Dr Zethu Mkhize is set to play a key part in facilitating and strengthening stakeholder buy-in and capacity to implement Stellenbosch University’s Transformation Plan.
Mkhize recently joined SU as the new director of the University's Transformation Office. She believes it is important that higher education institutions in South Africa have dedicated transformation offices to help facilitate institution-wide transformation and develop programmes for student, staff and faculty support.
“Advancing the transformation agenda at Stellenbosch University is a mammoth task, given the legacy of the institution," Mkhize says. “It is for this reason that I have assumed the responsibility with dedication and commitment. It bodes well for my tenure in this institution that Stellenbosch University has achieved significant milestones, like the development of the Transformation Plan."
Mkhize says SU's Transformation Office has made many “positive gains" over the past couple of years through its established transformative programmes for students and staff. She hopes to build on the work of her colleagues and ensure the sustainability of transformation interventions.
“My plan is to introduce a monitoring and evaluation function to track implementation and outputs systematically, and measure programme effectiveness. This will ensure that programmes are evidence-based and responsive to the needs of the University community. It will also be in keeping with the national project of creating transformation indicators for institutions of higher learning."
Mkhize, who holds the degree DPhil in Social Work, has extensive experience in the higher education sector. She spent several years at the University of Zululand, where she started out as a Social Work lecturer, and then moved to a support division as HIV and AIDS manager. She was later appointed student affairs director, where she provided strategic direction and developed relevant policies for her division.
She also worked for Rhodes University as anti-harassment manager. In this capacity, Mkhize reviewed the institution's sexual offences policy for students and the policy on the eradication of harassment and unfair discrimination. In addition, she developed awareness programmes on discrimination, harassment and gender-based violence.
As a registered social worker, she has made valuable contributions to the social work profession and the field of social development both nationally and internationally. These include her role as a member of the ministerial task team charged with developing the terms of reference for the re-engagement of veteran social workers.
She also served as secretary and deputy president of the Association of South African Social Work Education Institutions. Other roles included serving on the ministerial committee for reviewing the White Paper on Social Welfare (1997), and as president of the South African Council for Social Service Professions.
For more about SU's Transformation Office, click here.
