Stakeholder Communication and Engagement

The focus on stakeholders is essential as stakeholders influence or makes decisions that determine:

• student take up;
• staff recruitment and retention;
• favourable policy decisions;
• research partnerships; and
• funding decisions.

The Division plays an active role in ensuring through various stakeholder communication and engagement activities, that selected stakeholders know and understand what Rhodes is about, what it strives to achieve and how it is performing. The more knowledgeable key stakeholders are about institutional programmes and projects, the more likely they will support the institution in its endeavours.

This applies as much to the external stakeholders as it does to internal stakeholders. Well informed and engaged staff and students, are more likely to actively support and implement institutional plans and programmes, help to resolve challenges and device solutions.

Programmes

The stakeholder engagement and communication programme is intended to:

-          Ensure systematic and consistent engagement and communication with stakeholders 

-          Ensure greater understanding and appreciation of activities and programmes of the university

-          Enhance relations and partnerships with key stakeholders

-          Ensure active support and commitment to university activities and programmes

The essential elements of such a programme are:

-          Stakeholder identification and prioritisation

-          Formulating objectives per stakeholder group

-          Stakeholder needs analysis

• Identifying and understanding stakeholder needs
• Determining the gap between RU needs and those of stakeholders
• Identifying and understanding stakeholder issues
• Determining the gap between RU positions on key issues and positions of stakeholders on same issues
• Devising ways of closing the gaps

-          Development of stakeholder engagement and communication programme

-          Programme implementation

-          Evaluation and measurement

• Key stakeholders identified and prioritised
• Objectives defined, and stakeholders needs and issues analysed
• Engagement programme in place and being implemented
• Objectives met – relations and partnerships build and enhanced

Units

The Stakeholder Communications and Engagement Section has two units:

-          Stakeholder Communications and Engagement

-          Hospitality and Events Management

Staff

Debbie Bruinders

Robyn Cock

Noleen De Free