High-profile Belgian delegation visits South Africa
Innovation – the life blood of business, science and technology today – depends on mobility both of ideas and people, which is why the topic of internationalisation is a hot one on most universities’ agendas.
The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is no exception, and this Friday (25 October 2013) will host a high-profile Belgian delegation to explore new ways to link business and academia to boost innovation and create opportunities for local students and academics.
HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium as well as top ministers in the Belgian cabinet and business leaders who are on a joint economic mission to Angola, South Africa and India, will be part of the event, where UWC Vice-Chancellor Brian O’Connell will receive an Honorary Distinction award and Cyril Ramaphosa and Nicholas Oppenheimer will be bestowed with the honorary decorations of Commander of the Order of the Crown and Commander of the Order of Leopold respectively by the Belgian delegation.
The seminar will include talks by the princess as well as the UWC vice-chancellor, panel discussions and networking opportunities during which students, academics, government representatives and business leaders will be able to meet the Belgium delegation to explore business and academic opportunities.
The academic partnership between Belgium and UWC began post-1994 and has brought about many positive outcomes, not only for students and faculty who have travelled overseas to do research and participate in internships or programmes, but also for businesses, research and developmental programmes.
The latest visit to South Africa is as a result of the rise of the country’s status as a leading African economy as well as a member of BRICS (one of the five major emerging national economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and CIVETS (one of the six favoured emerging markets of Cambodia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey, South Africa). Although a trade mission to SA took place in 2006, it will be the first time that Angola will receive a royal visit.
O’Connell says the seminar is a significant event that points to the strong bond between South African universities and top Belgian universities, a partnership that has been very productive for UWC.
“The collaboration between the University of the Western Cape and our Belgian partners began more than 10 years ago when the university’s future was uncertain in many ways. The collaboration has helped the university to achieve extraordinary successes and academic achievements. It has opened so many doors and networks, showing the strength of partnerships and collaboration.”
Larry Pokpas from UWC Institutional Planning says the visit from the Belgian delegation is hoped to lead to more developed co-operation on various fronts, including business, as South Africa is seen as a strategic partner by Belgium. Pokpas says there has been growing interest from the Belgium side in strengthening bonds with South Africa in general and universities in particular.
“Apart from academic interests, there are also business interests, exploring internships, innovative partnerships, possibly in fields of material sciences, health and nuclear energy.” Part of the trade mission is an interest from business leaders in whether mobility of students can be assisted, not only on academic projects, but also in terms of employment opportunities and global networks.
“The idea is to link business with academia. So the mobility refers not only to the exchange of students as in traditional student exchange programmes, but also to the fluidity of ideas, innovation, and how people and ideas can move amongst one another to benefit innovation, which is an area that is underdeveloped in South Africa.”
