UCT collaborates in global programme to tackle inequality
LSE, The Atlantic Philanthropies to partner in 20-year fellowship
An ambitious programme, designed to build a global community of leaders dedicated to changing policy, practice and public dialogue around inequalities, has been announced by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), The Atlantic Philanthropies and the University of Cape Town.
“The Atlantic Fellows programme is the most exciting initiative in leadership development in decades, and we are thrilled to be participating in it,” said Professor Alan Hirsch, Director of UCT’s Graduate School of Development Policy and Practice (GSDPP). The GSDPP was established to develop strategic abilities across Africa to enable government, non-profits and the private sector to combat inequality.
The GSDPP is part of UCT’s Poverty and Inequality Initiative, which is a collaborating partner in the Atlantic Fellows programme with the London School of Economics’ International Inequalities Institute
“Despite the strengthening of democracy in Africa, inequality is a growing challenge, especially in the many African countries that depend on natural resource exports,” said Prof Hirsch.
Recognising that academic training in this field is meaningless if not applied, the GSDPP’s teaching staff includes practitioners with deep, high-level experience in the public sector, versed in dealing with real-world problems of policy development. The school also promotes co-operation between leaders in government and other fields such as academia, business and civil society.
Professor Murray Leibbrandt, UCT’s pro-Vice Chancellor for Poverty and Inequality, said: “We seek to orient and infuse our classrooms and our research with the realities and challenges of our society and to work with our students to empower them for a lifelong contribution to overcoming these challenges.”
“With its forward-looking vision anchored in long-term support for and learning from each cohort of Atlantic Fellows, the Atlantic Philanthropies and LSE share, complement and extend that vision,” said Prof Leibbrandt.
Contacts:
Alan Hirsch at (27) (82) 773 6922 Murray Leibbrandt at (27) (72) 221 1435 alan.hirsch@uct.ac.za murray.leibbrandt@uct.ac.za
LSE Press Release: Atlantic Fellows programme