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Stellenbosch University (SU) and the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) conducted a collaborative workshop on Tuesday, 2 September, to roll out plans for cooperation between the two institutions following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in February. According to Dr Samadoda Fikeni of the HSRC, who facilitated the day's proceedings at the Wallenberg Research Centre at Stellenbosch University, a key aspect was the fact that that "two powerful institutions have combined their strengths to make a contribution in the country. The research capacity of the two institutions could easily be on the cutting edge, impacting not only policy-making, but society as a whole - improving the lives of the people in this country and on the continent." Dr Kwandiwe Kondlo, executive director of the Democracy and Governance programme of the HSRC, said an example of cooperation that already exists is that between the HSRC and US Business School (USB) on a project related to democracy and business. Prof Izak van der Merwe, acting senior director of Research (Human and Social Sciences), said that the two institutions entered into the MOU with the purpose of establishing "several future cooperative agreements and provide a framework for collaboration in selected areas of research, development and administrative initiatives, staff development, student supervision, and sharing of facilities". According to Prof Arnold van Zyl, vice-rector of Research at Stellenbosch University, it was mutually decided that for the initiation of the SU/HSRC research collaboration, the focus will be on three transdisciplinary themes namely human capacity development, poverty and employment, and social aspects of HIV/Aids. "The purpose of the workshop was to roll out thematic areas where we would like to encourage the expansion of current collaboration and to develop action plans for the new initiatives." In terms of research, Stellenbosch University, he said, is repositioning itself to inculcate critical thinking, to engage in dialogue and to transform the community. "South Africa has among the highest investments in education in the world, but somewhere the pipeline is blocked. In playing a transformational role, we wish to be not only a knowledge partner, but a knowledge pioneer." Prof Van Zyl added that the process of implementation was assessed and evaluated by a joint monitoring and implementation committee. In his opening address, Prof Russel Botman, rector and vice-chancellor of SU, said that the university has purposefully decided to put science behind some of the most pressing needs of our country and the African continent at large. "We have embarked on a programme of research and knowledge pioneering what we popularly refer to as ‘science for society'. Our research programmes are honed on issues such as alleviating pandemic poverty, promoting food security, the promotion of democracy and ensuring sustainable utilisation of the environment," he said. "These broad trans-disciplinary research areas will lay the foundation for our pedagogy of hope that will be the future hallmark of this university. Incidentally, these crucial themes are strong features of the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations (UN) and in this regard Stellenbosch University is positioning itself at the heart of the international development agenda." In her response, Dr Olive Shisana, CEO of the HSRC said that she is pleased to hear that SU is aligning itself with the UN Development Goals, as Africa is not only behind schedule in reaching these goals by 2015, but in certain cases is going in the opposite direction. "The MOU will greatly assist in turning things around." For more information please contact Maryke Hunter-Husselmann, Coordinator: Research (Human Sciences), SU at tel +27 21 808 4623, or via e-mail at mh3@sun.ac.za, or Dr Kwandiwe Kondlo, Executive Director, Democracy and Governance, HSRC, at tel +27 12 302 2804, or e-mail kkondlo@hsrc.ac.za.
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