On Wednesday, 15 October, the Rector’s Business Breakfast took place in Cape Town, with the theme “Shaping the future together”. The event brought together a host of leaders and academics from Stellenbosch University (SU) and beyond, providing not only a platform for sharing ideas and solutions but also valuable opportunities to discuss and renew mutually beneficial partnerships. Africa Centre director Dr Munya Saruchera represented the centre at the event.

The opportunity to connect

Collaborative partnerships are key to the Africa Centre’s work and impact, and the centre continually seeks out local and international partners that support the attainment of inclusive health management through their work and offer complementary skills and know-how.

“By combining our specialist expertise and focus areas, we can all achieve so much more,” says Saruchera. Many of the Africa Centre’s existing partnerships started with a personal connection, and the Rector’s Business Breakfast once again proved the value of in-person conversations.

Paving the way for the Africa Centre’s short course offering

The Africa Centre has been working hard at developing a range of short courses to supplement the centre’s academic programmes and enable more people to equip themselves with the skills and know-how that are critical to achieving health equity. The centre has been in discussions with the Foundation for Professional Development (FPD) to establish a joint venture to introduce the short course offering. However, with many stakeholders and administrative hoops at play, progress has been slow.

Fortunately, FDP CEO Dr Gustaaf Wolvaardt was one of the guests at the breakfast event, which provided an opportunity for core stakeholders to discuss the technicalities in person and align on what needs to be done – including SU rector and vice-chancellor Prof Deresh Ramjugernat, Pieter von Wielligh (acting dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, where the Africa Centre is located) and David Marupen (SU director for Partnerships, Donations & Gifts). “I am hopeful that these discussions will pave the way for us to formalise a joint venture with the FDP,” says Saruchera.

Outside of the formal discussions, these events also bring welcome variety and the benefits of more informal connection, Saruchera added. “It’s always such a welcome relief to start off one’s working day outside formal office meetings and mingling, networking and chatting away with friends, funders, alumni and other guests.” The fact that the EMS faculty celebrated its centenary at the event was the icing on the cake. Celebrating one another’s milestones is after all part of being in a supportive partnership.

Partnerships for the win

In the last few months, the Africa Centre has added three more partners to its growing network of like-minded institutions. A five-year partnership with the DG Murray Trust’s Rethink Your Drink project aims to target harmful alcohol use and promote sustainable inclusive health management in South Africa. The centre also joined forces with National Taiwan University (NTU) in an agreement aimed at building management and leadership capacity and skills in health management. Combining research and academic expertise and community-led advocacy, the centre also entered into a three-year partnership with Global Black Gay Men Connect (GBGMC), in response to an opportunity to influence policy, generate evidence and build capacity for key populations in Africa and globally.