Education is often seen as the key to social mobility and economic development, so when educational leadership lacks an ethical grounding, social cohesion and South Africa's democratic project are undermined. To address this, Kagiso Trust, in partnership with University of Johannesburg's Faculty of Education have hosted a Leadership Conference.
To address this, Kagiso Trust — a development agency which is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025 — is hosting a Leadership Conference on Wednesday, 10 September and Thursday, 11 September in partnership with the University of Johannesburg's Faculty of Education, under the theme, Leading with Integrity: Reimagining ethical educational leadership for transformative learning, says the agency.
Sizakele Mphatsoe, who leads the Trust's education programme, says the online event will aim to encourage scholars, practitioners, policymakers and community stakeholders to imagine leadership practices that foster learning environments which are inclusive, sustainable and responsive to the needs of diverse communities.
"Education is still grappling with the profound inequalities created by apartheid," says Mphatsoe. "Ethical leadership is essential to navigate the complex process of transformation while ensuring that past injustices don't perpetuate new forms of discrimination or corruption in resource allocation."
Mphatsoe says that the African context will be central to the reimagining stimulated by the conference. "The leadership we need must be deeply rooted in communal values, indigenous knowledge systems and philosophies such as ubuntu."
"The conference will foreground African epistemologies and decolonial approaches to leadership, recognising that ethical transformation must be contextually grounded and culturally resonant," she says. "By drawing on African traditions of connectedness, stewardship and collective responsibility, we aim to inspire leadership that is not only ethical but authentically transformative."
Four Focus Areas
Speakers at the conference, facilitated by Professor Kat Yassim, Professor of Education leadership at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), introduces four focus areas:
- Equity, justice and inclusion in leadership: This discussion focuses on ethical leadership that addresses systemic inequalities, promotes inclusive practices and aims to ensure fair access to quality education for all learners.
- Sustainability and ethical stewardship: This focus area examines the role of educational leaders in promoting environmental responsibility, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and embedding green pedagogies in institutions.
- Community engagement, indigenous knowledge and participatory leadership: This area highlights ethical leadership that aim to foster collaboration with parents, communities and stakeholders to co-create meaningful educational experiences.
- Digital ethics and leadership in the age of AI: This theme explores the ethical implications of technology use in education, including data privacy, digital equity and the responsible integration of AI tools.
Enlightening and Inspiring
"The stakes are high. With systemic inequality, language and cultural complexities, and crisis in quality and standards, ethical leadership has never been more critical," says Mphatsoe.
"We encourage anyone with an interest in seeing education institutions being led with integrity to join us for what promises to be an enlightening and inspiring conference," she concludes.
The Kagiso Trust Leadership Conference will take place on Zoom from 14:00 to 16:00 on Wednesday, 10 September and Thursday, 11 September. Attendance is free.
For more information, visit www.kagiso.co.za. You can also follow Kagiso Trust on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, or on Instagram.
*Image courtesy of contributor