SDG 1: No Poverty

As a university situated in one of South Africa's poorest regions, Walter Sisulu University plays a critical role in alleviating intergenerational poverty. Its core mission of providing access to higher education for underprivileged students is a primary driver of economic mobility. The scale of student financial hardship provides stark context for this mission, with gross student debt standing at R1.383 billion in 2022. Beyond its academic mandate, WSU has implemented a suite of direct support mechanisms to address the immediate financial and welfare needs of its students, ensuring they have the resources necessary to complete their studies and break the cycle of poverty.

Student Financial Support and Access Initiatives

WSU actively collaborates with a range of partners to mitigate the financial barriers that students face, from registration fees to historical debt.

1. NSFAS Engagement: The university proactively engages with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to address systemic challenges and resolve funding issues for the large cohort of dependent students, mitigating financial exclusion.
2. Motsepe Foundation Grant: The university secured a R1.1 million grant from the Motsepe Foundation, allocated by the Student Representative Council (SRC) to assist students with registration fees, historical debt, and challenges related to food security.
3. Services SETA Funding: The Services Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) provided funding for 236 students, covering tuition fees, accommodation, meal allowances, and prescribed books or a laptop.
4. Special Cases Project: In a collaborative effort with the SRC, this project provides targeted financial assistance to students facing acute economic hardships that threaten their ability to register and continue their studies.
5. Convocation Debt Relief Programme: The University Convocation introduced a programme specifically aimed at relieving graduate debt, which has secured over R70 million to assist graduates in obtaining their certificates, thereby removing a key barrier to employment.

Direct Support for Student Welfare

The university has initiated practical projects to address immediate student needs, such as hunger and lack of basic resources.

1. Food Gardening Project: A food gardening project was launched at the Butterworth Campus to alleviate hunger among disadvantaged students, providing a sustainable source of nutrition.
2. Food Bank Fundraising: An innovative initiative involved selling old mattresses from residences to raise funds for a food bank, demonstrating a commitment to resourcefulness in supporting student welfare.

Empowerment through Employment and Opportunity

The university has established formal policies and programmes to create direct economic pathways for its students and alumni.

1. Student Employment Policy: A Council-approved Student Employment Policy formalizes opportunities for students to gain work experience and income while studying, enhancing their skills and financial stability.
2. Grow-Your-Own-Timber (GYOT) Programme: This succession-planning initiative identifies high-achieving postgraduate students and provides them with mentorship and a modest subsistence allowance, encouraging them to pursue academic careers at WSU. This programme serves as a multi-faceted strategic tool, concurrently developing future academic staff (SDG 4), creating pathways to decent work (SDG 8), and reducing inequality through targeted opportunity (SDG 10).
3. Alumni Prioritisation: The Institutional Forum has formally recommended that WSU prioritizes its own graduates for employment opportunities and allocates a minimum of 20% of institutional business opportunities to alumni-owned enterprises.

Research Focused on Economic Development

WSU's research agenda is deliberately aligned with addressing the root causes of poverty in its regional context. The Nedbank Chair in Rural Development focuses specifically on rural enterprise development, while the "Small-scale Agribusiness and Rural Non-farm Enterprise Research" Niche Area (RNA) generates knowledge aimed at bolstering local economies and creating sustainable livelihoods.

These efforts to support students financially and materially provide a crucial foundation for their success, which is fundamentally linked to the goal of ensuring food security for the university’s communities.

Community and Global Partnerships

WSU's impact is amplified through strategic collaborations. The university maintains a longstanding partnership with the Medical University of Graz (Austria) for student and staff exchanges, fostering global perspectives in health education. Locally, WSU operates in close partnership with the Eastern Cape Department of Health (ECDOH), managing joint staff establishments and collaborating on clinical training platforms to serve the provincial community.

The training of competent health professionals and the promotion of community well-being are both founded upon the university's core commitment to providing quality education.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

Walter Sisulu University addresses the challenge of hunger through a dual approach that combines high-impact research into food security with the cultivation of innovative, student-led solutions to reduce food waste. Situated in a region where food security is a significant concern, WSU leverages its academic and entrepreneurial capacity to contribute to sustainable food systems and tackle hunger at its roots.

Research and Development in Food Security
WSU is home to specialised research entities that focus on addressing the complex issues surrounding food and agriculture in its regional context.

1. The Nedbank Chair in Rural Development: As one of the key national facilities hosted by the university, its research agenda is centred on critical issues of food security, land reform, and the development of rural enterprises, directly contributing to knowledge and strategies for sustainable agriculture and economic resilience in rural areas.
2. Small-scale Agribusiness and Rural Non-farm Enterprise Research (RNA): This Research Niche Area focuses on bolstering the economic viability of small-scale agriculture, which is fundamental to ensuring local food production and availability.

Direct Campus and Community Initiatives
Beyond research, WSU has implemented direct interventions to address immediate food needs.

1. Campus Food Gardening: As a direct, sustainable intervention, the university established a food gardening project at the Butterworth Campus, strategically addressing student food insecurity at its source.
2. Motsepe Foundation Grant: As part of a grant allocated to the SRC, "food security" was designated as a key component of the support provided to needy students, enabling direct assistance to those facing food insecurity.
3. The GreenGrow Initiative: The GreenGrow project is a flagship initiative that directly addresses SDG 2 through a multi-faceted approach combining immediate relief with skills development.
   1. Addressing Student Hunger: The project provides students with R100 vouchers to purchase healthy food, directly combating food insecurity on campus. This practical intervention is coupled with financial literacy, teaching students responsible consumption habits and how to "stretch a rand" to make sustainable and nutritious food choices.
   2. Fostering Entrepreneurial Solutions: Beyond immediate support, GreenGrow is designed as an experiential learning platform. It encourages students to develop entrepreneurial ventures that address gaps in local food systems, empowering them to build community resilience and create sustainable solutions to hunger in their home communities.
4. Community Engagement in Food Security: WSU's commitment to SDG 2 is also demonstrated through its service-learning activities, where students apply their academic training to support community-led initiatives. In 2022, Social Work students actively engaged with the community of Kwa Lindile to establish a garden project, assisting residents with sourcing funding and providing essential training. This project exemplifies how WSU integrates community engagement into its curriculum to achieve tangible food security outcomes.

Innovations in Food Safety and Waste Reduction
WSU students are at the forefront of creating practical technological solutions to combat food waste and enhance consumer safety.

1. VeriDate online scanner system: A project developed for the prestigious Hult Prize competition, designed to detect the original expiry dates on household goods. This innovation directly addresses the problems of food waste and consumer safety by preventing the sale and consumption of expired products.

Ensuring secure and nutritious food is an essential prerequisite for the broader goal of fostering good health and well-being for all individuals in society.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being

Through its Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and a wide array of community-based programmes, Walter Sisulu University is a pivotal force in improving health outcomes, particularly in the underserved rural areas of the Eastern Cape. By training future healthcare professionals and extending essential services directly to communities, WSU actively works to decentralise healthcare and make it more accessible, equitable, and effective.

Educating the Next Generation of Health Professionals
WSU offers a comprehensive suite of fully accredited health science programmes that form the backbone of the provincial healthcare system. Key programmes include:

1. Bachelor of Nursing
2. Bachelor of Medicine in Clinical Practice (BMCP)
3. Master of Medicine specializations: Newly accredited programmes in Internal Medicine, Dermatology, Chemical Pathology, and Public Health Medicine.

These programmes have received full accreditation from professional bodies such as the South African Nursing Council (SANC) and the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), ensuring that graduates meet the highest standards of clinical excellence.

Enhancing Rural Healthcare Services and Training
WSU has established key programmes and facilities that extend specialized healthcare services and hands-on training to rural communities.

1. Rural Haemodialysis Unit: The university was instrumental in establishing the Haemodialysis Unit at St Elizabeth’s Hospital, a first-of-its-kind facility in a rural setting. This initiative serves to decentralise specialised healthcare, reducing travel time and costs for patients from remote areas.
2. WSU Rural Clinical School: St Elizabeth Hospital is being prepared to host the WSU Rural Clinical School, the second of its kind in the country, further embedding medical training within the communities it aims to serve.
3. Integrated Longitudinal Clinical Clerkship (ILCC): This compulsory programme for medical students significantly improves service delivery in district hospitals by reducing the workload of rural health personnel, enhancing patient care, and stimulating the academic interests of existing clinicians.

Community Health Promotion and Education
The university's outreach and educational initiatives play a crucial role in promoting preventative care and health literacy within the community.

1. Brain Awareness Initiatives: The Department of Human Biology conducts workshops for high school learners on brain anatomy and health, with a key focus on substance abuse prevention.
2. Community Health Engagement: Health Promotion students engage in practical community work where they identify pressing health issues, such as cases of malnutrition, providing early intervention support.
3. Psychology Practicum: Through this module, psychology students provide essential psychological services to surrounding communities, addressing mental health needs at sites including schools, hospitals, and rehabilitation centres.
4. Clinical Training: Students across various health disciplines engage in hands-on community service, focusing on critical public health areas such as Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STI) prevention, family planning, mental health counseling, and immunization programs.
5. Community Based Education & Service (COBES): This mandatory module for third-year MBChB students immerses them in community health centres across the region, providing an unparalleled understanding of primary healthcare challenges and fostering a commitment to community service.

Institutional Health and Wellness Framework
WSU maintains a robust internal framework of policies and support systems to safeguard the health and well-being of its own student community.

1. Health Policy Development: Key health-related policies have been reviewed and approved, including the Campus Health Services, Infection Control and Substance Abuse policies.
2. Higher Health Grant: The university secured a significant grant from Higher Health to fund its Student Health and Wellness Programmes from 2023 to 2026.
3. MySafeSpace Application: The "MySafeSpace" web application provides students with a secure and anonymous digital platform to address mental health concerns and report incidents that affect their well-being.
4. Campus Clinics: WSU provides comprehensive Primary Health Care services to students and staff, including HIV testing, family planning, and psycho-social support delivered by a multidisciplinary team of psychologists and social workers.

Advanced Research and Innovation
The university is a hub for innovative health research aimed at solving pressing public health challenges.

1. Cardio-Metabolic Health Research: This dedicated Research Niche Area (RNA) led by Prof Nkeh-Chungag focuses on one of the region's most significant health burdens.
2. Esophageal Cancer Screening App (ECAS): A community project led by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, this initiative is a prime example of WSU’s commitment to being a "technology-infused" university delivering "impactful" solutions through a mobile application for early, non-invasive diagnostic screening of esophageal cancer.
3. COVID-19 Antibody Research: A research project explored the use of saliva samples as a less invasive alternative to blood for COVID-19 antibody testing, aiming to improve participation in mass screenings and vaccine trials.
4. Impactful Research: University researchers are highlighting the proven role of cultural interventions, such as circumcision which has been shown to reduce HIV/AIDS prevalence by 60%, as a viable public health strategy, demonstrating a focus on context-specific health solutions.

SDG 4: Quality Education

Quality education is the cornerstone of Walter Sisulu University's mission. The institution's approach is comprehensive, encompassing curriculum transformation, rigorous staff development, extensive student support systems, and the strategic integration of technology. WSU is dedicated to creating an inclusive and responsive educational environment that equips graduates with the knowledge, skills, and ethical grounding to thrive and contribute meaningfully to society.

Enhancing Student Access, Support, and Success
WSU offers a wide range of interconnected programmes designed to support students from their transition into university through to their graduation.

1. Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) & Tutorship Programme: This programme targets high-risk courses, providing a collaborative and safe learning space for students. In 2023, 270 students were appointed to various peer support roles.
2. Writing Centres: Offering extensive individual and group consultations, these centres enhance students' academic writing, research, and literacy skills. In 2022, the centres conducted 6,948 consultations across the university.
3. Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP): The ECP provides essential foundational academic support to improve student performance and success, particularly for those transitioning from under-resourced schools.
4. Academic Advising: Advisors offer tailored support through inductions, expos, and individual monitoring, helping students navigate academic challenges and plan their educational journey.
5. First Year Experience (FYE) Programme: This programme includes comprehensive orientation and induction workshops to aid the transition to university life. In 2022, a total of 5,378 students attended these events institutionally.

Academic Staff Development and Pedagogical Innovation
The university invests significantly in the continuous professional development of its academic staff to enhance teaching quality and pedagogical innovation.

1. Post Graduate Diploma in Higher Education (PGDHE): Financial support is provided for academics to enroll in this qualification, enhancing their skills as university educators.
2. Academic Postgraduate Advancement Programme (APgAP): Supports staff in upgrading their qualifications.
3. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Programme: This initiative aims to increase research output on teaching and learning practices, fostering a culture of evidence-based pedagogy.
4. Digital Skills Training: Extensive training is provided to academic staff. In 2022 alone, 680 academic staff members attended workshops on Blended Learning, Digital Literacies, and the effective use of the WiSeUp (Moodle) learning management system.

These efforts have yielded significant results: by the end of 2024, the proportion of academic staff with Doctoral degrees had increased to 30%, while those with Master's degrees rose to 47%. In total, 90% of academic staff held postgraduate qualifications (Postgraduate diploma or higher). A cumulative number of at least 113 papers and articles have been published through the SoTL programme (2022/2023), generating at least 82 publication units, with 21 manuscripts completed and submitted to accredited journals for review and an additional 31 manuscripts completed by year’s end (2024).

Curriculum and Programme Enhancement
WSU has established strong policies and projects to ensure curriculum quality, relevance, and transformation.

1. Key Academic Policies: A suite of crucial policies has been approved to guide the academic project, including the Quality Management Assurance Policy, Curriculum Policy, and Assessment Policy.
2. Language Parity Project: As part of its curriculum transformation agenda, the university has initiated a project to infuse isiXhosa into learning materials through translanguaging, making education more inclusive.

Community and School-Based Educational Outreach
WSU extends its educational expertise beyond its campuses to support the broader educational ecosystem.

1. Life Sciences Workshops: The university provides workshops for rural educators and high school learners to bolster pedagogical skills and deepen students' understanding of scientific concepts.
2. School-Based Support: The Faculty of Education acts as an anchor for educational upliftment in the region through school-based support programmes, in-service teacher development, and literacy initiatives.

Library and Information Services
The university library is a key partner in delivering quality education. It provides extensive information literacy training, offers access to vast electronic scholarly databases, and collaborates with regional university libraries through the South-East Academic Library System (SEALS) to broaden the scope of available resources.

This framework of quality education is effective only when it is accessible to all, making the university's focus on gender equality a critical and intersecting priority.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

Walter Sisulu University demonstrates a profound commitment to advancing gender equality through milestone leadership appointments, dedicated empowerment programs, and robust initiatives to combat gender-based violence (GBV). The university actively fosters an environment where women can thrive in leadership and research, while creating safe spaces for dialogue and action to address systemic gender-related challenges.

Leadership and Empowerment
WSU has celebrated historic achievements in female leadership and has established formal structures to empower women in academia.

1. Historic Leadership: Appointment of Professor Rushiella Nolundi Songca as the first female black Vice-Chancellor and Principal.
2. Empower Women in Research Affiliation (EWIRA): Officially launched on 04 December 2024 to increase the number of women in research, boost publication outputs, and improve postgraduate throughput.
3. Student Empowerment: The ECP Women Empowerment Program held an event to celebrate and inspire female first-year students to pursue their ambitions without limitations.
4. Student-Led Excellence – “Amakhosazana”: A multicultural group of female students established to promote and encourage academic excellence across all campuses.
5. Targeted Dialogues: Numerous platforms including the ECP Women Empowerment Program (2022), a webinar on “Women in Leadership” (2021), and the “Men and Women’s Indaba” at Komani Campus (2023) to facilitate open discussion on GBV and related social issues.
6. Celebrating Women’s Leadership: High-profile events such as the annual Women’s Gala Dinner and the “Women in Leadership” webinar celebrate achievements and inspire future leaders.
7. Championing Inclusivity: In 2024, WSU hosted its inaugural Campus Pride March and LGBTQIA+ Awareness Day under the theme “Pride is Equality, Pride is Excellence,” signalling strong institutional support for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Addressing Gender-Based Violence and Discrimination
WSU implements multiple platforms and events to facilitate open discussion and provide support in the fight against GBV.

1. Men and Women’s Indaba: A Komani Campus event that created a safe space for open, honest discussions on GBV, discrimination, and other social issues.
2. Human Rights Dialogue: A Butterworth Campus dialogue giving students a platform to reflect on post-independence challenges, including gender-based violence.
3. MySafeSpace Web Application: A confidential platform supporting students to address mental health concerns (SDG 3) and report incidents of GBV, bullying, and harassment.
4. GBV Awareness Events: Komani Campus Residence office organised a GBV Hiking Event and a talk show for female students to empower and educate them on gender-related issues.

Challenges and Institutional Response
WSU’s governance structures remain vigilant in monitoring and addressing gender imbalances. In 2023, the Institutional Forum raised concern regarding the gender imbalance in appointing Executive Deans (six males, one female). The Forum recommended that future appointments, such as Deputy Executive Deans, intentionally address this imbalance to ensure progress toward greater gender equity in senior leadership.

A safe, secure, and equitable environment is a prerequisite for success. This commitment to equality intersects directly with the need to provide essential resources like clean water and sanitation for the entire university community.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Walter Sisulu University actively contributes to sustainable water management through targeted infrastructure improvements that ensure water security on its campuses, and by playing a vital national role in monitoring and protecting regional water quality through its specialised research facilities.

Water Security and Infrastructure
The University has made tangible investments to improve water security and sanitation on its campuses. In 2022, WSU commissioned a new water reservoir at the Butterworth Campus, significantly enhancing the reliability of the water supply for that community. This project forms part of broader infrastructure renewal efforts that have also included crucial upgrades to sewer systems across multiple campuses.

Water Quality Monitoring and Research
WSU is a key national player in the scientific monitoring and analysis of water ecosystems, hosting a premier facility and fostering innovation in the field.

1. National Pollution Laboratory (NPL): Hosted by WSU in partnership with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the NPL has a national mandate to collect and analyse marine water quality, sediment, and biota samples along the entire South African coastline. The facility provides critical baseline information to support long-term assessment of the ocean economy and helps monitor the impact of land-based pollution. This work is supported by the university’s Sustainable Marine & Freshwater Economic Development Research Niche Area (RNA). The NPL is instrumental in building capacity in marine water quality analysis and supports recreational coastal water quality monitoring for local municipalities.
2. BlueLab – Water Quality Monitoring Kit: The university’s innovation ecosystem supports practical solutions such as the BlueLab kit, which received a grant from the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), demonstrating WSU’s commitment to developing new tools for environmental protection.

The sustainable management of water resources is a critical parallel to the transition towards affordable and clean energy sources.

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Walter Sisulu University is making a strategic shift toward affordable and clean energy, underscored by significant investments in on-campus renewable energy infrastructure and a dedicated research focus in the field. These actions reduce the institutional carbon footprint and align with the university's vision of becoming a sustainable, technology-infused African institution.

Renewable Energy Infrastructure
The university is taking practical steps to generate its own clean energy and reduce its reliance on the municipal grid.

1. Potsdam Campus Solar Project: A flagship solar PV installation comprising 486 panels across farmland, rooftops, and parking sheds. This grid-tied system has a generation capacity of up to 274 kW, significantly reducing reliance on municipal electricity, lowering energy costs, and mitigating carbon emissions.
2. Scaling Strategy: Following the success of the pilot, WSU has a clear strategic plan to extend the solar transformation project to its other campuses in Mthatha, Butterworth, and Komani.

Research in Clean Energy
WSU has formalised its commitment to advancing knowledge and innovation in the clean energy sector through a structured research agenda.

1. Renewable Energy Technologies RNA: A dedicated Research Niche Area to foster specialised knowledge and innovation in renewables.
2. Strategic Partnership: Collaboration with Stellenbosch University's Centre for Renewable & Sustainable Energy to exchange expertise and work on joint projects.
3. LEAP-RE Participation: Active involvement in the Long-Term Joint EU-AU Research and Innovation Partnership on Renewable Energy grant, a major Europe–Africa initiative advancing renewable energy research.

This transition to clean energy is not merely an environmental goal but a foundation for sustainable economic growth and the creation of decent work opportunities for graduates.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Walter Sisulu University is a key engine for decent work and economic growth in the Eastern Cape. The university prepares students for the workforce through practical experience, cultivates a culture of entrepreneurship, and supports regional economic development with targeted research and training. These initiatives aim to produce versatile, future‑ready graduates who can secure meaningful employment—or create it for themselves and others.

Work‑Integrated Learning (WIL) and Employability
WSU partners with Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) and government bodies to provide structured placements and stipends.

1. SASSETA (Safety and Security): Funds WIL placements for students in safety and security‑related fields.
2. W&RSETA (Wholesale and Retail): Supports WIL students and unemployed graduates in Marketing and Hospitality Management with professional exposure.
3. LGSETA (Local Government): Provides monthly stipends for WIL students placed in local government structures across academic programmes.
4. MICTSETA (Media, Information & Communications Technology): Funds WIL placements with media companies.
5. Eastern Cape Office of the Premier: Supports WIL placements for Mechanical and Electrical Engineering students with partners like Mercedes‑Benz South Africa.
6. Potential ECDoE collaboration: Exploring recruitment of qualified tradesmen to support technical and vocational training in schools.

Strengthening Industry and Professional Ties
The Faculty of Economic and Financial Sciences (FEFS) aligns curriculum with industry standards through strategic collaborations with professional bodies.

1. SAICA (South African Institute of Chartered Accountants)
2. AGSA (Auditor‑General South Africa)
3. CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants)
4. ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)

These partnerships provide alternate pathways to professional qualifications and ensure WSU graduates are highly valued by employers.

Fostering Entrepreneurship

1. Work‑Preparedness Workshops: CV writing, interview preparation, time management, and professional etiquette for students entering WIL programmes.
2. Centre for Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator (CFERI): Supports aspiring student entrepreneurs and SMME development; incubates inventions from WSU students and staff.
3. Global Competitions: Active participation in Enactus and the Hult Prize, building practical experience in sustainable business solutions.

Strategic Employability Initiatives

1. Graduate Employability Programme (2024): Institutional‑level intervention that pivots from curriculum‑embedded support to coordinated multi‑sector collaboration addressing regional unemployment.
2. Local Government Partnerships: Developing a graduate development programme with municipalities to create targeted employment opportunities for WSU alumni.
3. Graduate Employment Priority: The Institutional Forum recommends prioritising WSU graduates for institutional employment.

Supporting Rural and Regional Economic Development

1. Small‑scale Agribusiness & Rural Non‑farm Enterprise RNA: Focuses on strengthening economic resilience in rural communities.
2. ICT for Rural Development CoLab (with NEMISA): Provides e‑literacy and digital skills training in rural areas, enabling participation in the digital economy.

This focus on economic growth is underpinned by WSU’s commitment to industry linkages, innovation capacity, and modern infrastructure for a thriving 21st‑century economy.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Walter Sisulu University is building a robust ecosystem for innovation, supported by modern digital and physical infrastructure and a research environment that translates academic discoveries into practical, commercial applications. This commitment positions WSU as a key driver of industrial development and technological advancement in the region.

Fostering Innovation and Commercialisation
The university provides direct funding and institutional support to move innovations from concept to prototype.

1. Innovation Prototype Development Seed Fund: Supports pioneering projects focused on sustainable, practical solutions, including:
   1. Concrete Admixture from Pineapple Waste: Creating construction additives from agricultural by‑products for more sustainable materials.
   2. Asphalt Plastic Pavement: Developing alternative road surfacing material from plastic waste, addressing pollution and infrastructure needs.
   3. Modern Conflict Management Application: A digital tool designed to decolonise student‑authority dynamics and support conflict resolution.
2. Office of Technology Transfer (OTT): Facilitates grants from national bodies such as the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) and the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC).
3. Institute of Advanced Tooling (IAT): A specialised technology station funded by TIA, providing SME support for design and prototyping and delivering crucial skills training to strengthen university‑industry collaboration.
4. 4IR Awareness: University‑wide seminar to promote best practices and interrogate effective digital transformation within the WSU context.

Building Modern Digital and Physical Infrastructure

1. Digital Infrastructure: Backbone network expansion with fibre optics; campus‑wide Wi‑Fi in residences and offices; major datacentre upgrades; enhanced cybersecurity.
2. Physical Infrastructure: Construction of the state‑of‑the‑art Technopark Engineering Building in Potsdam to consolidate engineering labs and teaching venues.

These modern infrastructure investments create a secure, enabling environment for teaching, learning, and research.

Advancements in innovation and infrastructure expand opportunity across students and communities, helping to reduce systemic inequalities.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Reducing inequalities is a foundational commitment for Walter Sisulu University, deeply embedded in its mission to provide access to higher education for students from underprivileged and rural backgrounds. As an institution that guarantees access for students from the Eastern Cape—South Africa's poorest region—WSU is a powerful agent of social mobility. This commitment is further demonstrated through dedicated support for students with disabilities and active promotion of a diverse and inclusive campus culture.

Widening Access and Participation
WSU proudly serves as an access institution, providing higher education opportunities for a significant number of students from disadvantaged socio-economic and rural backgrounds. To ensure these students succeed, the university offers Extended Curriculum Programmes (ECP). These programmes provide foundational academic support, a carefully paced curriculum, and targeted interventions that improve student retention and success rates, thereby levelling the academic playing field.

Support for Students with Disabilities
Dedicated Academic Advising: An academic advisor is specifically appointed to address the unique academic needs of students with disabilities, organizing consultations and workshops.

1. Assistive Devices and Access: WSU provides essential assistive devices, braille notes, and adapted software. It also ensures that lectures and exams are held in physically accessible venues.
2. Disability Units: The university is in the process of establishing dedicated disability units and help-desks to centralize and strengthen support for both students and staff.
3. Formal Policy: The university's commitment is enshrined in the Council-approved “Policy on Students with Disabilities.”

Promoting Inclusivity and Diversity

1. The university hosted its inaugural Campus Pride March and LGBTQIA+ Awareness Day, creating a platform for celebration, acceptance, and empowering conversations around equality and dignity.
2. WSU's language policy initiatives, including the development of indigenous languages and the promotion of multilingualism in the curriculum, are designed to ensure that no student is left behind due to language barriers.
3. The large-scale project to provide laptops to all students directly addresses the digital divide, ensuring that all students have the necessary tools to participate in a technology-infused learning environment.

By fostering equity and inclusivity on its campuses, WSU cultivates the principles necessary to build the sustainable and just communities envisioned by the next goal.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Walter Sisulu University serves as an anchor institution, strengthening local communities through service-learning, community development projects, preservation of arts and heritage, and initiatives that build resilience.

Service-Learning
WSU integrates service-learning into academic programmes, enabling students to apply knowledge in real-world contexts while contributing to community development and local problem-solving.

Community Development Projects

1. ICT for Rural Development: Expanding digital access and skills in rural areas to close the digital divide and support local enterprise.
2. Albertina Nontsikelelo Sisulu Science Centre: Promoting science education and curiosity among school learners through interactive exhibits and outreach.
3. Library Outreach: Extending literacy resources and programmes to surrounding communities to foster a culture of reading and learning.
4. Family Maths Project: Engaging families and learners with practical mathematics activities to build confidence and foundational numeracy skills.

Preservation of Arts and Heritage

1. Broster Beadwork Collection: Preserving and showcasing indigenous beadwork heritage, supporting cultural identity and education.
2. Xhamela Cultural Festival: Celebrating local arts, language, and traditions to promote social cohesion and cultural pride.

Building Community Resilience
Through the Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre, WSU collaborates with communities and stakeholders on climate and hazard research, early warning, and adaptation strategies—supporting safer, more resilient settlements.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Walter Sisulu University promotes responsible consumption and production through institution-wide operational changes and innovative research that transforms waste into valuable resources—advancing resource efficiency, waste reduction, and the principles of a circular economy.

Innovation in Waste Reduction
WSU’s waste-to-value initiatives—developed within its innovation ecosystem (see SDG 9)—directly address environmental challenges with practical, scalable solutions:

1. Pineapple Waste: Developing a concrete admixture from pineapple by‑products, creating value for the construction sector.
2. Plastic Waste: Creating asphalt plastic pavement as an alternative road material that helps mitigate plastic pollution.
3. Food Waste: The student‑developed VeriDate online scanner system detects original expiry dates on consumer goods, targeting waste reduction in retail and households.

Promoting Resource Efficiency

1. WSU has significantly reduced reliance on paper by automating key business processes in Finance, Human Resources, and Academic Administration.
2. The university adheres strictly to the National Environmental Management Waste Act in its waste collection services, ensuring a clean and healthy environment.

These patterns of responsible production and consumption are integral to the university’s broader commitment to urgent and meaningful climate action.

SDG 13: Climate Action

Walter Sisulu University is pursuing a multi‑pronged approach to climate action that combines focused research, deliberate reductions in its operational carbon footprint, and community‑wide education on climate justice. This strategy reflects an institutional understanding of the urgency of the climate crisis and the university’s role in contributing to solutions.

Climate Change Research and Education
WSU leverages its scientific capacity and academic platforms to advance knowledge and awareness of climate‑related issues.

1. Risk and Vulnerability Science Centre (RVSC): A national facility hosted by WSU focusing research on critical climate change issues and providing data and analysis to inform mitigation and adaptation strategies.
2. International Open Access Week: Hosted under the theme “Open for Climate Justice,” encouraging collaboration and the rapid, open exchange of knowledge to tackle the climate crisis.

Reducing the University’s Carbon Footprint

1. Over 50–60% of WSU meetings are now conducted virtually, resulting in sustained reductions in travel‑related carbon emissions.
2. Solar Panels: Installation of solar panels (see SDG 7) represents a key investment in clean energy and a direct measure to reduce the university’s carbon footprint.

The university’s efforts to address climate change on land are complemented by its commitment to protecting vital marine and freshwater ecosystems along its coastline.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

Walter Sisulu University contributes to the health and sustainability of marine and freshwater ecosystems through specialized national facilities, dedicated research programmes, and strategic partnerships—leveraging its coastal location to advance marine science and water quality monitoring.

Marine Research and Monitoring

1. National Pollution Laboratory: A national facility hosted by WSU in partnership with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), playing a crucial role in monitoring marine water quality and building essential skills.
2. Research Niche Area: Sustainable Marine & Freshwater Economic Development established as a formal research niche, ensuring strategic focus for research and postgraduate studies.
3. Marine Biology Lab: Repurposed and completed to enhance infrastructure for marine research and teaching.

Partnerships for Marine Science

1. SAIMI MoU: WSU initiated a Memorandum of Understanding with the South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI), aimed at skills development of staff and students across water‑related fields.

The focus on protecting aquatic ecosystems naturally extends to the preservation and sustainable management of life on land.

SDG 15: Life on Land

Walter Sisulu University’s research agenda includes a dedicated focus on terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem management, supported by specialised research niche areas and field stations. Leveraging the Eastern Cape’s unique biodiversity, WSU advances knowledge in traditional medicine and ecosystem conservation.

Research on Biodiversity and Land Use

1. African Medicinal Flora and Fauna (RNA): A dedicated Research Niche Area exploring the region’s rich biodiversity for medicinal purposes, integrating traditional knowledge with modern scientific methods.
2. Land Reform Research: The Nedbank Chair in Rural Development conducts critical research on land reform—central to sustainable land use and equitable development in South Africa.
3. Research Infrastructure: Planned upgrades to field research stations at Dwesa (Willowvale) and Lwandile (Ngqeleni), strategically located in ecologically significant areas.

The effective protection of these vital ecosystems depends on strong institutions and principles of justice to govern them.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Walter Sisulu University embodies the principles of this goal through robust corporate governance, ethical leadership, transparent accountability, and a campus culture that promotes justice and peaceful conflict resolution.

Upholding Good Governance and Accountability

1. WSU has received unqualified audit opinions for multiple consecutive years (2021–2024), demonstrating sustained financial health and good governance.
2. Council‑approved policies strengthen governance frameworks, including the Employee Code of Conduct and reviewed WSU Statutes.
3. The Institutional Forum (IF) advises the University Council on governance, equity, policy, and conflict resolution—ensuring stakeholder representation.

Promoting Justice and Human Rights

1. Human Rights and Development RNA: A dedicated research niche area advancing scholarship and advocacy on rights‑based development.
2. Street Law module: Service‑learning that enables law students to provide legal education to local communities, enhancing access to justice.
3. Human Rights Dialogue: Campus events that engage students and staff on justice and equality.

Innovative Approaches to Conflict Resolution
WSU is pioneering a Modern Conflict Management Application—an innovation project aimed at decolonising and improving communication between students and university authorities to transform conflict resolution.

Student Governance and Participation
Democratic student governance structures—SRC and Student Parliament—ensure student voices are represented and actively involved in institutional decision‑making processes.

Strong institutions magnify impact by working in partnership with others to achieve shared goals.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Partnerships are a cornerstone of Walter Sisulu University's strategy to achieve its vision and contribute to the SDGs. Collaboration across local, national, and international spheres amplifies impact, shares knowledge, and leverages collective resources. These collaborations are central to WSU's mission of teaching, research, and community engagement.

Local and National Partnerships

1. Government and Public Sector: ECDoE, DHET, OR Tambo District Municipality, Eastern Cape Department of Health, DRDAR, DFFE, CSIR, NEMISA, SAPS, EC Office of the Premier, DSI
2. Peer Higher Education Institutions: UFS, UFH, UNISA, Rhodes University, NMU, CPUT, Stellenbosch University
3. Sector Bodies: SACE, SAICA, Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), and SETAs (merSETA, LGSETA, W&RSETA, BankSETA)
4. Private and Non‑Profit Sector: Motsepe Foundation, Mercedes Benz South Africa, TIA, NRF, SAMRC

International Partnerships

1. Medical University of Graz (Austria): Student exchange in medical education
2. Coventry University (UK): Curriculum development and innovative pedagogy
3. South Africa‑Sweden Universities Forum (SASUF): Joint research and innovation across 40 universities
4. HERESA Project (Erasmus+): Strengthening university‑enterprise cooperation and teaching innovation
5. Iowa State University (US): Exploring exchange, joint research, and community engagement models
6. Chinese Delegation: Engagements with the China Electricity Council on power generation partnerships
7. African Partnerships Universities Alliance (APUA): Active member advancing continental collaboration
   Southern Africa – Nordic Centre (SANORD): Member network promoting research and joint endeavors

Reporting and Educational Outreach

1. Progress Reporting: Annual publication of comprehensive institutional reports—aligned with SDG 17 metrics on reporting progress.
2. Community Education: BANKSETA‑funded project delivering digital literacy training and career guidance to Grade 12 learners in local schools.

These diverse and vibrant partnerships are fundamental to WSU's strategy—amplifying its capacity to innovate, educate, and serve, thereby fulfilling its mission as an impactful, technology‑infused African university.