CUMU Conference 2019

In November 2017, the Kresge Foundation awarded the University of Pretoria and Rutgers University-Newark a twelve month planning grant towards the development of a project known as "The Mamelodi Collaborative" in their respective communities of Newark and Mamelodi. The planning phase, which ended December 2018 identified five niche areas in which the partners could intervene in their respective anchor roles in their communities as well as conduct comparative studies: Broadening Educational Pathways for Post-Secondary School Attainment; Science and the Urban Environment; Leveraging the Arts and Culture, Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods as well as Entrepreneurship and Economic Development

This is a case study report on the niche area "Broadening Educational Pathways for Post- Secondary School Attainment" as applied to the Mamelodi Campus of the University of Pretoria. Inter-faculty collaboration within the university has involved multi-scalar research and transdisciplinary community-based projects addressing access to quality early childhood education on one end, and access to university on the other through a Pre-University Academy (PUA) in STEM academic enrichment.

Partnership with ECD Principals, High School Principals, the Local Government and the departments of Education, Science and Technology and Social Development has been established within the newly formed Mamelodi Community of Learning Collaborative (MCLC) to further the original intention of the Kresge Foundation to support the University’s development of an anchor strategy.

The models developed, their sustainability and lessons learnt from the partnership with Rutgers University-Newark, the role of each of the faculty partners, students and narratives from learners and community members are provided.