United States (US) Consulate General Vincent Spera visited the North-West University (NWU) on 2 February 2022 as part of his three-day visit to the North West province to explore possible areas for collaboration and investment.

Accompanied by Mahikeng Municipality mayor Tshepiso Mphehlo, Mr Spera and his delegation were hosted by NWU acting vice-chancellor Prof Linda du Plessis, and deputy vice-chancellor for community engagement and Mahikeng Campus operations, Prof Sonia Swanepoel.

During the engagement Prof Du Plessis indicated that the NWU actively explores opportunities for students in the area of research and student exchange programmes.

“Collaborative research is one of the indicators of the university, so we always look forward to engagements of this nature,” she added.

According to Mr Spera facilitating the establishment and deepening of South African and US university partnerships is a priority for their mission. 

“We want to explore avenues of collaboration with educational institutions in the North West province through our cultural and/or academic exchange programmes and grant opportunities - such as the Fullbright programme,” he added. 

More about the US Consulate General

Mr Spera heads the US Consulate General in Johannesburg, a branch of the US diplomatic mission to South Africa. He is responsible for exploring areas for collaboration and investment in the North West, Free State, and Gauteng provinces. 

Before this assignment, he was director of the Office of African Affairs at the US Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour. From 2017 to 2019 he served as acting director of the Department’s Office of East African Affairs. 

From the left are United States Consulate General Vincent Spera, NWU deputy vice-chancellor for community engagement and Mahikeng Campus operations, Prof Sonia Swanepoel, and Mahikeng mayor Tshepiso Mphehlo.