The South Africa-Canada Universities Network (SACUN) formalises a long-standing relationship
The inaugural webinar or South Africa-Canada Universities Network (SACUN) on Thursday, 5 September, was launching a relationship that started in April 2023 with a visit to Canada, of a South African delegation comprising vice-chancellors, representatives of science councils and funding agencies including the National Research Foundation — Dr Phethiwe Matutu, Chief Executive Officer of Universities South Africa (USAf), explained, as she welcomed the webinar attendees.
She said since the visit to Canada, the relationship had birthed a collaboration framework spelling out basic governance principles of this relationship. The framework delineates research focus areas and spells out initial administrative arrangements while also allocating key stakeholder roles and responsibilities.
“Our USAf Board of Directors decided that in South Africa, this relationship should be USAf-led through the Research and Innovation Strategy Group led by a Vice-Chancellor, namely Professor Thoko Mayekiso, and membered by Deputy Vice-Chancellors of several universities. The coordination of SACUN takes place within USAf, working with the Canadian High Commission and the NRF, in South Africa, to ensure success of this partnership. In Canada, we work through South Africa’s High Commission to that country, and Carleton University, which is coordinating Canadian universities.”
Dr Matutu (left) said for SA, this network is significant. “Partnerships between these countries have existed for years – we’re now stepping up, expanding our collaborations beyond bilateralism to explore multilateral partnerships focusing on common areas. We’re looking to create something globally impactful.”
SA universities in a nutshell
She then orientated the Canadian counterparts on South Africa’s diverse university sector, which comprises 26 public universities clustered into traditional universities (six) which offer typical degree qualifications; universities of technology (seven) offering career-oriented qualifications and comprehensive universities (13) with a dual focus. These, she said, included research-intensive institutions whose postgraduate component makes up a third of their enrolment, while others focus on research niche areas responding to their geographical contexts.
“I am excited to mention our rurally based universities, which offer unique partnerships for institutions embedded in their contexts. They are uniquely positioned to excel in specific research niche areas not offered elsewhere. Canada’s Foreign Minister [who visited South Africa during August] was excited about South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the reparations concept it represents. My conversation with her included institutions excelling in indigenous knowledge systems — some of our rurally based universities hold their own in this area.”
Canada’s perspective
Professor David Hornsby (below), Vice Provost and Associate Vice President (Academic) from Carleton University, echoed Dr Matutu’s excitement “that we’ve come this far. I’ve been working hard with Dr Betina Appel Kuzmarov to animate this to the broader network. We understand these relationships take time to develop, but it is important to generate milestones along the way. I’m particularly grateful to the NRF in South Africa, for leading the call for proposals which is being announced today. The imperative of the moment requires networks like these. We’re excited that this initiative will bring our higher education institutions in Canada working closer together, and we’re excited to be steering this process around research, later extending to students’ and staff mobility.
“Networks like SACUN speak to our grand challenges across societies. SDGs, critical issues around reconciliation, climate change, sustainable growth / development – all transcend traditional borders and boundaries. This network rallies us around challenges, recognising that we have a lot in common.”
He said both Canada and the Republic of South Africa have solid expertise in areas such as virology (production and development of vaccines to address significant disease); indigenous knowledge systems; experiences around truth and reconciliation; astronomy (the square kilometre array project), as well as opportunities associated with artificial intelligence. Networks like this are also important, considering the trend we’re seeing globally, of countries turning inwards — in on themselves and closing off from one another. As universities, we must demonstrate the benefit of assuming a cosmopolitan outlook on the world. We need to look for bridges and opportunities to draw one another together.
He then drew the audience’s attention to SACUN’s historical relevance. “Not many of you might know this, but SA-Canada bilateral relations, historically, were rooted in research. The relationship was founded around zoonotic diseases dating back to the early 1920s. The first SA-Canada collaboration was centred at the University of Pretoria’s Veterinary school in Onderstepoort, focusing on zoonotic diseases. It is natural that 100 years later we’re formalising research as a fundamental pillar of this relationship.”
Inclusivity is important to both partners
“From the Canadian side, Carleton University has taken a lead in organising Canadian universities. We are an open shop, wanting to be as inclusive as possible. By sheer numbers we work in a different context from South Africa; we have close to 100 universities in Canada, operating in very disparate kind of ways. The idea of this call for proposals is to get grassroots-level participation from institutions. At Carleton, we support that and echo the zeal to find matching funds from the Canadian side.
“As I conclude, I offer my gratitude to colleagues at USAf for their engagement; it has been a pleasure working with you. I wish to particularly thank the NRF for its leadership in pushing the Network forward and for the generosity they’ve offered through this research investment. I also acknowledge the role played by the Canadian High Commission in South Africa, especially by Ms Caroline Buldoc, who’s been a wonderful advocate and champion of this initiative, and Canada’s Research Coordinating Committee, which has been very supportive in navigating research funding intricacies in Canada.”
Mr Chief Mabizela, Director: Operations and Sector Support at Universities South Africa, was the webinar’s Programme Director. He explained the event’s objectives and the role of the NRF in research funding in the South African environment, and moderated engagement with the NRF on the Call for Proposals.
Henceforth, Mr Mlungisi Zondi, Professional Officer: Inter-Institutional Grants and Partnerships at the NRF went on to present the Call for Proposals; its purpose; research focus areas to be supported through this project; the application process and the related timeline. Time was allocated for a detailed engagement, during which attendees asked questions and expressed appreciation for this event.
The webinar of 5 September was the second formal engagement in the SACUN context, since South Africa’s delegation’s visit to Canada. The first engagement took place in October 2023 to give substance to what was then the Collaboration Framework, which USAf’s Research and Innovation Strategy Group has since approved as the Framework within which SACUN will operate, especially in the first five years until a constitution is formulated, firm governance structures are created, and membership considerations are decided upon.
Meanwhile, a research matchmaking exercise that was scheduled to take place during early October has since been postponed to the first quarter of 2025, the dates of which will be announced in due course. In Mlungisi Zondi’s own words, the 5 September webinar marked “only a beginning of what we’re set to do together.”
‘Mateboho Green is Universities South Africa’s Manager: Corporate Communication.
