This follows an extensive process where the school sought to re-evaluate and aptly reposition itself in line with the current South African, African and global contexts. This process culminated in the decision to rename the Wits Graduate School of Public and Development Management (P&DM) the Wits School of Governance (WSG).
The school aims to shape trends and influence thinking while inspiring a new generation of thinkers with the new name. "The name change allows the School to reflect current thinking whilst still retaining its commitment to building capable, developmental public administrations. The new name heralds a refreshed thinking thus creating a space to explore how the world works while analysing related regional and global trends", says Professor Thomas Mogale, director of Wits School of Governance.
Various definitions of governance encompass the disciplines of politics, policy, management, economics and development. The previous name of the School was specifically designed to respond to the prevailing paradigm of public and development administration in universities in the early nineties by defining a new praxis linking public service to development. However, current analytical trends suggest that this conceptualisation is outdated.
"The name change from Wits Graduate School of Public and Development Management to the Wits School of Governance represents more than a shift in nomenclature. Since it was conceived in 1993 to assist in the birth of our democracy, the School has played an important role in the arena of governance, policy and development management for the public sector through its research and skills development. The focus on governance is a reflection of a new phase in the history of both the school and the country as our democracy matures and the role of good governance in the public and development sector becomes vital for our future as a nation", concludes Professor Adam Habib, Vice Chancellor of the University of Witwatersrand.
For more, go to www.wits.ac.za/wsg
