Strategic partnership aims to promote higher education

MBOMBELA – A strategic partnership aimed at optimising higher-education services and support available in the province, was sealed by the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and the University of Mpumalanga (UMP) on Tuesday.

The two institutions affirmed their intent to form a strategic partnership to promote cooperation and collaboration in teaching and learning, research and innovation and community engagement which will be mutually beneficial to both institutions.

Prof Lourens van Staden, vice-chancellor and principal of TUT, explained that the opportunities for them to work together and make a difference are many and varied.

“It is a known fact that the need for higher education far exceeds the availability and young people often have to leave their hometowns to go study. This often leaves a void in the local economy and job market, since these young people tend not to return there to work,” Van Staden explained.

He said by combining the two institutions’ resources and skills, Mpumalanga can become a gateway for youth to enrol for studies that address the specific needs of the environment.

“This can be hugely beneficial to the economy and socio-economic development of the area,” he added.

Prof Thoko Mayekiso, vice-chancellor of the UMP, in turn expressed her excitement about the partnership, which was said to be the first of its kind in Mpumalanga. She encouraged future students to consider this institution as their first choice as it will allow each one of them the opportunity to help shape and be part of the history of the institution.

“Being such a young university means we have no history and that we are in the position to start fresh and create our own future. We were also fortunate to learn from well-established universities and took the best practice from others.”

According to Mayekiso they hope to have 18 000 students enrolled at the UMP by 2022.