Overview
Transformation and Equity is one of the 6 key goals of the Faculty of Health Sciences and is reflected in the Faculty's Mission Statement, which commits the faculty to "ensure that transformation promotes the development of a Faculty of equity, reflecting the diversity of society..."
There are many definitions of and approaches to Transformation. Broadly speaking, within the Faculty, we have chosen to address both employment equity issues as well as issues of institutional culture, because changing the staff profile is impossible without changing the way in which staff and students of diverse backgrounds interact and make our spaces welcoming and supportive environments that enable all members of the Faculty to realize their potential.
Similarly, equity targets and the transformation of our staff profile are critical to helping to change our institutional culture. More detail on the Portfolio's programme is set out on these pages.
For practical purposes, the definition developed by Wits' Health Sciences Faculty is a useful one that speaks to the way in which we are developing programmes at UCT:
"... a process of negotiated organisational change that breaks decisively with the past discriminatory practices in order to create an environment where the full potential of everyone is realised and where diversity, both social and intellectual is respected and valued and where it is central to the achievement of the faculties goals ..."
With acknowledgements to Wits Health Sciences Faculty