About the Transformation and Employment Equity Office
The Transformation Employment Equity Office (TEEO) and the Transformation Committees' mandate is to drive the University Transformation agenda.
The TEEO formulates institutional policy related to transformation, amends and re-aligns existing policies, develops and communicates university-wide interventions and develops the capacity of staff and students.
The TEEO also provides direct and indirect support to Transformation Committees as well as to Deans and Heads of Schools, Senior Directors and Directors in the implementation of transformation.
We work within the areas of Diversity, Ethics, Social Justice, Employment Equity, B-BB EE and Anti-discrimination.
Governance and Structures for implementation
The VC has overall responsibility and accountability and is responsible for driving and facilitating the operationalisation of transformation across all sectors of the University and needs to ensure that operational and support structures are in place.
The DVC Academic is responsible for leading transformation in teaching and learning.
All Deans, HoD, Senior Directors and Directors are responsible for leading transformation in their respective departments.
Transformation Committee are responsible for playing an oversight and advisory role with regard to the development, implementation and achievement of the university’s transformation pillars
Transformation in Context
Transformation is defined by the political moment which you are in and is meant to eventually get mainstreamed into institutions and organisations and into their mandates. It is meant to lead to change.
In the South African context, the transformation agenda is informed by the need to break with discriminatory practices of the past, which excluded the majority of South Africans from all aspects of society.
It is underpinned by principles of fairness, equity, and redress.
Transformation is a core element of our institutional mandate and is therefore central to all we do.
Covid -19 has transformed our lives and changed how we work, study, and engage with one another. Social distance, working and studying online is now the name of the game and important to consider as we transform.
Transformation in higher education
Transformation in South African Universities must be reflected in all aspects of the institution such as governance, management and leadership, student environments such as reasonable access and academic success, equity in staffing, institutional cultures, progressive and inclusive teaching and learning, research and knowledge systems, institutional equity, and the political economy of higher education funding.
In 2015, after a series of interactions with various stakeholders at the University, we opened a conversation about transformation at Wits. After significant consultation and deliberation by the University community, a plan was developed to accelerate and enhance the University’s transformation agenda and adopted by the Senate and Council.
As part of ensuring the implementation of the transformation agenda of the university, Transformation Committees were established throughout the University.
