Student Leadership Benchmarks Governance Practices in South Africa
The NUST Students’ Representative Council (SRC) undertook a benchmarking visit to three leading South African universities to strengthen student governance and identify practices that could enhance student representation at NUST.
The visit, undertaken in partnership with the Department of Student Services, included engagements with student leadership structures at the University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University and Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
Discussions focused on student governance, constitutional frameworks, leadership, communication, student welfare, fundraising, financial sustainability and institutional cooperation. The engagements also provided an opportunity for NUST student leaders to exchange experiences and reflect on best practices that could be adapted to the NUST context.
The benchmarking exercise comes at an important time as the NUST SRC prepares to review and amend its Constitution.
SRC President Jerome Nanuseb said the engagements demonstrated the value of collaboration and learning across institutions.
“We returned with practical insights, stronger partnerships, and a deeper understanding of constitutional best practices that will help shape a governance framework fit for the future.”
He added that effective student leadership is about learning from established practices and adapting them to better serve students.
The visit is expected to inform practical governance reforms, strengthen institutional partnerships and contribute to a more responsive and effective student leadership structure at NUST.
