Lending a helping hand
Another important aspect of the MOU was the establishment of the International Community Volunteer Group to conduct voluntary community projects in Mahikeng and surrounding areas.
“Although the MOU initially only focused on the Mafikeng Campus with particular emphasis on agricultural development in terms of food security, it will now also include the NWU’s other campuses and projects,” says Theo Bekker. Theo is the director for strategic projects in the office of the vice-chancellor and also the coordinator of the NWU/South Korean projects.
This follows the decision in 2015 of Prof Dan Kgwadi, vice-chancellor, to re-align the projects to include all three campuses.
The delegation led by Prof Yun Tae Seoup visited more than 18 community projects in the Potchefstroom and Vaal Triangle areas. These included the Mosaic projects, Bafenyi New Life Day Care Centre, Dan Tloome Primary School, and aviation, animation and business projects.
The NWU’s many successful community outreach projects impressed the delegation, especially the Student Rag Community Service (known as SJGD) projects on the Potchefstroom Campus. These projects are managed and coordinated solely by students.
Taking it one step further
“The mayor of the Tlokwe Municipality, Councillor Kgotso Khumalo, also visited some of the projects and suggested that we should investigate the viability of transforming some of them into commercial enterprises,” says Theo. The NWU and Hanseo University have decided that International Community Volunteer projects will be established on all three NWU campuses. There will also be an emphasis on community work within student portfolios.
Setting up shop
“We are also looking into which South Korean businesses can be set up in South Africa. This includes investment and training opportunities, aviation-related businesses, and ceramic tile and meat supply-related businesses in the Mahikeng, Potchefstroom and Vanderbijlpark areas,” says Theo.
“We can learn a lot from our South Korean colleagues. South Korea is an excellent example of how community involvement can transform a country into one of the leading global economies. They are an inspiration.”
The South Korean delegation has invited six NWU students to visit the Hanseo University in July this year.
Lending a helping hand
Taking it one step further
Setting up shop
Students from the South Korean delegation, accompanied by Potchefstroom Campus students, visited the Dan Tloome Primary School in Ikageng.
The South Korean delegation was lead by Prof Yun Tae Seoup (left). With him is Theo Bekker, director for strategic projects in the office of the vice-chancellor, Prof AHN Dong Muan and Prof Kwon OH Hyung.
Students from the South Korean delegation, accompanied by Potchefstroom Campus students, visited the Dan Tloome Primary School in Ikageng.
Students from the South Korean delegation, accompanied by Potchefstroom Campus students, visited the Dan Tloome Primary School in Ikageng.
Students from the South Korean delegation, accompanied by Potchefstroom Campus students, visited the Dan Tloome Primary School in Ikageng.
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A special visit from the East
The NWU’s Potchefstroom and Vaal Triangle campuses have received a special visit from a delegation of 18 representatives from the Hanseo University of Seosan in South Korea.
The visit is a continuation of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that was signed between the NWU and Hanseo in 2007. The MoU entailed the exchange of academics, students, collaboration in community projects and the presentation of leadership seminars.
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