Since opening its doors in 2014, Sol Plaatje University (SPU) has established itself as a 21st-century, engaged university that impacts socio-economic development and social justice in the region. In order to achieve its goals in line with its strategic plan the university through its schools has launched three centres.
SPU Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Andrew Crouch says that one of the university’s strategic priorities for 2022 was to launch three new Centres. “I am pleased to announce that the Centre for Continuous Professional Development (CCPD) was launched on 8 October 2022, the Centre for Applied Data Sciences (CADS) was launched on 1 November 2022, and the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Research (CEDAR) was launched on 1 December 2022. Together with the Risk and Vulnerability Research Centre, that was launched in 2021, SPU now has four research centres to take forward some of its niche research foci”, Prof Crouch remarked.
The university launched its Centre for Continuous Professional Development (CCPD). The CCPD was established to address skills shortages in both the public and private sectors. It offers short learning programmes that will enable individuals to upskill themselves, learn continuously, and receive training in the latest developments in their respective fields of industry to improve their employability and prepare them for promotion and/or career changes.
The short courses will be offered via various platforms such as face-to-face scheduled learning, blended learning courses, remote and online courses, to aid accessibility regardless of where the participants are based. All courses are accredited by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and Council on Higher Education (CHE) and will be monitored rigorously to ensure a quality learning experience.
In developing the focus for its academic disciplines, SPU has looked to the unique needs, competence and characteristics of the Northern Cape region. SPU’S School of Natural and Applied Science (NAS) has launched its Centre for Applied Data Science (CADS) on 1 November 2022. The CADS seeks to promote interdisciplinary research and collaboration within the University and with external communities, and to promote teaching, learning, and training of applied data science to solve developmental challenges faced locally, nationally, regionally, and globally.
On 1 December 2022 the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Research (CEDAR) was launched at the SPU South Campus. CEDAR aims to create a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem intended to contribute positively to the Northern Cape economy by focusing on three objectives: pedagogy, entrepreneurship development and research. Through its establishment, CEDAR seeks to improve the academic experience of students and ultimately the standard of living in communities.
Prof Crouch added, “Next year will be the penultimate year of this current strategic cycle during which we will launch a Centre for Creative Writing in African Languages, bed down our catering and retail strategies and give impetus to our sport strategy, amongst other priorities. We have much work to do, and I look forward to working with you on achieving those goals”.
Through its centres, the university aims to realise its vision through deepened constituent engagements with its students, staff and stakeholders at large. The launch of these strategic centres seeks to build a socially inclusive university in pursuit of locally impactful and globally relevant scholarship of teaching, learning, research and community engagement.
