Tilburg University participated in knowledge mission to South Africa
Outgoing Minister of Education, Culture and Science Robbert Dijkgraaf led a delegation of 21 leading Dutch education organizations on a knowledge mission to South Africa from October 14 to 18. The aim of the trip was to confirm equitable partnerships between Dutch and South African educational institutions, initiate new partnerships, and strengthen relations between the two countries. In addition to Ministry officials, administrators of secondary vocational education institutions, universities of applied sciences, research universities, and umbrella organizations participated in the knowledge mission. On behalf of Tilburg University, Vice-Rector Magnificus Jantine Schuit joined the knowledge mission.
The Netherlands and South Africa have much to learn from each other in how we train the next generation for the jobs of the future. During the mission, Minister Dijkgraaf and Minister Nzimande signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in further education. Attention was also paid to the history shared by the Netherlands and South Africa as part of the Slavery Remembrance Year, and the way in which South Africa commemorates and tries to come to terms with this past.
With the knowledge mission, the Dutch Education Ministry invests in the relationship with South Africa, positions the Netherlands as an attractive knowledge partner for both South Africa and the African continent, and seeks cooperation on the topics that connect us, such as equal opportunities in education.
Photo: Visit to Usasazo High School in Khayelitsha facilitated by the NGO Equal Education
The knowledge mission was part of a state visit and an economic mission to South Africa. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima took part in a discussion with representatives of governments, higher education institutions, students, and the business community on the extremely high unemployment rates in South Africa (totaling 32%). There was joint reflection on solutions to the problem that about 60% of young people are unemployed. Students are educated but career opportunities are very limited. This is mainly due to the lack of skills training. Education is very theoretical and students in vocational education and at universities of applied sciences get very little practical training.
Opportunities for Tilburg University
A lot of common ground has been identified regarding the theme of Broad Prosperity, which is one of Tilburg University’s key themes, in particular, around the initiatives of Governance and Management for Broad Prosperity, Climate and Energy, Inclusive Labor Market, Zero Poverty and Zero Hunger. Collaboration with South African institutions in the areas of education, research, and impact offers opportunities to further strengthen and expand sustainable collaboration on an equitable basis. Topics such as open science, diversity and inclusion, leadership and governance, and challenge-based learning came up several times.
This was an intensive trip with many special and beautiful conversations and impressions. The multifaceted culture, optimism and perseverance is striking and invites us to broaden and deepen our partnership.
Vice-Rector Magnificus Jantine Schuit
Jantine Schuit: “We have learned from projects funded by NWO and the South African research funder National Research Foundation (NRF) that focus on water management, energy supply, and food security issues (Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus) because of their high societal importance. In 2024, studies on equitable energy transitions and climate adaptation will be funded again, including looking at the Dutch context and doing comparative research to reinforce each other. Information was also shared about a program starting in 2024 in which several African countries will be involved and also co-funded. In addition, we learned from the collaborative activities between other participating delegation members and South African institutions and what this may yield.
During the mission, there was also a meeting with South African alumni of Tilburg University and Tilburg University students currently in South Africa. We also learnt a lot from their experiences. Students were an emphatically important part of the mission. Among other things, student challenges were organized, the final of which allowed three student teams to present their solutions to key problems. Global Law student Eva Ruzius won this challenge with her team.”
Photo left: Rendezvous with several South-African alumni, photo right: The winners of the student challenge, including Global Law student Eva Ruzius (second from left)
Partnership
Tilburg University has a long-standing partnership with several South African universities, in particular with North-West University, Stellenbosch University, and the Universities of Pretoria and of Cape Town. As a result of this mission, the aim is to further strengthen this collaboration, broaden it, and enter into new partnerships where this may provide new opportunities. In addition to the collaboration opportunities with South Africa that the mission has opened up, good discussions also took place among the delegation members themselves.
