Mamelodi Pre-University Academy

Aligning Campus Strategic Goals to Achieve a University’s Anchor Institution Strategy Mandate

Authors

  • Nthabiseng Audrey Ogude University of Pretoria
  • Kgadi Clarrie Mathabathe University of Pretoria
  • Nosipho Mthethwa University of Pretoria
  • Regina White University of Pretoria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18060/23807

Keywords:

anchor institution, community engagement, STEM, extended curriculum programs, after-school programs

Abstract

The University of Pretoria adopted an anchor institution strategy and designated the Mamelodi Campus as a Faculty with a focus on community engagement with the primary goal of broadening educational pathways to post-secondary school attainment.  This paper provides an overview of how two strategic goals of the University namely, widening access and success and strengthening social responsiveness have manifested over a decade through designating STEM access programmes to a campus located in the impoverished township, Mamelodi.  The anchor mission entails improvement of the access programmes through incorporating the student voice, as well the improvement of After-School Programmes (ASPs) by formalizing a Pre-University Academy (PUA). The PUA is a signature academic programme geared towards fostering articulation between the high school initiatives, access programmes and the mainstream programmes to ensure a seamless transition from secondary school to graduation. The paper provides lessons drawn from the provision of the programmes which resulted in “forward and backward” articulation to close the school-university gap while addressing systemic educational problems left by the legacy of apartheid. The paper further elaborates on the process followed to cement the anchor mission through the PUA as well as make recommendations to strengthen anchor institution strategy efforts in similar contexts.

Author Biographies

Nthabiseng Audrey Ogude, University of Pretoria

Dean of the University of Pretoria, Mamelodi Campus.

She has 29 years of experience in tertiary education, fourteen of which were in strategic leadership positions. In her current role as Dean and Professor of Science Education at the Mamelodi Campus of the University of Pretoria, her main responsibility is to oversee the Anchor Strategy of the University. 

Nosipho Mthethwa, University of Pretoria

Nosipho Mthethwa is the research assistant in the dean’s office at the Mamelodi Campus. She is currently studying towards a Masters degree in Education with a focus on access programmes. She coordinates the literacy programme in one of the Afterschool programmes offered by the campus. She also conducts research on the Anchor mission of the campus.

Regina White, University of Pretoria

Regina White is the STEM Programmes Coordinator in the campus’ afterschool programmes. She holds a Masters degree in Science Education. She is responsible for training and stakeholder engagement for all the afterschool programmes.

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Published

2020-07-20

Issue

Vol. 31 No. 2 (2020): All In: The Urban Mission, Philadelphia Conference Issue

Section

Research Articles

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Copyright (c) 2020 Nthabiseng Audrey Ogude, Kgadi Clarrie Mathabathe, Nosipho Mthethwa, Regina White

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.