Sol Plaatje University (SPU) participated in the 2025 Higher Education Facilities Management Association (HEFMA) Conference held at North-West University in Potchefstroom from 13 to 16 October 2025. The conference, themed “Innovating Campus Spaces,” brought together senior executives, facilities professionals and higher education leaders to explore sustainability, collaboration and innovation in the built environment.
Representing the University were Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal Designate Professor Debra Meyer, Chief Operating Officer Dr David Kanguwe and Director: Infrastructure Project Management & Facilities Services Ms Maureen Malaka. Their participation reflected SPU’s growing role in national higher education dialogues focused on sustainable infrastructure and operational excellence.
Professor Meyer joined the Vice-Chancellors and Principals Panel Discussion on “Facilities Management as a Strategic Business Function for Institutional Sustainability.” The panel examined how universities can strengthen collaboration between leadership and facilities teams to ensure that campus operations advance institutional resilience and enable academic excellence.
“Facilities Management is not just a support function; it is a strategic pillar that enables the academic project. When the spaces where we teach and learn, conduct research and innovate are thoughtfully designed and sustainably managed, they become hubs of excellence,” said Professor Meyer.
Dr Kanguwe participated in the Chief Operating Officers Panel on “Data-Driven Facilities Management,” which explored the use of smart technologies, analytics and sustainable systems to improve efficiency in higher education. Reflecting on the discussions, he noted: “Our campuses are not just spaces where learning happens; they are systems that sustain the mission of teaching, research and community engagement. When facilities management is integrated into strategic planning, it becomes a catalyst for sustainability, innovation and people-centred growth,” said Dr Kanguwe.
The conference themes resonate strongly with the University’s current Strategic Plan, which emphasises operational effectiveness, sustainability and technological advancement as drivers of a forward-looking institution. SPU embeds these principles across its operations, ensuring that its physical and digital infrastructure supports excellence, access and inclusivity, while building sustainable learning environments that empower staff, students and communities, strengthen institutional resilience and contribute to the broader development of the higher education sector.
