Beyond a send-off: Emerging scholars make a collective commitment to transformation, collaboration and care

By Sabrina Zerf

The future of higher education in South Africa rests with scholars who are bold, collaborative, and committed to communities of care. Rhodes University recently hosted a celebratory send-off colloquium, bringing together academics, scholars, and higher education leaders to acknowledge the achievements of participants in national collaborative initiatives under the University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP).

The event recognised scholars who completed their studies through three programmes: the Nurturing Emerging Scholars Programme (NESP), implemented with the support of Rhodes University; the New Generation of Academics Programme (nGAP), supported by Nelson Mandela University; and the University Staff Doctoral Programme (USDP), implemented with the University of Pretoria. Together, these programmes are shaping the future of South Africa’s higher education landscape by building capacity, nurturing young academics, and fostering transformation.

The gathering was not only a moment of celebration but also of reflection. It marked a milestone for the higher education sector as this year marks the 10th anniversary of the nGAP initiative.

The colloquium was well-attended by mentors, supervisors, managers, Heads of Department, and Rhodes University Deputy Vice-Chancellors (DVCs) Dr Nomakwezi Mzilikazi and Prof ‘Mabokang Monnapula-Mapesela, and other key stakeholders who have supported the scholars.

In her welcoming address, DVC for Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, Dr Nomakwezi Mzilikazi, emphasised the importance of cultivating dispositions that prepare scholars for the challenges of academia. She highlighted intellectual dispositions such as curiosity about uncharted territories of knowledge; courage in a world of uncertainty and disruption; collaboration because social issues cannot be solved by nations acting alone; and care as education and research serve communities. “This colloquium represents more than a send-off; it is a space where we start to create these communities of care,” she said.

Her words set the tone for an event that honoured achievements and challenged emerging academics to see themselves as part of a larger collective dedicated to transformation and social responsibility.

Delivering the keynote address, Ms Mandisa Cakwe, Director of the University Capacity Development Directorate at the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), reflected on the broader purpose of this reflection of achievements. “It is a recognition of transformation, perseverance and the vision we collectively share for the future of South African higher education,” she said.

Ms Cakwe celebrated the resilience of scholars who persevered despite the significant disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “The number of graduates, immediately after COVID, was actually unbelievable,” she remarked. “Your achievements prove it is possible when adequate support and determination meet.”

She emphasised that “transformation is not achieved by government alone but through partnerships that align resources and vision. The leadership and implementation of these programmes sit within the universities as our implementation support partners.” The collaboration between Rhodes University, Nelson Mandela University, and the University of Pretoria in implementing these programmes is a prime example of this strategy in action, demonstrating how universities can work together to achieve core priorities while reducing overheads and ensuring the optimal use of resources.

The colloquium highlighted the DHET’s commitment to effectively using the University Capacity Development Grant (UCDG). Anchored by the Ministerial Statement on the management of the UCDP, the Department has embraced strategies that emphasise both cost-effectiveness and collaboration. By pooling resources, reducing duplication, and encouraging partnerships across institutions, the DHET is reimagining what it means to strengthen the foundations of higher education in an era of constrained funding.

The event acknowledged the hard work and perseverance of the scholars, celebrating their accomplishments and the crucial role they will play in advancing academic excellence in South Africa. Their stories of resilience spoke not only to personal triumph but also to the collective determination of South Africa’s academic community to rise above disruption and uncertainty.

In the true spirit of celebration, a Gala Dinner brought together all attendees, offering emerging scholars and researchers across programmes and universities the chance to network, exchange insights, and explore opportunities for future collaboration.