Stellenbosch University (SU) values the opportunity to
collaborate with local governments through formal Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs).
The University has MOUs in place with the Western Cape Government (WCG) and the
City of Cape Town through its membership of the Cape Higher Education
Consortium (CHEC). SU also has MOUs with the Stellenbosch and Drakenstein Local
Municipalities (both in the Cape Winelands District Municipality); the Saldanha
Bay Local Municipality (in the West Coast District Municipality); as well as the
Hessequa Local Municipality and, most recently, the Oudtshoorn Local
Municipality (both in the Eden District Municipality).
The University, with its vision to
be inclusive, innovative and future-directed, and its focus on developing staff
and students as thought leaders in advancing positive social impact in society,
will now play a key role in the development of human and infrastructure potential
in Oudtshoorn. An official MOU between SU and Oudtshoorn was signed on 18 May
2018 by Prof Nico Koopman, Vice Rector: Social Impact, Transformation and
Personnel, and the Executive Mayor of Oudtshoorn, Cllr Colan Sylvester. “Through
the signing of the MOU, Stellenbosch University solidifies and enhances its
activities and initiatives in the Oudtshoorn region,” Dr Leslie van Rooi,
Senior Director: Social Impact and Transformation, said.
The strategic focus of the agreement
will be on the Oudtshoorn schools education partnership project supported by director
of SUNCEP, Dr Trevor van Louw, the Eden Arts Academy, as well as the schools
arts festival strategically guided by the director of the SU Woordfees, Ms
Saartjie Botha. The establishment of an Agri-Park that can service the needs of
the entire Little Karoo with respect to the local agricultural economy forms
the third strategic focus. The University will further support Oudtshoorn’s
strategies of implementing sport tourism, building healthy and socially stable
communities, capacitating a workforce and communities, promoting good
governance, and growing the local economy through the Integrated Development
Plan (IDP) and Local Economic Development (LED).
As with other similar MOUs, this
agreement will draw on the intellectual capital of SU and the civic
infrastructure of the municipality, through capacity building and joint
initiatives to address the development needs of the municipality. Initiatives form
an integral part of the Oudtshoorn Municipality’s IDP.
SU staff and students are invited to
establish collaborative social impact initiatives with the above municipalities
through engaged scholarship and citizenship initiatives that will benefit the
identified development areas, or any other potential areas. For further
information, please contact the Manager: Engaged Scholarship in the Division
for Social Impact, Mr Mawethu Nyakatya.
Examples of existing SU Social Impact initiatives with municipalities are
available on the Social Impact
Platform.
