Kagiso Trust, National Education Collaboration Trust, and the University of Johannesburg (UJ) successfully hosted their 3rd Annual Leadership Conference on September 21st and 22nd. The virtual conference brought together leading experts and thought leaders in education to explore the theme of "Leading Education for Sustainability" and delved into three important themes: Leading sustainability consciousness, Leading curriculum for sustainable futures, and Leading green pedagogical approaches.

Dr. Njeri Mwagiru from Futures Research at Stellenbosch University Business School presented valuable insights into the critical factors impacting future education. The current reality is that there is a need for inclusive and equitable quality education. Additionally, access to learning, content relevance, and application through digital transformation are crucial in shaping the future of education.

"Innovation and Sustainable Development are intertwined, creating sustainable land and resource management," says Dr. Ramesh Sharma from Ambedkar University in India. Sharma discussed innovations in sustainable development, highlighting technological advancements, precision agriculture, waste management, and public-private partnerships. 

Vainola Makan an activist for gender and social justice explored the intersections between leadership, education, gender, and sustainable development, emphasising the importance of innovation, knowledge building, and community empowerment. She highlighted, "Empowering communities as agents of sustainable change is the cornerstone of transformation".

Dr. Omotosho Ademola of the Central University of Technology Free State addressed the development of enterprising students in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the challenges South African schools face in preparing students for the changing landscape.

"4IR has not yet received the needed attention in South Africa and the education sector is no exception," says Ademola. "Enterprising students does not solely refer to students who have a deliberate intent to initiate a business endeavour. It includes various categories of students with crucial core skills essential in today's education and professional world, such as creativity, innovation and a proactive mindset."

Kati Sithole, a PhD candidate at UJ, shared insights into utilising school food gardens as a third space for repurposing learning through "green" pedagogies, promoting play-based learning and interdisciplinary problem-solving. Food gardens as a learning space teach children life skills, survival skills, and academic skills.

Dr. Ahmad Qablan from the College of Education UAEU discussed leading education for sustainable development through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. Through education, the importance of 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, agility, adaptability and collaboration alongside STEM's impact on Changing labour markets, ageing populations, climate change and world economics are key to addressing global challenges.

Dr. Kezia Mkwizu an independent researcher from Tanzania advocated for the inclusion of indigenous knowledge in curriculum reform for sustainable development, drawing on examples from tribes in Tanzania and Botswana that have created an ecosystem tapping into their indigenous knowledge. "Indigenous knowledge can help us achieve the SDGs by considering local wisdom in education." says Mkwizu.

There is a need to "Africanise" the SDGs in order to address South Africa's local needs and challenges. To do this, we need to evaluate how conscious we, as institutions, are of sustainability. "There is a need to question and assess the current curriculum blueprint and highlight the importance of sustainability consciousness", said Associate Professor Chinaza Uleanya from the University of Johannesburg.

The conference concluded with a futuristic approach to education, accessibility, public-private partnerships, and the importance of borderless schools. "A bright and sustainable future starts with quality, relevant education and support" says Mandisa Tselane from Kagiso Trust.

Link to the conference recording can be found here.

Kagiso Trust work to overcome poverty by developing and implementing scalable, replicable, sustainable development programme models in the areas of education development, institutional capacity building, socio-economic development and financial sustainability For more information see www.kagiso.co.za 

The National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) is an organisation dedicated to strengthening partnerships within civil society and between civil society and government in order to achieve South Africa's national goals for basic education. It strives both to support and to influence the agenda for reform of education. For more information see https://nect.org.za/

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) shares the pace and energy of cosmopolitan Johannesburg, the city whose name it carries. Proudly South African, the university is alive down to its African roots, and well-prepared for its role in actualising the potential that higher education holds for the continent's development For more information see https://www.uj.ac.za/

-- ENDS --

Sipho Mofokeng
084 277 9275 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.kamuses.co.za