By Ontiretse Motingwa
The North-West University’s (NWU’s) School of Management Sciences recently hosted a two-day community engagement workshop for NWU staff, as well as businesses and non-profit organisations around Mahikeng on 21 and 22 June 2022 at the Mahikeng Campus.
Prof Sonia Swanepoel, deputy vice-chancellor for community engagement and Mahikeng Campus operations, welcomed the workshop participants on the first day.
Dr Roland Goldberg gave the first presentation on community engagement, strategy, process flow and reporting, encouraging attendees to take ownership of their projects and giving them guidelines on how to run successful projects.
Nosisi du Toit from the North-West Development Corporation, along with NWU scholars Prof Marius Potgieter, Prof Liandi van den Berg (from the research entity Technology-Enhanced Learning and Innovative Education and Training, South Africa (TELIT-SA), and Dr Kezell Klinck were among those who gave presentations on the first day.
Prof Dan Metsileng opened and welcomed the workshop on the second day, thanking the team who organised the event.
During the first presentation, Kobus Joubert from the NWU’s Legal Department explained the difference between a memorandum of understanding and a memorandum of agreement, emphasising how important it is that project leaders must sign agreements with the stakeholders who become part of their initiatives.
Other presenters were Gift Ndlovu from Enactus and Dr Martin Chanza from the Global Innovative Forefront Talent (GIFT) research niche area.
“Engaged research is critical, but it must be done in collaboration with the community for their benefit and upliftment," said Dr Chanza.
During the GIFT presentation, he asked attendees to bring their research to be published. "There are options available for authoring and publishing together various chapters, articles, and conference papers," he added.
Chogi Selekanyane, a member of the Mayoral Commitee in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, and Memorie Herholdt from the Legae Child Care Centre were among the external presenters.
"On behalf of the faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to those speakers who gave valuable and strategic input during the workshop," said Prof Babs Surujlal, the executive dean of the faculty.
