They may sit in opposite hemispheres, but in the global village, borders and boundaries are no inhibitors to cooperation. The South Africa Sweden University Forum (SASUF) is evidence thereof.

From 29 to 31 March, SASUF is hosting its Sustainability Forum at the University of the Western Cape in conjunction with its 40 partner universities – including the North-West University (NWU) - from across Sweden and South Africa.

Attending the event is Prof Bismark Tyobeka, principal and vice-chancellor of the NWU, who said that the SASUF is uniting the two countries by addressing the vital question of sustainability.

“By strengthening existing partnerships and building new ones, we can ensure that we, as universities and as a country, continue to grow. Expertise can only have a lasting impact when shared, and the NWU is proud to be part of this process. Geographically, South Africa and Sweden may be more than 14 000 kilometers apart, but we share a common goal. Initiatives such as the SASUF creates an opportunity to build a sustainable and resilient future for all.”

The Sustainability Forum will tackle a host of topics through workshops that include sustainable water management for rural and urban development, as well food security in the context of climate action. Other workshops include transforming the educational horizon through dialogue about teaching and learning practices in South Africa and Sweden, the prevention of childhood malnutrition in South Africa and Sweden, wildlife conservation and machine learning, children as important partners in social transformation and change, and whether food and nutrition security – or rather insecurity – should be a concern for higher education institutions in South Africa.

This is but a few of a multitude of matters relating to sustainability that will be addressed in the pursuit of finding sustainable solutions for pressing problems.