Delegates from Sudan, Nigeria, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Senegal, the Comoros, Kenya and Madagascar took part in an experiential leadership development programme for university leaders on senior management level.
In an international environment of decreasing state funding for tertiary education, yet increased demand for quantity and quality output, as well as equity, university leaders have to develop their advancement capacity to address key challenges facing institutional growth and sustainability.
The facilitators and speakers from Africa, Britain, Canada, the United States and Europe included academics, university executives who have spearheaded major fundraising campaigns, representatives from philanthropic foundations and trusts, and business leaders involved in corporate social investment, as well as experts in strategic positioning, fund-raising, proposal writing, communication, alumni relations and donor engagement. Participants were exposed to the grant-maker’s perspective.
“We are not producing enough African solutions to African challenges. The best way for us to realize this vision is to invest in African capacity building” says Prof H Russel Botman, Rector and Vice- Chancellor of Stellenbosch University and Vice-President of the Association of African Universities (AAU).
The Advancement Academy at Stellenbosch is a training and development initiative for sharing knowledge and skills to move African higher education institutions forward in the fields of development (fundraising), alumni relations, communication and public relations.
