On 05 August 2022, Sol Plaatje University, in partnership with the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and SUN PReSS hosted a book launch at Sol Plaatje University.
The book, entitled “Universities, Society and Development: African Perspectives of University Community Engagement in Secondary Cities”, is rooted in a collaborative project undertaken three years ago in an attempt to answer the critical question of how a new university relates to its local context to support social, economic, and cultural development while thriving for national and international excellence and recognition.
The editors, Dr Samuel N. Fongwa, Prof Thierry M. Luescher, Dr Ntimi Mtawa, and SPU’s Professor Jesmael Mataga, presented selected chapters from the book and engaged the audience on various topics such as the power dynamics characteristics of university community engagement, commercialization and urbanization of universities, language development, particularly within the Northern Cape.
“It is time we consider shifting our default position of treating community engagement work as ‘projects’ instead of impactful programmes because this is not sustainable. We need collective agency anchored on building a collaborative relationship with our communities and stakeholders towards the city and region’s development, ” said Dr Samuel Fongwa.
Sol Plaatje University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andrew Crouch M. Crouch, commended the HSRC researchers and SPU staff members involved in the project for their efforts in making this a successful project. “I am truly grateful to all the partners involved in this ground-breaking project which will serve as an important scholastic resource on how Universities should engage their communities”, said Professor Crouch.
The book discussants, Prof Lochner Marais (UFS) and Prof Saleem Badat (UKZN), were also in attendance and shared their views on the book. Prof Marais liked the book’s focus, diversity of authors and chapters and how it weaved between scholarly work and community engagement practices within higher education. Whilst delighted with the authors’ effort, Prof Badat felt the book fell short of addressing critical issues regarding the purpose of community engagement and its role in transformation within the sector. He interrogated, inter alia, how universities are leveraging their resources in and for secondary cities. Emphasising the inadequate development of the notion of place, sense of community and the public good of universities amongst most universities.
A day before the book launch, SPU and HSRC hosted a knowledge-sharing workshop in which various stakeholders across universities, communities and industry came together to critically engage on the role of the University in the community and, more particularly, to establish a common understanding of the role that SPU can play in the city of Kimberley and the Northern Cape province.
Amongst themore than three dozen participants present on the day representing different stakeholders were Ms Jeeva Munsamy (Central University of Technology), Dr Karen Venter (University of Free State), Mr Mafu Davids (Northern Cape Office of the Premier), Mr Ruan Grewan (Northern Cape Innovation Forum), Mr Tumelo Moshare (SOPRU), Dr Siphelo Ngcungama (University of Johannesburg), Mr Thapelo Mabusweni (Business Forum), Mr R Steenkamp (Rotary Club) and a number of HSRC and SPU staff.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andrew M. Crouch, opened the workshop and affirmed SPU’s commitment to community engagement as a third critical pillar integrated into the University’s strategic document. “On my arrival here two years ago, I engaged the University council and asked to make amendments to the strategic document of the University as it was missing the critical goal of stakeholder engagement’’, said Professor Crouch.
“I urge all of you present today to use this opportunity to engage here positively and respectfully with one another as this is a critical moment in the growth of your University. We are here to listen to you so we can develop our own strategic document for community engagement”, urged Professor Crouch.
Mr Mafu Davids from the Northern Cape Office of the Premier was very pleased with the efforts of the University so far but urged them to engage more. “Even though much is happening within the University around community and stakeholder engagement, much still needs to be done to realize the ambitions articulated in its strategic document,” said Davids.
