From Planning to Action: EMAP Leadership Retreat Rekindled Energy to Focus on Members’ Needs

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Celebrated novelist, Paulo Coelho puts it well when he says: ‘People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of.’ 

The UKZN Emerging and Mid-Career Academics Platform (EMAP) Interim Committee organised a two-day retreat that allowed the committee to review key aspects of the platform. These included reflecting on the contributions made by EMAP since its inception, reimagining its role and undertaking a Situational Analysis of EMAP with a vision to solidify its role and functions for the future. 

The two-day retreat took place at the Coastland’s Hotel recently, with various members of the Interim Committee facilitating key strategic sessions, while the Situational Analysis of EMAP was facilitated by Dr Michael Cloete, Acting Executive Director of Human Resources at UKZN. 

Cloete’s session delved deeper into reimagining the role of the EMAP and projecting the platform’s short-, medium- and long-term goals. This session helped the Interim Committee to crystalise the platform’s vision, conduct stakeholder mapping, and plan upcoming activities for the next two years. 

Day two of the retreat focused on confirming the Interim Committee’s composition and portfolios, as well as the finalisation of the draft Constitution of the platform. Lastly, the activities for 2023 were discussed and finalised. 

Reflecting on the retreat, the Interim Committee echoed a feeling of joy at the culmination of a vision to help early and mid-career academics succeed. ‘We now invite all early and mid-career academics, including those who share the same vision, to journey with us, as we believe in the African proverb: “If you want to go quickly, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together”.’ 

Said the Interim Committee, ‘Two months after the Leadership Retreat, we are now witnessing the results as we proudly announce the upcoming seminar on Compiling a Winning Application for Academic Promotion which will be held on 30 June 2023. 

Professor Sinegugu Duma, the Dean of Teaching and Learning within the College of Health Sciences, will facilitate this timely seminar through a hybrid platform. Existing and potential members can expect an invigorating few months, culminating in the University-wide EMAP platform launch. 

EMAP is encouraged by the heartwarming support already pledged by two internal stakeholders, namely Human Resources and the Corporate Relations Divisions.

Words: Brenda De Gama

Photograph: Supplied