The University of the Western Cape (UWC) has a longstanding relationship with Dutch institutions of higher learning that have over the years collaborated on innovative research projects and academic scholarship programmes.
Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Robert Dijkgraaf
On 16 October, UWC welcomed the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Robert Dijkgraaf, during a courtesy visit to the Bellville campus.
UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tyrone Pretorius, said: “South Africa and the Netherlands have an undeniably complex bond stretching back to the 1600s when the Dutch East India Company set up a refreshment station in Cape Town.
“Despite this colonial history, South Africa benefited tremendously from the Dutch anti-apartheid movement which supported our fight for freedom. The Netherlands went on to assist our nation as it transitioned to democracy and beyond. The bilateral relationship with the Netherlands is one of South Africa’s oldest, and UWC’s relationship with Dutch institutions like Utrecht, Leiden, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam still stands today.”
Prof Pretorius also shared his personal experience and relationship with the Netherlands. “My very first international experience was Amsterdam in the 1980s, a time of significant repression and oppression in South Africa. I could not describe the feeling of freedom that I felt in Amsterdam, where I was not judged just on the basis of my skin colour. That was my feeling of freedom.”
Dijkgraaf said: “One area where globalisation works is education and research. We have much more in common than we think and there are many, many opportunities to share our experiences and share our knowledge. One of the most important things that we share is this incredible resource, or wisdom and insight, which is our students.”
The Dutch Minister visited, amongst others, the Mayibuye Archives where he was given a guided tour of the exhibition and UWC’s extensive archival material, with a special focus on the Dutch and international support for the anti-apartheid struggle.
Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Robert DijkgraafOn 16 October, UWC welcomed the Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Robert Dijkgraaf, during a courtesy visit to the Bellville campus.
UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tyrone Pretorius, said: “South Africa and the Netherlands have an undeniably complex bond stretching back to the 1600s when the Dutch East India Company set up a refreshment station in Cape Town.
“Despite this colonial history, South Africa benefited tremendously from the Dutch anti-apartheid movement which supported our fight for freedom. The Netherlands went on to assist our nation as it transitioned to democracy and beyond. The bilateral relationship with the Netherlands is one of South Africa’s oldest, and UWC’s relationship with Dutch institutions like Utrecht, Leiden, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam still stands today.”
Prof Pretorius also shared his personal experience and relationship with the Netherlands. “My very first international experience was Amsterdam in the 1980s, a time of significant repression and oppression in South Africa. I could not describe the feeling of freedom that I felt in Amsterdam, where I was not judged just on the basis of my skin colour. That was my feeling of freedom.”
Dijkgraaf said: “One area where globalisation works is education and research. We have much more in common than we think and there are many, many opportunities to share our experiences and share our knowledge. One of the most important things that we share is this incredible resource, or wisdom and insight, which is our students.”
The Dutch Minister visited, amongst others, the Mayibuye Archives where he was given a guided tour of the exhibition and UWC’s extensive archival material, with a special focus on the Dutch and international support for the anti-apartheid struggle.
