The North-West University (NWU) held a Community Engagement Showcase on 30 September 2024 on the Mahikeng Campus to celebrate the impact projects that have been implemented in the NWU’s 20 years of existence.
Highlighting the NWU’s commitment to apply academic knowledge to address community needs, the event showcased the various projects through posters and stalls, and featured discussions on ongoing projects. These discussions aimed to highlight the university's role in harnessing the expertise of its three campuses to benefit the broader society.
Prof Sonia Swanepoel, deputy vice-chancellor for community engagement and Mahikeng Campus operations, emphasised the importance of mutual learning between the NWU and the communities it serves.
"We firmly believe that knowledge-generating and knowledge-sharing should not be a one-sided affair. As much as we share our research findings and innovative ideas with society, we make it our business to engage with our communities to learn from and be taught by them," she said.
The showcase featured contributions from the NWU’s faculties, and attendees had the opportunity to explore a variety of initiatives, from local agricultural programmes to health interventions and educational outreach.
Faculty members stood by their stalls, discussing their work with curious visitors, while community leaders shared their experiences in collaborating with the university. The visual display of ideas and research provided a tangible sense of the NWU’s ongoing impact.
Prof Bismark Tyobeka, NWU principal and vice-chancellor, spoke about the university’s 20-year journey in community engagement, reflecting on its growth. He traced the formalisation of these efforts to the 1997 White Paper on Higher Education, which shaped the NWU's policies on working with communities.
Despite the challenges of limited funding and resources, Prof Tyobeka highlighted several milestones, including the establishment of a Community Engagement office and the alignment of the NWU’s projects with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
"Sixty percent of our community engagement projects now have monitoring and evaluation tools, which help us measure their success and ensure that we adapt to the changing needs of the communities we serve," he said. He stressed the importance of ethical clearances for research projects and called for more consistent funding and partnerships with private sector organisations to ensure sustainability.
Other speakers at the showcase included Pastor Piet Tlhabanyane, an NWU Council member, Kgosi Thari Maotwe from the House of Traditional Leaders, Mike Gcaba, an NWU alumnus and businessman, and Dr Margaret Irvine from Rhodes University.
They all echoed the importance of collaboration and highlighted the role of community engagement in tackling critical issues such as unemployment and food security. Their insights added to the growing conversation on how universities such as the NWU can continue to serve its communities by addressing local challenges.
Prof Bismark Tyobeka, NWU principal and vice-chancellor, addresses the audience at the NWU’s Community Engagement Showcase.
Prof Sonia Swanepoel, deputy vice-chancellor for community engagement and Mahikeng Campus operations, emphasises the importance of mutual learning between the NWU and the communities it serves.
Prof Bismark Tyobeka at one of the stalls at the Community Engagement Showcase.
