.
by Anne Naidu
