The University of the Western Cape (UWC) will host the Southern African-Nordic Centre (SANORD) conference from 4 to 6 December 2024.

This unique collaboration is a non-profit university network committed to providing a forum to advance academic partnerships between the Nordic and the Southern African regions.

Officially established in January 2007 by the late Professor Brian O’Connell - a former UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor - and Norwegian sociologist Sigmund Grønmo, it’s grown from seven to 56 members who collaborate on teaching, learning, education, research and the mutual exchange of ideas.

The SANORD network also seeks to address the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals through joint research, education and other activities relevant to the member institutions.

UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor Professor Tyrone Pretorius will deliver the keynote address: “This year’s SANORD conference is a special homecoming for UWC, where the network was first established. We are proud to host this event and continue building on its legacy of partnership and innovation.”

Papers to be presented at the SANORD conference include Reimagining Collaborations and Solidarities In Times of Global Crisis. Other topics on the agenda include food security and sustainable agriculture, environmental justice and climate action and solidarity, and partnerships for sustainable development.

UWC Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation, Professor José Frantz, said: “Through research and education, we unlock the potential to bridge divides, co-create innovative solutions, and foster a global community that thrives on collaboration and mutual understanding.

The SANORD conference is a vital platform for cultivating these connections and addressing the challenges of our time.”