USR Month

The University Social Responsibility Network (USRN) has identified the month of October as the “USR Month”. USRN member universities around the world will demonstrate and highlight their commitment to social responsibility by showcasing their social responsibility activities during this month.

Through the USR Month campaign, universities affiliated to the USRN will be able to learn from each other’s USR initiatives as well as to motivate other universities outside the USRN to strengthen their USR initiatives. Ultimately, it is hoped that there will be increased awareness of USR, propelling a USR movement in the global higher education sector.

(Video produced by: University of Pretoria)

2018 USR Month – University of Pretoria

The University of Pretoria launched two events for the University Social Responsibility Month 2018. The first was its celebration of this international initiative on its Hatfield Campus, and the second was a photo competition held on its various campuses.

During the University’s celebration of USR Day, each of the University’s nine faculties had an opportunity to showcase one module that best reflected the University’s social responsibility agenda. The University’s community partners also attended the event and showcased their products or services, such as traditional clothes, other consumables and legal services. The exhibition was attended by members of the University’s Executive and senior management, such as the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, and the Vice-Principal: Academic, as well as some of the deans of faculties, who engaged with the exhibitors. The participants valued the interaction with the members of the University’s Executive, as well as with staff members of the various faculties and the different community partners.

The photo competition aimed to collect visual evidence about the understanding of students and staff of university social responsibility. More than 180 entries were received. The submitted photographs reflected community engagement in the University’s different departments, modules and societies. The winners included both students and lecturers.