As part of the commitment of the North-West University (NWU) to community engagement and knowledge sharing, the School of Languages in Education, together with the School of Psycho-Social Education, recently visited the Groenpunt Management Area of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) to engage and inspire female staff on leadership, education and personal development.
The NWU delegation comprised Dr Melody Mtimkulu, deputy school director at the School of Languages in Education, Dr Sibongile Dlamini, Shadikgolo Mokoena, Nomsa Kubheka-Mohosho and Pulane Tshabalala from the School of Psycho-Social Education. The delegation contributed to the programme as speakers, sharing their knowledge and expertise on leadership, education, personal development and women’s empowerment.
Held at the Groenpunt Correctional Services mess hall, the engagement was hosted by the Groenpunt Management Area Women’s Forum under the theme “Empowered women empower nations.”
The NWU team was invited to engage with female staff on their leadership potential and the role they can play in building inclusive, responsive and collaborative institutions. The discussions focused on women’s leadership journeys, the importance of education and continuous learning, gender-responsive governance, and the value of multi-sectoral collaboration between the government, academia, the private sector and civil society.
According to Lele Radipolane from the Groenpunt Management Area, the engagement provided a meaningful platform for female staff to reflect on their leadership potential and personal development.
“The aim of this engagement was to create a platform where female staff could come together, be inspired and reflect on their own leadership potential, personal development and the important role they play in the DCS. We are deeply grateful to the NWU for responding to our invitation and sharing its knowledge and expertise with our staff. The engagement was meaningful because it reminded us of the value of continuous learning, collaboration and empowering women to make a positive contribution in their workplaces and communities,” said Lele.
The speakers encouraged participants to reflect on their individual leadership journeys – including the challenges they had overcome, their achievements and the lessons they had learnt along the way.
Education was highlighted as an important tool for empowerment, with the discussion emphasising how continuous learning and personal development can build confidence and equip women with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue leadership opportunities.
Dr Mtimkulu, who was the main guest speaker, said education should be viewed as an ongoing journey of personal and professional growth. “Education is not simply about obtaining a qualification; it is about continuously developing ourselves, expanding our knowledge and recognising the opportunities that come with learning. When women invest in their education and personal development, they build the confidence, knowledge and skills to take up leadership opportunities and make a meaningful difference in their workplaces and communities,” she said.
The engagement also explored the importance of women’s participation and representation in decision-making processes and leadership structures. Participants were encouraged to recognise their voices, experiences and perspectives as valuable contributions to their workplaces and wider communities.
The NWU speakers shared perspectives on the importance of women recognising their leadership potential and using their knowledge and experiences to contribute meaningfully to their organisations and communities.
Dr Mtimkulu said community engagement provides universities with opportunities to share their expertise beyond the classroom while contributing to the development of people in their workplaces and communities.
“Community engagement creates an opportunity for the university to take its knowledge and expertise beyond the classroom and engage directly with people in their places of work. Our engagement with the staff at Groenpunt DCS was particularly meaningful because it allowed us to share ideas around leadership, education and continuous personal development. As an institution of higher learning, we have a responsibility to contribute to the growth and empowerment of staff and the communities we serve.”
The discussion further highlighted the importance of collaboration across sectors in creating opportunities for women and addressing challenges affecting institutions and communities.
Dr Mtimkulu added that the visit forms part of the broader commitment of the NWU to community engagement, which seeks to build meaningful partnerships and use the knowledge, expertise and resources of the university to contribute to positive social development.
She said the engagement demonstrated the value of partnerships between higher-education institutions and government departments in creating platforms that promote lifelong learning, leadership development and the empowerment of women.
