UKZN Manager Presents Research on Inclusive Leadership at Conference

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Operations Manager in the School of Built Environment and Development Studies Dr Phumelele Zakwe presented her research at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Conference on Higher Education, Community Engagement and Governance.

Zakwe’s paper drew from her PhD study in which she examined the aspects of inclusive leadership approaches for the provision of quality Higher Education.

She concluded that leaders should expand their efforts to identify inclusive approaches, practices and behaviours, and educate the workforce to foster inclusion in decision-making as universities become more diverse.

Zakwe found that ‘leaders should effectively view inclusive leadership as a need to empower individuals to co-create. Inclusive leadership will bring new approaches for innovation thus providing answers for the human resource challenges facing Higher Education Institutions today.’

The conference also created a vision to assist government, universities and communities to effectively achieve the National Development Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals outcomes.

‘My personal objectives in attending conferences locally and abroad is to contribute knowledge to the field of leadership, management, governance and administration in order to position myself as an expert, to learn from others, to network and to take advantage of educational opportunities which focus on academia,’ she said.

Zakwe thanked her line manager and mentor, Dean and Head of the School Professor Ernest Khalema and also College of Humanities Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Nhlanhla Mkhize for his support and leadership. 

Words: Melissa Mungroo

Photograph: Supplied