UKZN and eThekwini at one on MILE

BY: .

UKZN has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with eThekwini Municipality cementing the University’s commitment to the Municipal Institute of Learning (MILE).

Started in 2009, MILE is the first local government-driven, practitioner-based institute of learning.

Driven by eThekwini, MILE aims to develop the professional and technical capacity of local government professionals on the African continent by leveraging partnerships with tertiary institutions to promote collaborative research programmes to improve the effectiveness of local government.

UKZN’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Dr Albert van Jaarsveld, said the University and the other Higher Education Institutions should be seen as a resource and as ‘responsible citizens of the city’.

Citing Singapore’s trade objectives used to develop their world class economy, van Jaarsveld underscored the importance of people achieving goals.

He echoed DUT’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ahmed Bawa, saying ‘we need to start breaking down the silos in the way that we function and operate.

‘A collective vision would give us a competitive edge to make a global impact into the future.’

The project at UKZN is driven by UKZN’s Pro Vice-Chancellor: Innovation, Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship, Professor Deresh Ramjugernath, and University Dean of Research, Professor Urmilla Bob.

The MoA was signed at Moses Mabhida Stadium with other partner institutions including UKZN, the Durban University of Technology, Mangosuthu University of Technology, the University of Zululand, the Human Sciences Research Council, UNISA and eThekwini Municipality.

Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer