19 November, 2003 Press Release Joburg universities sign agreement with Council A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on strategic collaboration between the Johannesburg City Council and the Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) within the city is to be signed by all the parties on 21st November 2003, at 1pm on the 16th floor of the Metro Centre in Braamfontein. The signatories are all the public higher education institutions (HEIs) of Johannesburg, the Rand Afrikaans University, Technikon South Africa, Technikon Witwatersrand, Vista University East Rand campus, Vista University Soweto campus and the Witwatersrand University. The Memorandum, entitled "Local Government and Higher Education in Johannesburg" , The MOU lays the ground for the development of collaborative partnerships between the city and the HEIs. The CHE and the Johannesburg City Council are co-hosting the event. It is the result of a summit held in March this year, organised by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and the City of Johannesburg (COJ). This exciting initiative is clearly an important historic occasion as it is the first time that the Higher Education Institutions in Johannesburg and the COJ have come together to formalise a closer partnership. This partnership is an important step in realising the City's economic vision of a world-class city as set out in the Joburg 2030 strategy. " We in the City believe that the 2030 vision is not just a fancy statement on paper, but that it will materialise simply because there is will and expertise to make it a reality." says the Executive Mayor. The purpose of this MOU is therefore, based on the realization that the Johannesburg HEI's have an important role to play in local economic and social development. Achieving the vision of Joburg 2030 is not just the responsibility of the metropolitan council, but will require key interventions from both the public and private sectors. The MOU sets principles of partnership that aims to achieve amongst others the following: To advance the mutual interest of the HEIs and the council in such a way that they serve, and respond to, the needs of the city and its citizenry. To respond to the needs of the city's economic sectors in relation to the development of the skills, competencies and attributes required by the city and public and private institutions and businesses within it. To respond to the research and policy needs of the council. To promote the development of graduates who are also committed citizens through engagement in socially beneficial projects. To jointly explore the role of HEIs in local development. This signing of the MOU comes at an important point in the efforts currently underway by the National Department of Education to transform the Higher Education system, in order to make it more responsive to the country's skills needs. Residents of Johannesburg stand to benefit greatly from this relationship mainly in the areas of research, economic development and job creation. These are usually hampered by the lack of appropriate skills within the city's labour market. Mbangwa Xaba Media Liaison Tel: 407 7226 Fax: 403 3494 082 467 9230