The professionalisation of Student Affairs, Student Development and Support Services across the South African university sector is critical for improved student and all institutions’ success.
This was the view of those leading the inaugural Student Affairs and Student Success (SASS) capacity development programme, the first session of which was hosted at the Southern Sun, OR Tambo International on the East Rand, from 29 to 30 May 2023. The programme was conceptualised by a consortium of higher education and student affairs experts coordinated by the Higher Education Leadership and Management (HELM) Programme of Universities South Africa (USAf). It is also being delivered under the HELM stewardship.
The two-day session attracted 50 participants from a range of student support services in all their forms across South Africa’s public universities. The attendees were mostly middle and senior managers from Student Affairs, Student Development, Student Services, Administration, Libraries, Transformation and Equity, Health and Wellness, Student Residences, Marketing and Communication departments, and more.