{"id":20719,"date":"2021-08-16T11:41:47","date_gmt":"2021-08-16T09:41:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.spu.ac.za\/index.php\/womens-month-public-lecture-copy\/"},"modified":"2021-09-13T12:43:07","modified_gmt":"2021-09-13T10:43:07","slug":"spu-signs-agreement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.spu.ac.za\/index.php\/spu-signs-agreement\/","title":{"rendered":"University and City sign historic Town and Gown Agreement"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The Executive Mayor of the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality<\/a> (SPLM), Mr Patrick Mabilo and the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Sol Plaatje University<\/a> (SPU), Professor Andrew Crouch, signed an historic Town and Gown Agreement, on Friday, 13 August 2021, for the future collaboration and engagement between the city and the University.<\/p>

The event which took place in the SPU Library and Resource Centre on Central Campus, marked the first such agreement in the Northern Cape Province, between a municipal authority and an educational institution.<\/p>

This\u00a0was a hybrid event that included a limited number of guests present for the signing and was streamed via Facebook for SPU staff and students and the wider citizenry. The Mayor, members of the Mayoral Committee and the SPLM management team were hosted by the Vice-Chancellor and Principal and members of his Management Forum.<\/p>

The Executive Mayor, Mr Mabilo, indicated that the partnership between the city and the University would generate future research to address municipal challenges. \u201cAs the local authority we cannot win the battle alone and it is through these partnerships with academia, the private sector, business, civil society, provincial and national government that we are able to address systemic challenges in order to create a conducive environment for our people to live and thrive in.\u201d<\/p>

Professor Crouch stated that SPU is committed to place the institutional goals of learning and knowledge production central to high impact, public community engagement. \u00a0\u201cCentral to this is to find ways to have a meaningful attachment to the history of Kimberley and to renew its association towards building a future between city and university. One of the ways to do this is to have a long-lasting association with the city, and the diverse communities it contains.\u201d<\/p>

The establishment of a university in the city of Kimberley has resulted in significant economic and other derivative benefits for the citizens of Kimberley. In recognising this, it is appropriate that the SPLM recognises the importance of supporting the University in ways that are appropriate to the SPLM.<\/p>

In recognising the value of the University, it is also appropriate to recognise the valuable role of the SPLM in creating an environment in which SPU and all its stakeholders can thrive.<\/p>

The Town and Gown Agreement contains the following undertakings:<\/p>