Ismail to lead UCT Mandela public governance school
THE Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance at UCT has appointed veteran trade-negotiator Professor Faizel Ismail as its new director.
There will be a few months transition between current director Professor Alan Hirsch and Ismail.
The handover will take place in July.
“I am excited at the new opportunity that this appointment provides me to contribute to rebuilding the institutions of the democratic state and the capacity of the next generation of policymakers based on the values of Nelson Mandela,” said Ismail.
Ismail is a global expert on development issues, having published several books on trade and development.
He has a distinguished academic career, and is a professor at the UCT School of Economics and in the Faculty of Law.
He served as the chairperson of the International Trade and Administration Commission from 2015 to 2018 and will continue to serve in that position for the next five years.
Previously established as the Graduate School of Development Policy and Practice, the school adopted its current name in July last year, in a partnership move with the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
The School has trained 1 400 students from across Africa in leadership and academic programmes since it was established in 2011.
Its students come from all parts of society – from professionals to government officials and activists.
So far, the 1 400 alumni of the school live in more than 30 African countries.
“The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance has a very exciting programme of growth planned, that will secure its position as the most widely respected governance school in Africa,” said Hirsch.
“We have built a truly African centre at the UCT and, under Faizel’s leadership, we anticipate growing from strength to strength.”