Culture as Catalyst for Building Inclusive, Innovative, and Resilient Communities
Paper Presentations
Online
12:00
20 March 2025
This online paper presentation discusses how culture can drive social transformation and build inclusive, innovative, and resilient communities. Based on the LIV project—a collaboration between VUC Storstrøm in Denmark and Stellenbosch University in South Africa—the study gathered insights from 20 students (10 from Denmark and 10 from South Africa) and 8 educators. Through structured dialogues, storytelling, and digital tools, the project improved cultural awareness, critical thinking, and digital literacy, while fostering cross-cultural understanding.
Targeting educators, students, and community leaders, the session outlines key objectives, demonstrating how cultural experiences enhance appreciation of diversity, build essential skills, and promote meaningful dialogue and storytelling. It emphasizes the importance of global citizenship and social responsibility. Drawing on transformative learning, critical pedagogy, and experiential learning theories, this online presentation offers practical insights that individuals can apply to create communities that are resilient, innovative, and welcoming to everyone.
Ruth Andrews
Kate Meredith
Ruth Andrews
Ruth Andrews is a visionary leader in experiential learning, higher education strategy, and social justice advocacy. With a career spanning curriculum innovation, institutional change management, and global partnership cultivation, she has established herself as a thought leader in transformative education.
As the Head of Experiential Learning at Stellenbosch University, Ruth has pioneered innovative pedagogies that integrate experiential education with critical thinking, advocacy, and competency-based learning. She has led the development of interdisciplinary curricula, spearheaded international collaborations, and designed assessment frameworks that shape future-ready graduates. Her leadership in launching the Stellenbosch University Experiential Education Conference (SUEEC), the SU-Danish LIV Globus Project and various cross-sector initiatives has solidified her influence in global education networks.
A PhD and MBA graduate from Rhodes University, Ruth’s research explores higher education leadership and institutional transformation. She has published on experiential learning as a tool for social justice, curriculum design, and leadership development. She is a founding member of Experiential Education as Ubuntu, Shared Humanity: Lessons in Critical Thinking, and the Social Justice and Equality Law Educators’ Association (SOJELEA), further demonstrating her commitment to equity-driven education.
Recognized for her strategic acumen, mentorship, and innovative approaches, Ruth actively contributes to leadership development and global discourse on transformative education and sustainable development. Her passion lies in bridging academia and real-world impact to create inclusive, future-oriented learning ecosystems.
Kate Meredith
Kate Meredith serves as the Full-Time MBA Education Program Senior Specialist at The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business. A dependable higher education professional, Kate has expertise in experiential learning program design, delivery, and evaluation. Kate holds a Bachelor of Education and an Honours Degree in Educational Development and Democracy from Stellenbosch University, where she graduated cum laude.
Kate is passionate about using experiential learning to drive positive change and innovation. With a strong background in designing and facilitating experiential learning initiatives, Kate has worked with students at every stage of their academic journey, from application to graduation, creating impactful educational experiences that foster growth and success.
