Stellenbosch University

Division of Student Affairs (DSAf)

Centre for Student Life and Learning (CSLL)

Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development (FVZS Institute).

Citizenship Engagement Coordinator: Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Institute

(Job Level 9)

(Two-year fixed-term contract)

Term: 01 February 2025 – 31 January 2027

Stellenbosch Campus

Ref. SSS/280/1024

Kindly note that only South African citizens from the designated groups will be considered for the position.

The primary goals of the Division of Student Affairs (DSAf), which reports to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Learning and Teaching, are to provide systemic-holistic support and development to students and to promote coherent cooperation among all University role players (especially students and faculties) to advance the goals of Stellenbosch University (SU) and its students. The Centre for Student Life and Learning (CSLL) operates in conjunction with the Centre for Student Counselling and Development (CSCD). Both these centres form part of the DSAf, which aims primarily at student development by means of a broad spectrum of co-curricular activities. It is the primary belief of the CSLL that student learning and living environments should be integrated instead of functioning separately. This entails, among other things, the integration and offering of transformative student experiences with a focus on providing engaged leadership development and support. 

The role of the Coordinator: Citizenship Engagement is to expand and strengthen student engagement across the University as it relates to the broader societal context. The vision of Stellenbosch University (SU) is to create a transformative student experience and cultivate engaged citizens as one of the key SU graduate attributes. In line with this, the Coordinator: Citizenship Engagement will be responsible for collaborating with various SU departments and higher education partners to coordinate and implement a range of citizenship engagement projects, which will increase student participation in (global) citizenship matters. This role forms part of the core FVZS Institute team within the CSLL; therefore, the Coordinator reports to the Head: FVZS Institute. The Citizenship Engagement portfolio will seek to offer recognition on the academic transcript of students' participation in specific identified citizenship programmes.

Duties:

1) Portfolio strategy

• With the guidance of the Head: FVZS Institute, implementing a strategy to increase student engagement in citizenship programming.

• Offering strategic input and demonstrating insight into contributing factors impacting student engagement related to citizenship.

• Conceptualising, adapting and implementing relevant ad hoc programming based on emerging needs according to current national trends.

2) Project management: Coordinating content development sessions related to citizenship engagement

• Identifying internal collaboration (DSAf) and within SU more broadly, as well as other higher education partners, on identified key projects.

• Coordinating content development sessions for the identified key projects with the relevant DSAf teams and the CSLL teams (the units for Experiential Learning, Student Governance, Student Communities, Commuter Student Communities, and Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion).

• Drawing up project plans to ensure timeous delivery on projects.

3) Liaising with subject matter experts

• Briefing subject matter experts to discuss concepts related to programming (learning objectives, outcomes and competencies) and the development of programme content according to such briefs.

• Liaising and following up with subject matter experts on student feedback.

• Ensuring that subject matter experts understand their role within the broader citizenship programme offering.

• Finalising assessments (where needed) with subject matter experts to confirm learning outcomes. 

• Ensuring that subject matter experts be registered to gain access to the learning management system (as needed).

4) SUNOnline learning management system

• Coordinating, in collaboration with national and international subject matter experts, the development of online content for specific citizenship programmes.

• Liaising with the senior learning designer at the CSLL to load content and resources onto the SUNOnline platform, as required.

• Ensuring that online engagement take place.

• Monitoring assessment processes and timelines in accordance with the Short Course Division.

• Moderating and facilitating live online sessions – welcoming participants, introducing the subject matter expert, and facilitating the Q & A session.

5) Social media engagement

• In collaboration with the Social Media Engagement Officer, coordinating a social media engagement strategy as approved by the line manager. 

• Utilising platforms such as MFM and SU podcast series (SUTalks) to create awareness and stimulate student engagement.

• Creating innovative social media campaigns to stimulate student engagement (e.g. blogs, critical and creative writing and vlogs).

• Creating innovative ways to stimulate public participation and opportunities for intergenerational conversations.

6) Academic transcript recognition

• Pursuing recognition on the academic transcript with the support of the CSLL administrator responsible for the preparation of documentation for that purpose. 

7) Research and data analysis

• With the support of the CSLL administrator and researcher, conducting ongoing research on specific themes to be explored as part of the programme offering.

• Designing and managing feedback surveys.

• Coordinating focus groups to conceptualise new programme offerings and obtainingfeedback on the current programme offering.

• Conducting data analysis to identify key trends that will inform programme design.

8) Reporting

• Producing portfolio reports on progress with current projects.

• Compiling, in collaboration with the Head: FVZS Institute, proposals for funding as required.

9) Supervision of student assistants

• Facilitating peer-mentor training sessions, as required.

10) Finance

• Drawing up an annual budget in consultation with the line manager, and managing expenses according to budget allocations in consultation with the Finance Officer: CSLL.