Picture: Kostas Champiaouris, Minister of Education and Culture in Cyprus was in SA to discuss cooperation between SA and Cypriot higher education institutions. He is pictured with UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tyrone Pretorius at a meeting at the University of the Western Cape on 6 March 2019. Picture: Amy Myers

(Published - 11 March 2019)

Minister of Higher Education and Training, Naledi Pandor, is exploring cooperation between South Africa and Cypriot higher education institutions. Kostas Champiaouris, Minister of Education and Culture in Cyprus, was in South Africa to discuss plans with Minister Pandor.

Last week, Minister Champiaouris and his delegation visited the University of the Western Cape (UWC) to meet with the Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tyrone Pretorius, and other university executive members to discuss possible collaboration. Director of Global Partnerships for the Department of Higher Education and Training, Mokgadi Tena, also attended the meeting.

“We are very happy to be here because we have the opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences in higher education. Yesterday we had a meeting with Minister Pandor. She is so open minded and wants to have cooperation with our country. We believe it would be a good beginning for all of us to... find a way to co-operate in higher education,” said Minister Champiaouris.

He explained that government has embarked on strategies to establish Cyprus as leaders in education and research. “That is why we are visiting countries that can help us open new horizons in higher education. That is why we are here. We believe in [UWC], we believe in your country, we believe in your academic universities,” he continued.

Professor Pretorius delivered a warm welcome, and UWC Institutional Planner, Larry Pokpas, started the meeting with a presentation detailing UWC’s history, its academic programme and research centres of excellence, among other things.

Professor Pretorius expressed his desire to promote a “deep collaboration” and highlighted his wish that UWC staff and staff from Cyprus universities co-teach and co-supervise PhD and Masters candidates.

“We believe co-supervision is an important part of scholarship and international research,” he said.

“One of the indicators of a truly good university is the extent to which their academics co-publish with international authors.”

Captions: Kostas Champiaouris, Minister of Education and Culture in Cyprus is in SA to discuss  cooperation between SA and Cypriot higher education institutions. He is pictured with vice-chancellor, Prof Tyrone Pretorius at a meeting at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) yesterday.