Partnership Mindset beyond the University

Written by Vanessa Noble

In July 2018, I commenced my position as a 21 Student Curriculum Partner. Although I had only a vague idea about the nature of our work, I quickly discovered that this role was unlike any other I had held before! I immediately discovered the direct influence we have as students in these positions and the opportunity to interact with senior staff and academics more as colleagues than as students. This was an extremely empowering thing to experience and the term ‘Partnership Mindset’ - a term coined by Hassan, one of the SAPS, to describe his approach to work outside the University - has started to make much more sense. It got me thinking how I could carry this mindset into my various commitments outside of university and I started to realise that I was already using this mindset to assist in the planning of a float for Mardi Gras with the community group I was working with.

For those that don’t already know, there is enormous energy and planning that goes into getting a float ready to hit Oxford Street for Mardi Gras: the costumes, truck, music, choreography, recruitment of marchers, and most important of all: where does the funding come from? Through my involvement with the community group WOD OUT, a fitness community that empowers the LGBTIQ+ community through physical activity, I collaborated with 10 people to bring this inaugural float together. Through the process, I learnt why and how to co-ordinate effort, to negotiate different views and ideas, and that for this mammoth task to happen, everyone needed to appreciate each other’s roles, efforts and expertise. This brings me back to the idea of Partnership Mindset via the 21C project.

We have to work with a diverse range of students, staff and academics to achieve the collective goal of transforming and improving curriculum for students.

In my float organising committee, we all came from diverse backgrounds and all had varying knowledge and skill-sets to bring to the table. We were all united by our commitment to fitness and the desire to have a float in Mardi Gras to demonstrate this love of fitness and our community. By having a Partnership Mindset approach, I was able to appreciate everyone’s unique contribution; I valued my own contribution and brought my experience to the table. In the end, we managed to execute an amazing float!