The North-West University (NWU) continues to strengthen its relationship with key provincial stakeholders following a meet-and-greet engagement between Dr Joe Molete, deputy vice-chancellor for student life, transformation, people and culture with the assigned function of the Mahikeng Campus, and officials from the North West Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation.
The department was led by its head of department Itumeleng Mogorosi during the engagement, which provided an opportunity for the two institutions to introduce their respective leadership teams, exchange views and explore areas of mutual interest.
The meeting reaffirmed the importance of collaboration between the university and the government in advancing the development of arts, culture, sport and recreation in the province.
Dr Molete welcomed the delegation and emphasised the importance of building strong relationships with government departments and other stakeholders in North West.
He noted that the NWU has an important role to play in contributing to the social and economic development of the province through its academic programmes, research, community engagement, sport and cultural initiatives.
“The NWU is an integral part of the North West community, and we have a responsibility to work with the government and other stakeholders to address the needs and aspirations of our people. Engagements such as this provide an opportunity for us to identify areas where we can work together and create meaningful impact,” said Dr Molete.
The Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation plays an important role in promoting participation and development in sport and recreation, while also contributing to the preservation and promotion of the rich cultural heritage of the province.
Itumeleng welcomed the opportunity to engage with the NWU and highlighted the value of stronger institutional partnerships in creating opportunities for young people across the province.
“We welcome this partnership with the university, and we will continue to work together in different programmes short term and long term to ensure that the youth of our province benefit from this partnership,” he said.
The engagement also comes at an important time for sport at the NWU, following the continued investment of the university in the development of its sporting programmes and the progress of the NWU FC, which is set to compete in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
The sporting and cultural activities of the university provide an important platform for developing talent, promoting healthy lifestyles and creating opportunities for students and young people to participate in activities that contribute to their holistic development.
Beyond sport, the engagement also opened possibilities for collaboration in the areas of arts and culture, including initiatives that promote the heritage, creative industries and cultural identity of the province.
The two parties acknowledged that closer cooperation could help maximise existing resources, expertise and infrastructure while creating sustainable opportunities for communities and young people.
The meet-and-greet further demonstrated the commitment of the NWU to maintaining constructive relationships with provincial government structures and ensuring that the university remains an active partner in the development of North West.
Through continued dialogue and collaboration, the NWU and the Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation can contribute to creating an environment in which sport, arts and culture become powerful vehicles for youth development, social cohesion and community empowerment.
The engagement concluded on a positive note, with both parties expressing their commitment to continued interaction and exploring practical areas of collaboration that will benefit the university and communities across North West.
The NWU had a meet-and-greet engagement with officials from the North West Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation.
