Achieving the Dream (ATD) will present Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University with a special 20th anniversary award at DREAM: the Siyaphumelela Network Award. This Award celebrates the work of ADTs South African partner institutions in advancing equity and driving student-centered transformation while enriching the work that is being done in the US with global insights. The Award ceremony is scheduled to take place on the 21 February 2024.

Siyaphumelela

Funded by the Kresge Foundation, Siyaphumelela, which is a network of South African universities committed to student success, was created in 2014 and has grown from five to 17 universities with increasing participation in ATD. ATD’s partnership with Siyaphumelela has unceasingly flourished over time; and Siyaphumelela has continued to send representatives to DREAM each year.

Achieving the Dream (ATD)

ADT is an organization that provides institutions with integrated, tailored support for every aspect of their work, from foundational capacities such as leadership, data and equity to intentional strategies aimed at providing holistic support to students. Drawing from its experts, ADT prides itself in building customized growth plans to address the unique challenges each institution faces. They choose transformation over tradition, curiosity over inaction, innovation over status quo.

In response to this acknowledgement, SMU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Peter Mbati stated that “This is award is further acknowledgement of the good work done at SMU”. As we celebrate this achievement, it is important for the university to use it as a stepping stone to further position SMU as a premier institution in the country, Prof Mbati concluded”.