Image: Shelley Christians/UWC

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) hosted a special business brunch at its main campus in Bellville, bringing together prominent companies from the surrounding area.

Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Robert Balfour, welcomed the business leaders, noting the critical role that partnerships play in advancing the University’s mission.

“We are one community. The needs in our area are pressing, and business has a vital role in creating inclusion, stability, prosperity and opportunity,” he said.

The event, part of UWC’s broader engagement strategy, was designed to strengthen relationships with local industry and explore opportunities for collaboration. Prof Balfour highlighted the University’s history of activism, its transformation journey, and its current status as a leader in research and innovation, particularly in dentistry, pharmacy, nanotechnology, hydrogen fuel and space science.

Image: Shelley Christians/UWC

With over 26,000 students, UWC is one of the largest institutions in the region and a major contributor to the local economy. He emphasised the mutual benefits of closer ties between business and the University. He cited potential areas such as student internships, workplace experience, professional training, research collaboration and support for UWC community outreach initiatives like mobile health and dental clinics.

“Many young people value the opportunity to gain work experience as much as – and sometimes more than – financial compensation,” Prof Balfour said. “These opportunities give them the skills, confidence and networks they need to thrive.”

Director of Institutional Advancement, Prof Anesh Singh, explained that the brunch was also a platform for UWC to share its strategic direction and showcase areas where it excels – including sport, academic achievement and community engagement.

Business leaders responded positively to the call for partnership, discussing ways to collaborate on projects that benefit students and the wider community. The brunch closed with a shared commitment to keep the conversation going, with follow-up engagements planned for later in the year.