Stellenbosch to host global conference on small town universities

UNIVERSITIES in small cities in South Africa and overseas will come under one roof to discuss matters related to forming meaningful campus and city partnerships during a conference hosted by Stellenbosch University (SU).

Considered a first of its kind for South Africa, the Town and Gown Conference runs from today until Friday and forms part of SU’s centenary commemorations this year.

“Town and gown” refers to a university town’s two distinct communities, which are the non-academic and university communities.

Participants in the conference include the University of Bath, Coventry University and Durham University in England; the University of St Andrews in Scotland; Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland; Lund University in Sweden; the University Goëttingen in Germany; Queen’s University in Canada; KU Leuven in Belgium; Penn State University in the US; and Rhodes University and University of Fort Hare in South Africa.

SU deputy vice-chancellor: strategy and internationalisation Professor Hester Klopper, said: “This conference is a unique opportunity to both reflect on the past interaction between the university and the town, and also to explore new opportunities for collaboration.”

Rector and vice-chancellor Professor Wim de Villier, said the conference explores the unique relationship typical of university towns globally, which forms the interdependence between staff, students, faculties and divisions of universities and the people, businesses and governance structures of the towns and relevant cities.

“SU is proud to be one of the anchor institutions of Stellenbosch. We are deeply aware that our institution is embedded in a local ecology, and that we too have a role to play in addressing such challenges as poverty alleviation, job creation and inclusive economic growth.”