Health and Sustainable Development Subject Matter of AUF Workshop

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UKZN, a member of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) for the Southern Africa/Indian Ocean region, hosted the Regional Committee of Economic and Scientific Experts of the agency for a design workshop themed: Health and Sustainable Development.

As the first such workshop to be held in South Africa, scientific member Professor Bernard de Meyer of the School of Arts said AUF was a network of 1 000 universities worldwide, with UKZN a member of the organisation since 2010.

Delegates from Madagascar, the Comoros, Reunion, and Mauritius were joined by UKZN representatives, including the Dean of Research in the College of Health Sciences, Professor Anil Chuturgoon; the Director of the College of Humanities Doctoral Academy, Professor Johannes John-Langba; and the Academic Leader for High Impact Community Engagement within the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, Dr Sanele Gumede.

In his welcome address, UKZN Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Nana Poku remarked on the timing of the AUF visit as the University began to reposition itself to look beyond the boundaries of the country and think about its obligation to the continent. Expressing his hopes for continued dialogue and deliberations to work better and closer together, Poku said: ‘This University, with its history, has been the most pro-African university in South Africa over the past five decades. We have an obligation to reach out to the continent and partnerships like this will be the key for us to do that faithfully.’

Regional Director of the AUF, Dr Aïda Sy-Wonyu, noted how AUF was committed to interacting with sister universities on the continent. Highlighting university representatives in attendance from all the different countries that embrace various languages, including French, Portuguese, English and Swahili, Sy-Wonya said: ‘We are committed to being as multilingual and multicultural as possible. We are ready to build concrete and pragmatic collaborations and help UKZN as a member of AUF as well as establish more connections and partnerships with other African universities.’

She remarked on how Francophone was represented by more than 120 universities in Africa, saying AUF aimed to promote French as a language used in trade, providing students with better opportunities for employability.

The workshop aimed to set up a project in the field of health and sustainable development, with special attention to training, research and value creation, such as employability. It reviewed Higher Education as a crucial role player in promoting health and sustainable development through a number of levers, including initial and continuing training for healthcare professionals, research and innovation, education and awareness-raising, and the development of institutional partnerships in the service of health.

The delegates shared their expertise and the workshop strengthened the role of UKZN in the activities of AUF. In addition, the delegates were given a guided tour of the KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP) while others also attended the launch of the Aerospace Systems Research Institute.

Executive Director for Corporate Relations, Ms Normah Zondo, expressed her gratitude to AUF for choosing UKZN. She outlined several initiatives that could help the organisation engage with other South African universities and wished them success in their deliberations.

Sy-Wonyu thanked UKZN for hosting them, saying: ‘They have proven that the 14-year tie between AUF and UKZN is strengthening and that more collaborations and networking opportunities for UKZN staff and students lie ahead, beyond language and cultural barriers. Merci beaucoup!’

Words: NdabaOnline

Photograph: Sethu Dlamini