UJ SHARES ITS 10-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN WITH ALUMNI
UJ presented an overview of its 10-year Strategic Plan, focused on societal impact and sustainability, at the Vision 2035 prelaunch engagement event with UJ’s alumni, on 18 September. The event, titled ‘Our Future. Reimagined – An Overview of UJ’s New Strategic Plan 2035 – for Societal Impact and Sustainability’, created the perfect opportunity for UJ to share its vision for the next decade. UJ’s strategic plan is the result of work over two years (2022-2023) of a collaborative process involving several stakeholders. It was approved in November 2023, and is being embedded this year, to be implemented in 2025. Lisa Bonney, institutional researcher from the Institutional Research and Planning Unit (IRPU), within the Division for Institutional Planning, Evaluation and Monitoring (DIPEM), opened proceedings. Dr Denyse Webbstock, Senior Director: DIPEM, outlined the main strategies, which would have a five-year operational horizon with defined actions and indicators to measure progress. Key priorities include embedding societal impact and sustainability across all university operations, and embracing four new values, referred to as the “four I’s”: Impact, Innovation, Inclusivity, and Integrity. Specific actions are mapped to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and responsibility is assigned to relevant faculties and departments for implementation. Dr Webbstock said UJ ranked high globally in sustainability and societal impact, being Number 36 in the Times Higher Education impact rankings and Number 3 globally for addressing poverty. These priorities continue to be prioritised in the 10-year plan, focusing on positive societal change, environmental sustainability, and innovation from an African and Global South perspective.
Looking at education, Dr Webbstock said the plan emphasised a holistic, world-class education that extended beyond formal learning. The goal was to “cultivate curious, resilient, critical thinkers, while also offering flexible and lifelong learning opportunities, recognising the importance of micro-credentials and continuous education in the modern world”. In respect of digital innovation, UJ plans to introduce a Virtual Immersion Portal (VIP) to integrate support services for students, from prospective applicants through to graduates. This digital transformation aims to streamline access to information and enhance the student experience by guiding students towards appropriate choices in a more unified and accessible way. On alumni engagement, the plan is to harness successful alumni to inspire current students, monitor alumni contributions, and create opportunities for alumni to participate in events, networking, and mentorship programmes. Alumni Chapters globally will be broadened and strengthened, and greater digital interaction through platforms like Alumni Connect will be fostered. Alumni will also be involved in mentorship programmes, events, and initiatives like the VIP, which will in turn facilitate alumni contributions to university life and career transitions for students. “We are going to be using that same virtual immersion portal to keep in contact… it’s really about connecting all the dots and connecting all the stakeholders: students, alumni, prospective students,” said Dr Webbstock. To watch the presentation, click here.
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