Nelson Mandela University’s George Campus will host a strategic Off-Campus Living and Commuter Student Engagement Workshop on Saturday, 18 April 2026, at the Furntech Auditorium.
Organised by the campus Department of Student Life and Development, the workshop aims to empower private student accommodation landlords and service providers with the critical knowledge and tools needed to better support students living off campus. The initiative seeks to enhance both academic success and overall well-being for commuter and off-campus students by strengthening service quality across the broader student housing ecosystem.
The programme will equip stakeholders with practical insights into how they can contribute meaningfully to students’ educational journeys beyond university residences. By fostering collaboration between the university, landlords and local service providers, the workshop aims to cultivate a more supportive and integrated off-campus living environment.
Aligned with the professional standards of the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS), the workshop draws on the Commuter and Off-Campus Living Programs (COCLP) framework. These standards emphasise the importance of ensuring that all students — regardless of where they reside — have equitable access to institutional programmes, services and engagement opportunities.
The workshop will be facilitated by Pathwayz Development and will include contributions from officials representing the George Municipality. Mahlatse Phosa, Director of Human Settlements, Town Planning and Development, and Property Management, will address participants on municipal by-laws governing private student accommodation.
In addition, the university’s Student Housing Finance and Administration division will present a session on the accreditation and grading of private student accommodation, clarifying the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) accreditation system.
International expertise will further enrich the programme through a virtual address by Dilnavaz Cama of Ohio State University. With more than two decades of experience in higher education and community relations, Cama is widely recognised for her work in strengthening town-and-gown partnerships, advancing commuter student engagement, and developing innovative responses to complex community challenges.
By bringing together key stakeholders, the workshop reflects a growing recognition that student success extends beyond the classroom — and that well-supported living environments play a vital role in enabling students to thrive academically and socially.
The event marks a significant step toward strengthening partnerships among higher education institutions, private accommodation providers, and local municipalities, ensuring that off-campus student communities associated with Nelson Mandela University receive the quality support they need to succeed.
Registration remains open until Thursday, 16 April 2026. Interested service providers and landlords may contact the event coordinator, Theo Barnes, on 063 482 1284 or 044 801 5139, or via email at Theophillus.Barnes@mandela.ac.za for registration and further information.
