From diversity to cohesion: reimagining academic culture through collaboration

College of Economic & Management Sciences

“We should unite, appreciate the contributions of others and embrace enterprise contribution, which places a strong emphasis on making accommodations for people to advance and strategically shape the course of the academic endeavour.” – Dr Betty Portia Maphala, Chair of Department

In a continued effort to foster inclusive academic environments, the Department of Industrial and Organisational Psychology recently hosted a session titled “From diversity to cohesion”. The event invited staff and scholars to reimagine the way different generations and different levels engage within the university space.

The discussion, which built on earlier dialogues held in March, explored how institutional diversity can be transformed into a strength that drives cohesion, growth and innovation.

A central theme was the recurring tension in higher education between the “Old Guard”, who bring depth, legacy and continuity, and the “New Guard”, who value agility, bold questions and fresh approaches. Rather than treating these as competing forces, the session promoted a shared vision – one that normalises collaboration, facilitates the exchange of knowledge across levels and encourages collective guardianship of both students and ideas.

At the heart of this vision lies a three-step integration framework: Welcome, Grow, Thrive. This approach emphasises warm, inclusive orientations; structured collaboration circles involving senior and emerging academics, postdoctoral fellows and graduate assistants; and reflective, outcome-driven engagements. These touchpoints are designed to cultivate relationships based on curiosity, active listening and joint problem-solving.

As a call to action, the department has already introduced practical initiatives such as group mentoring, open-door office hours and short knowledge-sharing clips. These accessible practices are helping to dismantle silos and encourage knowledge exchange across academic levels.

Acknowledging the university’s growth prospects, the session underscored that operationalising and improving academic capabilities are critical, especially when staff and scholars embrace opportunities to increase efficiency and collaboration.

As the university continues to evolve, “from diversity to cohesion” serves as a timely reminder that meaningful academic transformation is not only about who is included but also about intentionally creating spaces where everyone feels welcome and can contribute, grow and thrive.

** Compiled by Victoria S Springbok, industrial and organisational psychologist, registered psychometrist and management consultant, College of Economic and Management Sciences, Department of Industrial and Organisational Psychology, with input from ChatGPT.

Publish date: 2025-10-30 00:00:00.0

College of Economic & Management Sciences

From diversity to cohesion: reimagining academic culture through collaboration

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