STRATEGIC PLAN - 

WSU VISION 2030 AT A GLANCE

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In this Strategic Plan, Walter Sisulu University articulates a vision that will guide its journey into the next decade.

Framing the University’s character and aspirations as well as growth and development imperatives within a dynamic set of factors, the Plan lays out the University’s commitment to the pursuit of excellence.

It commits the University to harnessing socio-economic, cultural and ideational assets within the African, international, national and institutional contexts to achieve its goals.

Factors within the African and international context include the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Africa Agenda 2063, while the National Development Plan 2030 and changes and challenges within the South African higher education landscape are highlighted as keyframing issues for the Strategic Plan.

Institutionally, the Plan draws impetus from, among other things, the University’s history as well as its space and place in a predominantly rural and socio-economically marginalised rural province.

It equally takes seriously the role of global disruptors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, but views such disruptors as capable of being turned for good as they will sharpen the University’s instinct of excellence and force it to acquire the agility and creativity to reach for new frontiers of achievement.

The University’s philosophy is captured thus:

Vision: An impactful, technology-infused African University.

Mission: Through its core business, WSU responds to societal needs in ethical, scholarly, sustainable, and entrepreneurial ways, and delivers future-ready graduates.

Purpose: In pursuit of excellence, Walter Sisulu University addresses societal challenges by producing relevant, innovative and impactful research; championing sustainable and just development, and graduating versatile individuals.

Core values: Honesty and integrity, quality and excellence, respect, Ubuntu. Slogan: In pursuit of excellence.

‘Impactfulness’ is explained in terms of the University’s historical role as an institution of access for the disenfranchised, and a new commitment to creating and implementing an empowering curriculum and carefully designed student development initiatives that ensure that WSU graduates are able to access the highest echelons of society, that research and innovation bolster the pursuit of local, national, and continental development efforts, and that, now and in the future, the University’s core activities contribute to the achievement of sustainable and just global development. 

The University seeks to position technology at the centre of teaching and learning, research and innovation as well as administration by making appropriate investments geared towards the acquisition and creation of vital technology.

The Strategic Plan affirms the University’s African origins and African location and makes a case for epistemic justice.

It commits the University to greater levels of epistemic sensitivity in all areas of its functioning - from curriculum design, pedagogical orientation and course content, to teaching approach, research and innovation, and the composition of the professoriate.

Africanness must underpin management and leadership practices and be reflected in the built environment.

Conscious efforts must be made towards an Africanised curriculum.

The journey articulated in this Strategic Plan is geared towards achieving the following nine (9) strategic goals:

1. Quality, impactful teaching and learning

2. Relevant and impactful research and innovation

3. Transformative community engagement, internationalisation and partnerships

4. Enriching student experience

5. Empowered workforce

6. Financial sustainability

7. Modern ICT

8. State-of-the-art infrastructure 

9. People-centred governance and administration.

Each strategic goal is unpacked in a set of sub-goals, objectives and key performance objectives.