As part of the commitment of the North-West University (NWU) to community engagement and knowledge sharing, the School of Languages in Education, together with the School of Psycho-Social Education, recently visited the Groenpunt Management Area of the Department of Correctional Services to engage and inspire female staff on leadership, education and personal development.

The NWU delegation comprised Dr Melody Mtimkulu, deputy school director at the School of Languages in Education, Dr Sibongile Dlamini, Mrs Mokoena, Ms Nomsa Kubheka Mohosho and Ms Pulane Tshabalala from the School of Psycho-Social Education. The delegation contributed to the programme as speakers, sharing their knowledge and expertise on leadership, education, personal development and women’s empowerment.

Held at the Groenpunt Correctional Services mess Hall, the engagement was hosted by the Groenpunt Management Area Women’s Forum under the theme “Empowered women empower nations’’.
The discussions focused on women’s leadership journeys, the importance of education and continuous learning, gender-responsive governance, and the value of multi-sectoral collaboration between the government, academia, the private sector and civil society.

According to Lele Radipolane from the Groenpunt Management Area, the engagement provided a meaningful platform for female staff to reflect on their leadership potential and personal development.
The speakers encouraged participants to reflect on their individual leadership journeys – including the challenges they had overcome, their achievements and the lessons they had learnt along the way.

Education was highlighted as an important tool for empowerment, with the discussion emphasising how continuous learning and personal development can build confidence and equip women with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue leadership opportunities.

Dr Mtimkulu, who was the main guest speaker, said education should be viewed as an ongoing journey of personal and professional growth. The engagement also explored the importance of women’s participation and representation in decision-making processes and leadership structures. Participants were encouraged to recognise their voices, experiences and perspectives as valuable contributions to their workplaces and wider communities.

The NWU speakers shared perspectives on the importance of women recognising their leadership potential and using their knowledge and experiences to contribute meaningfully to their organisations and communities.

The discussion further highlighted the importance of collaboration across sectors in creating opportunities for women and addressing challenges affecting institutions and communities.

The visit formed part of the broader commitment of the NWU to community engagement, which seeks to build meaningful partnerships and use the knowledge, expertise and resources of the university to contribute to positive social development.