On Tuesday, 29 April 2025, the Vice-Chancellor of Sol Plaatje University (SPU), Professor Andrew Crouch and the Premier of the NC Provincial Government (NCPG), Dr Zamani Saul, signed a MOU in the presence of MECs, Officials and Academics. They undertook to establish a close working relationship in areas of symbiotic relevance and significance for the benefit of the province
Prior to the signing of the MOU the University and the Provincial Government engaged in intensive discussions about the achievements of the University since its inception and the areas in which they can collaborate. The Provincial Government commended the University on its exponential growth over the past 10 years, on being well governed and fiscally sound; on its exemplary through-put levels; and for the positive economic and social impact the institution has had on Kimberley and the wider province.
The Provincial Government undertook to support the Talent Pipeline Programme (a highly successful pre-university preparatory programme run by SPU for northern cape learners in grades 10 to 12); to support the University in the establishment of a high performance sport academy; to engage the University for the provision of short courses for the upskilling of the Provincial Government Executives and Senior Officials; to collaborate in the area on rural education development; to fast track the issue of land transfers for the development of SPU learning centres across the province; to cooperate in the area of Agriculture studies and Entrepreneurship; and to support the University in its endeavour to establish a Faculty of Health Sciences.
The five-year undertaking will form the umbrella agreement under which SPU and different departments within the NCPG will sign Service Level Agreements for collaboration in terms of the co-creation of knowledge, capacity building, the promotion of research in the NC Province and to contribute to the creation of an evidence-base for the implementation of the Provincial Growth and Development Framework.
