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Advancing a shared identity

The Wits identity defines and shapes all that we do: the types of students and staff we attract and develop; the research that is important to us; our culture on campus; who we partner with; and how we are perceived by the external world.

People and Culture

People and Culture

Wits exists because of our people, and we must ensure that we build a university community that thrives in order to ensure our sustainability and success. There will be a strong focus on developing the Wits ethos that is shared across students, staff, and alumni.

We commit to:

  • A diverse, inclusive, people-centred university;
  • A culture of agility, and innovative and entrepreneurial thinking;
  • Nurturing and cultivating talent across all spheres of the University; and
  • An environment which allows all our people to thrive.

Brand and Reputation

Brand and Reputation

Wits has a proud history of academic scholarship and research excellence. It has been both about birthing brilliance and leading change for societal good. We will use this history to define and reinvigorate our brand and reputation both in the national context but also globally.

We commit to:

  • Leveraging our history of being an innovator for advancement across all disciplines; and
  • Promoting Wits’ achievements to enhance our reputation both locally and globally.
Place and Partnerships

Wits can lay claim to being centrally-located in both dynamic urban and rural settings. Located in Johannesburg and with the Wits Rural Campus in the Bushbuckridge region, we are ideally placed to explore both urban and rural settings and how they are increasingly starting to converge – not just in South Africa but across the Global South. We need to leverage this context and embrace it as part of our identity. Outside of our immediate physical place and space, there is a need to consider our role and identity in the broader global knowledge system in Africa, the Global South, and the world.

We commit to:

  • Leveraging our location to build partnerships that are based on shared goals, values and achieving societal impact;
  • Partnering with other universities to strengthen the academic project on the continent and in the Global South; and
  • Using our campuses and academic resources to work with and in local communities, particularly to address climate sustainability, inequality, public health, and social justice.
Student Experience

Wits graduates have gone on to become leaders in their fields not only because of the world-class education that Wits provides but also because of the cosmopolitan experience one has at Wits. However, the changing South African landscape has meant that the needs of our students have also changed. We therefore must provide an expanded, holistic student experience that ensures their time at Wits means that every future graduate is empowered to become a leader in society.

We commit to:

  • Exposing our students to a cosmopolitan student life and experience that fosters a sense of belonging and the development of lifelong networks and friendships;
  • Offering our students a wide range of student development experiences and challenging intellectual engagements that enables them to become active citizens and leaders in all sectors of a diverse society;
  • Promoting an environment of care and holistic wellness; and
  • Encouraging an appreciation for the arts, culture, and sport.
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