Things are happening

In the heart of Cape Town, a group of passionate individuals recently gathered at Africa's greenest hotel known as Hotel Verde for a transformative Designing for Social Justice Partnership writing retreat. This 2 day event from 1 February to 2 February 2024 was filled with collaborative planning and brainstorming, setting the stage for an upcoming stimulating short course scheduled for April. The retreat not only embraced the serene surroundings of Hotel Verde but also fostered an environment of creativity, innovation, and commitment to bringing a short course that can advocate for the potential for co-creation in learning design and continue with the Students as Partners model.

Hotel Verde, known for its commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices, provided the ideal backdrop for the Designing for Social Justice retreat. The lush greenery and modern architecture set the tone for a day of inspiration and forward-thinking. 

The retreat kicked off with a collaborative planning session. The goal was to brainstorm ideas and strategies for developing a compelling short course that would delve into co-creation and Student Staff Partnerships (SSP) in the context of social justice.  

Throughout the day, several key themes emerged as focal points for the short course. These included:

1. Co-creation in learning design 

2. Student/staff partnerships 

3. Co-design 

The Designing for Social Justice writing retreat posed beneficial as the DSJP team were able to create an impactful short course for meaningful change in the Higher education space. As the writing retreat concluded, the excitement for the upcoming short course in April was palpable. The collaborative efforts and insights gained during the retreat would serve as the foundation for a course that promises to inspire and equip participants to be agents of positive change through their co-creation and co-design practices.