Professor Vhonani Olive Netshandama has over 15 years of experience as Director of Community Engagement at the University of Venda. She is a Participatory action researcher and action learner, immersed into lifelong learning principles. A DST Distinguished Woman (Social) Scientist, Certified ELI Entrepreneurial Mindset facilitator, MIT Innovation Leadership Boot Camp Alumnus and a creator of collaborative learning spaces, I facilitate Transversal, Personal Mastery, Design thinking, Growth Mindset Programmes, that include Mental health. I have interest in Social Entrepreneurial learning of school learners and youth, Social Impact Investing, Monitoring and Reviews as well as Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Inclusive Open Innovation and benefit sharing principles across disciplinary boundary. An experienced postgraduate supervisor and multiple stakeholder facilitator of co-learning and reflective processes with an interest in higher education’s contribution to societal impact. She has mentored over 100 undergraduate students on community-engaged project-based work and has a decolonial stance in her approach to Mental Health, Wellbeing, and Education.
She started coordinating Work-based Work integrated project designed learning since 2000. She holds a PhD in Nursing Education from the University of Johannesburg. For over 2 decades, Professor Netshandama has been a lead partner in creating sustainable co-learning environments, public health and equity projects of an international stature.
