The University of Johannesburg (UJ) Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, lately welcomed a delegation from the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) to discover new avenues for collaboration and information sharing.
Led by Director-General Dr. Mlungisi Cele, the delegation visited the Faculties of Health Sciences and the Engineering and Built Environment. Professor Mpedi famous that UJ maintains a powerful working relationship with the DSTI, which incorporates the funding of a number of key tasks.
“We work very closely with the Department of Science and Innovation, as a public institution. We have several projects that are funded by the Department of Science and Innovation. So, through this visit, we are looking at many of our existing collaborative projects and to explore ways and means through which we could collaborate more,” he stated.
Key Facilities Visited:
The delegation toured a number of specialised websites throughout the college, together with:
- Optometry Clinic
- Biokinetics Clinic
- Chiropractic Clinic
- Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences
- Podiatry Clinic
- Rescue Centre
- Simulation Mine
- 3D Printed House
- Centre for Ecological Intelligence (CEI) Food Systems Hub
- UJFM
Highlights of the Tour
A serious spotlight was the state-of-the-art 3D printing equipment utilized by the Department of Civil Engineering Technology, a challenge immediately supported by the DSTI. This know-how is being examined in partnership with the Department of Human Settlements to see if a greater resolution could be discovered utilizing this know-how for the housing disaster. The know-how in its pilot, has constructed a RDP sized home, in eight hours.
The delegation additionally visited the Rescue Simulation Centre hosted by the Department of Emergency Medical Care a first-of-its-kind facility on the African continent offering college students with important hands-on coaching.
Director-General Dr. Mlungisi Cele emphasised the significance of fostering partnerships over competitors throughout the nationwide analysis panorama.
“It’s quite crucial for us to build solid relationships with universities. This is our third visit that we’re making as a department, to build solid relationships with universities. First and foremost, we want to promote collaboration and less competition between our various institutions that play a big role in our science, technology and innovation system. So as a department, our job is to make sure that South Africa has a solid science system or a research system, and innovation system, and universities play a big role,” Dr. Cele stated.
He additional famous that in a unstable geopolitical local weather, technological sovereignty is crucial for nationwide success.
“We are living in an era characterized by hostile geopolitical dynamics that make it loud and clear that countries that do not have technological sovereignty… are doomed to fail. So, it’s high time that as South Africa, we consolidate, we appeal to enhance our own existing capabilities and universities possess such.”
Dr. Cele concluded the go to by praising UJ’s standing as a premier analysis establishment and encouraging continued progress in life-changing innovation.
“We are very pleased. UJ is one of the top performing research institutions, not only here in South Africa but in Africa as well. Therefore, it’s significant for us to come here and celebrate with them. I want to encourage them and not to sit on their laurels, but to continue making progress. Making advances in science, innovation and technology.”