Transcript Document

UNIVERSITY OF THE
WESTERN CAPE
PARTNERSHIPS:
INTERNATIONALIZATION
SUCCESS
“The new millennium offers unparalleled
opportunities for universities – as centers of
knowledge – to play a vital role in
addressing the world’s concerns.”
The Glorion Declaration, 1998
MISSION STATEMENT
The University of the Western Cape is a national
university, alert to its African and international context
as it strives to be a place of quality, a place to grow. It
is committed to excellence in teaching, learning and
research, to nurturing the cultural diversity of South
Africa, and to responding in critical and creative ways
to the need of a society in transition. Drawing on its
proud experience in the liberation struggle, the
university is aware of a distinctive academic role in
helping build an equitable dynamic society.
PROFILE
The University of the Western Cape in Cape
Town, South Africa was established in 1960
by the Extension of Higher Education Act of
1959
Number of Students registered in
2008 – 15300
Number of International students – 1187
from almost 60 countries
Undergraduates in 2008 – 594
Postgraduates in 2008 – 593
Spread of international students
by Faculty:
Arts: 179
Community and Health Sciences: 365
Dentistry: 57
Economic and Management Sciences:
214
Education: 27
Law: 69
Natural Sciences: 276
International Academics in 2008
84, in various disciplines
INTERNATIONAL LINKAGE
PARTNERS
First Agreement with
international partner:
The University of Missouri System , June
1986.
Major grants :
Over the years some competitive and in
collaboration with
partner institutions, were obtained from
international donors including the
following.: DAAD, VLIR, USAID, WK
Kellogg Foundation, Carnegie Corporation
of New York, NIH, Atlantic Philanthropies,
NUFFIC, NUFU, Norwegian Government,
SIDA, Mott Foundation and EU.
The most active agreements:
USA: Missouri, Howard, Wisconsin-Madison, Bard
College, Gordon College, Michigan State
Europe: Utrecht University, Katholieke Universiteit
Leuven, Free University of Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp,
Hogeschool Arnhem and Nijmegen, Ruhr Bochum,
Humboldt University, Konstanz University, Konstanz
Fachhoschule, Bochum, Aix Marceilles, Dordmund,
Johannes Kepler University
Scandinavia: Bergen, Oslo, Malmö, Linköping, Turku,
Åbo Akademie, Oulu, Aarhus, Oslo University College
Africa not including South Africa: Zambia, Makarere,
National University of Rwanda, Eduardo Mondlane,
Reunion
Cooperation in a Limited Number
of Disciplines:
Stanford University; Dalarrna University,
Stavanger University, Shandong University
of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dordmund
University, Braunschweig University, Basel
University, Reunion University, FriedrichAlexander University, Bergen University
College, Stord Hangesund University College,
Karlstad Universiteit, Tromsø University, Essen
Mainly Study Abroad (Exchange
and Fee-paying)
Hobart William Smith Colleges, Arcadia
University, Gordon College, American University,
Lexia International, Marquette University (including
Service Learning), NOHA programme, COREP
Programme, Hogeschool Arnhem and Nijmegen
(Service Learning), Howard University
Winter/Summer Law Programme, University of
Missouri-Columbia Winter/Summer Law
Programme
Recently signed Agreements/
Memoranda of Understanding:
Beijing Foreign Studies University,
University of Minnesota, University of
Peace, Ibadan University, Inholland
University
EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS
INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL
PARTNERSHIPS
There are several examples through which
UWC expresses its commitment as an
engaged university and in which
international partners, their faculty and
students have participated or are still
participating.:
The Dynamics of Building a Better Society
(DBBS) programme in collaboration with four
Flemish universities is funded by the
Flemish Inter-University Council (VLIR), and
enhances UWC’s ability to contribute to
development through ongoing commitment to
community engagement.
The Intercontinental Master’s programme in
Adult Education, in collaboration with the
University of British Columbia, Linköping
University and Sydney Technical
University, brings some of the world’s best
scholars in the field together with Adult
Educators working in the communities.
UWC’s Information and
Communications Technologies (ICT)
– NetTel@Africa Master’s programme in
Telecommunications and ICT Policy and
Regulation in Africa is jointly offered by
UWC and other African and US
universities.
– Is recognized internationally for its
innovative role in the creative application of
ICT to teaching, research and community
engagement. Boasting the strongest Free
and Open Source Software unit in Africa
The Theewaterskloof Project involves
students from UWC, the Hogeschool
Arnheim en Nijmegen, The Netherlands and
the Cape Peninsula University of Technology,
South Africa, in a major service learning and
community placement projects with the
communities of Grabouw and Genadendal,
South Africa.
The Institute for Microbial Biotechnology
and Metagenomics (IMBM) at UWC has been
studying the microbial ecology of the McMurdo
Dry Valley in Eastern Antarctia, the driest, and
coldest deserts in the world.
Researchers in the IMBM, in collaboration
with scientists from Chile, New Zealand,
China and the UK, are studying the
properties of hyperthermopholic
nanoarchaea, tiny parasitic cells in
volcanically heated waters from around
the world. IMBM researchers have
detected nanoarchaeal molecular
signatures in hydrothermal samples from
China, Tibet, New Zealand, Chile and
Ethiopia.
The UNESCO Chair in Geohydrology at UWC,
focuses on groundwater research and training.
Extensive research is conducted on Table Mountain
group aquifers, while the training of the African water
sector is conducted through the wide UNESCO Chair
network linked to various UN agencies, governments,
African universities and other stakeholders.
The South African National Bioinformatics Institute
at UWC is a world renowned health and biotechnology
research centre. Together with leading researchers in
Japan, US, Australia, UK, Switzerland and Singapore,
ground-breaking discoveries help develop solutions to
serious health problems in a rapid, innovative and
practical manner.
The South African Herbal Science and
Medicine Institute: Scientists form the UWC
and Missouri University Medical School
created The International Centre for
Indigenous Phytotherapy Studies (TICIPS),
funded by the National Institute for Health
(NIH) in the USA, as the only one of its kind in
the world. The Centre brings together a
distinguished team of traditional healers,
clinical, herbal and human scientists in a
unique partnership and examines traditional
knowledge systems about indigenous
medicines, seeking innovative solutions for
critical illnesses, such as HIV, TB, Malaria,
Cancer and Diabetes.
The Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cells
programme in the African Institute for
Advanced Material Chemistry at UWC,
is the only significant research unit of its
kind in the country, and is recognized as
the national flagship ‘hub’ in alternative
energy. In South Africa, the research for
alternative energy source is being
spearheaded by the Department of
Science and Technology (DST).
Since 2000 the UWC School of Public Health
has been a World Health Organization (WHO)
Collaborating Centre for research and teaching
in human resources for health, particularly to
meet training and capacity development
demands from African countries.
The UWC Faculty of Dentistry has been
designated WHO Collaborating Centre for 12
years now and an integral part of its mission is
to improve oral health on the African continent.
Contact details: Jan Persens,
Ph D, Director of International
Relations; [email protected];
Tel: +27-21-959-3340/2884;
Fax: +27-21-9592655;
http://www.uwc.ac.za