Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Division for Social Impact (DSI) will focus their annual symposium on the effect that Covid-19 has had on social impact initiatives, both locally and globally.
The symposium will be held online on 3 September from 9:00 to 12:30, according to a DSI announcement via email.
Staff and students have received email invites to register for the symposium. Graphic: Savannah Bacon
The symposium will cover a range of themes including engaged teaching and learning, engaged research and engaged citizenship, said Ernestine Meyer-Adams, head of the DSI.
The conference will address the creation of shared and collective learning spaces for staff and students to explore social impact initiatives during Covid-19 and beyond, according to Meyer-Adams.
“[The symposium] will develop a better understanding of the challenges faced by practitioners and communities during Covid-19,” she said.
According to dr Leslie van Rooi, senior director of Social Impact and Transformation at SU, holding the event online will hopefully see an increase in attendance numbers.
“If we take into account our experiences (and lessons learned) from our other online engagements over the last couple of months, we should have even better attendance compared to the past,” said Van Rooi, who is also program director of the symposium.
Dr Leslie van Rooi was appointed senior director of Social Impact and Transformation at SU in 2017. GIF: Savannah Bacon
According to Meyer-Adams, key community partners have been invited to attend the symposium, as well as student bodies. “All students are invited and we are hoping that the student leadership will be in attendance,” she said.
The SRC were also invited to attend the symposium, said Lewis Mboko, chairperson of the Student Representative Council (SRC).
According to Mboko, the symposium is a great initiative.
“I hope that the SRC will also contribute to the best of its abilities to ensure continued support of the students on campus regardless of the current circumstances that we find ourselves in,” Mboko said.
Mboko added that the symposium will give students the opportunity to reflect on the Covid-19 pandemic in relation to social impact.
“It will give us time to reflect on what we need to do as a society, so that we can impact the lives and livelihoods in our community,” he said.
Dr Leslie van Rooi is the program director for the symposium and will be opening with the symposium theme and focus. PHOTO: Facebook/Stellenbosch University