by Phaphama Tshisikhawe
The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), represented by Dr Shadrack Nthangeni, Executive Director of Student Affairs and Extracurricular Development (SAED), was counted among 20 other South African universities that participated in the 2025 Dream Conference held at the Pennsylvania Convention Centre in Philadelphia, USA, in February 2025.
DREAM is the annual convening of the Achieving the Dream (ATD) Network. This flagship conference brings together more than 2,000 influential educators, policymakers, investors, thought leaders and practitioners from more than 300 colleges throughout the country to facilitate an exchange of ideas about strategies, measures, interventions and catalysts for the enhancement of student success.
ATD hosted the DREAM conference around four key themes:
- Access: to eliminate barriers and connect more community members of all ages to high-value educational opportunities at community colleges.
- Momentum: to address inequities that prevent timely progress through college and connection to workforce and transfer opportunities.
- Mobility: to provide economic security for students and their families, particularly Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC), poverty-impacted, and other marginalized communities.
- Community Vibrancy: to catalyze more equitable and economically vibrant communities and drive shared prosperity.
Dr Shadrack Nthangeni, Executive Director for SAED attending the DREAM Conference in Philadelphia, USA.
According to Dr Nthangeni, the event provided an opportunity for TUT to gain new perspectives, tools and resources to lead constituencies with renewed vigour and insight.
Other South African institutions in attendance included the University of Venda (UNIVEN), University of Mpumalanga (UMP), Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU), Universities South Africa (USAF), Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the South African Institute for Distance Education (SAIDE).
South African senior delegates also participated in bilateral meetings which took place at the campus of the Community College of Philadelphia
Some of the topics presented at the conference include Unveiling the Impact of Open Educational Practices and Culturally Responsive, AI in the classroom, revolutionising teaching and learning and student success, as well as Making Data a part of decision making to support your core team to name a few.
“We connected with peers, learned from experienced leaders and we returned equipped and inspired,” said Dr Nthangeni.
Dr Shadrack Nthangeni flanked by delegates from South Africa.