Despite a long history of rivalry between Stellenbosch University (SU) and the University of Cape Town (UCT), these two institutions would be able to more easily overcome modern and unique challenges if they worked together.
This was according to Professor Mosa Moshabela, the newly appointed vice-chancellor of UCT. Moshabela was speaking at the SU vice-chancellor’s annual lecture series on 26 August.
The lecture, titled “Cooperation is the New Competition: The Future of Sustainable Higher Education in South Africa”, was delivered in the hopes of bringing the two institutions, SU and UCT, closer, according to an SU press release. The speech formed part of the SU Vice-Chancellor’s Annual lecture series, according to the press release.
The lecture given by professor Mosa Moshabela, UCT vice-chancellor, was held at the Stellenbosch University Museum on 26 August. PHOTO: Nic Gleeson
A ‘tough’ but necessary proposal
“At Stellenbosch University, we recognise the importance of working together across the universities within our region and then also across the continent,” said Professor Hester Klopper, deputy vice-chancellor of strategy, global and corporate affairs at SU, during her welcome speech.
During the event, SU’s vice-chancellor, Wim de Villiers, stated that collaboration in higher education is not just timely, but necessary, although it is a “tough ask”.
“We can’t really draw from our individual strength only […] We need to pull together,” Moshabela said, during his speech.
Moshabela stated that universities have a responsibility to set an example for the rest of the country.
“We are seen as we should be; as the brain trust of the nation. And if we are going to fight over who is the best in the country […] then let’s take those privileges but also let’s take the responsibilities that come with that,” he said.
University of Cape Town vice-chancellor, Mosa Moshabela, during a sit down interview with Professor Sibusiso Moyo, deputy vice-chancellor of research, innovation and postgraduate studies at Stellenbosch University (SU),which followed on his recent lecture as part of the SU vice-chancellor’s annual lecture series. PHOTO: Nic Gleeson
Lectures to learn from
The UCT vice-chancellor’s annual lecture series began at SU in 2018, coinciding with the university’s centenary, according to De Villiers.
The series of lectures is jointly coordinated by SU’s Centre for the Study of the Afterlife of Violence and the Reparative Quest (AVReQ) and the SU Centre for Collaboration in Africa (CCA), and is hosted by De Villiers, according to the press release.
“The lecture [given by Moshbela] [was] hosted by Prof Wim de Villiers and Prof Pumla [Gobodo-Madikizela] with the Centre for Collaboration in Africa jointly [organising] the event on his behalf,” said Westley Caesar, senior research coordinator at AVReQ.
“The primary objectives of the lecture series are to facilitate knowledge exchange, stimulate critical thinking, and promote interdisciplinary dialogue,” according to the press release.