Creating ‘new ways of doing things’
UP launches four key transdisciplinary innovations in 2018-19, writes Penny Haw
WE ARE PUSHING OURSELVES TO BE RELEVANT TO BOTH THE CURRENT AND FUTURE CONTEXTS
Driven by the quest for sustainability and the demands of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), growth in transdisciplinary research offers a unique opportunity for universities to take the lead in creating new knowledge and new ways of doing things, says vicechancellor and principal of the University of Pretoria (UP), Professor Tawana Kupe.
“The university recognises this, and we are pushing ourselves to be relevant to both the current and future contexts,” he says.
As part of the move to achieve this, UP launched four key transdisciplinary innovations during 2018 and 2019, namely the Future Africa Campus, Engineering 4.0, Javett-UP Art Centre and Innovation Africa.
AFRICA’S CHALLENGES
The Future Africa Campus is a multidisciplinary centre which Kupe describes as “a continental asset for developing research that lays the foundation for civil society and the industries of tomorrow, and addresses the wicked challenges and stresses that Africa and the world face today”. Among the subjects in the spotlight are climate change, the disappearance of biodiversity, a rapidly expanding population of unemployed youth and growing inequality.
“All Future Africa research and innovation programmes are aimed at achieving a brighter future, underpinned by the ethos of sustainability, diversity and equity,” says Kupe. “And we are inviting other African countries, academics everywhere and the private sector to work with us.”
Facilities at the campus include research commons, video rooms and 300-bed accommodation.
ADVANCING CRITICAL SKILLS
A hub that focuses on 4IR subjects such as smart cities and transport for disruptive communities, UP’s Engineering 4.0 is designed to expedite critical skills that are in short supply in SA, including civil engineering, and technology and data sciences.
“The importance of this is underscored by the fact that SA has one engineer per 3,200 people, while India and China, and countries in Europe and North America, have one engineer per 130 to 450 people,” says Kupe.
In the understanding that improved transportation is essential for economic prosperity, Engineering 4.0 has partnered with Sanral and the
CSIR. The centre has access to the latest technologies for research, testing and training in everything from road surfaces to concrete to smart cars and smart public transport systems that facilitate mobility in rapidly urbanising environments.
“Engineering 4.0. also shares its resources in technology and data sciences with all our other faculties via the Future Africa Campus. This helps stimulate a convergence of expertise in everything from agriculture to artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous vehicles, big data, cloud computing, logistics modelling, synthetic biology and bioprospecting, to name a few.”
PUTTING ART AT THE CENTRE OF THINGS
Supporting UP’s academic programmes and encouraging the development of creative, flexible, adaptable minds with the emotional and intellectual intelligence to thrive, the JavettUP Art Centre is integral to sought-after 4IR subjects, which the university refers to as STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics).
“With the fast-paced shifts associated with the 4IR, what is increasingly valued are students who have mastered the six Cs, that is to think critically, communicate clearly, utilise connectivity, develop creativity, work collaboratively and embrace culture,” says Kupe.
“The Javett-UP Art Centre is the ideal space to explore and develop these.”
The art centre focuses on African art. “It is all about exploring what makes us human, what inspires us to think, feel, act, innovate and advance. It’s the story of who we are, where we come from, and the importance of Africa in the world.”
Among the works on display at the Javett-UP Art Centre are the Mapungubwe gold rhino and leopard from 900 to 1300AD and Alexis Preller’s 13metre long mural, Discovery, which was recently recovered from a disused building in Pretoria where it had been hidden for more than 30 years.
ROOTING FOR AGRICULTURE
Focusing on smart agriculture, UP’s Innovation Africa initiative will be based on partnerships with academic researchers in the broad field of agriculture and food security, and will also look to partner with government through the Agricultural Research Centre (ARC), the agricultural sector, industry, IT and the Humanities.
Again, says Kupe, Innovation Africa will take a transdisciplinary approach to co-create knowledge and innovative technologies. The aim is to develop systems of agricultural production that are resilient to climate change, environmentally friendly, promote sustainable agriculture, and easy to implement.
“Our approach is about transforming lives and transforming communities — locally, continentally, globally,” Kupe says. “The main driver lies in the fusion of knowledge for economic advancement, but equally for social justice.
“The foundation to achieve this is a university community that is sustainable, wellresourced, future-oriented and at the leading edge of research and innovation.”