Mduduzi Manana, the Deputy Minister of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) will officially open the historic Student Cities Summit to be hosted on 26-29 March 2017 at the Krystal Beach Hotel in Gordon`s Bay, Cape Town.
The event will also look at the role of the Open Government Partnership (OPG) initiative that encourages government, municipalities and private business to leverage on smart data innovations to make student cities more responsive to the needs of student communities.
The Student Cities Summit will be attended by delegates from various college or university towns in South Africa – including Mayors and Municipality Managers – who will gather to deliberate on the strategic role of municipalities in making their towns and cities to be conducive for learning, development and success for student communities.
City of Cape Town Metro is also expected to speak at the event
By definition, a student city is a city or town (or other form of settlement) with a strong representation of college or university students. Student cities derive huge economic benefits from student communities. Student spending fuels local businesses and influences the types of housing and services provided. Student habits, such as going out at night and holidaying during term breaks, create distinct city rhythms and seasons.
University towns and cities play a crucial role in determining the success of college and universities in South Africa. Many people think that it was only the University of Fort Hare that made Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo great leaders that they turned to be. But the reality is that it was the student experience of living in the town of Alice or eDikeni that shaped their intellectual acumen and future leadership potential. This little village in the Eastern Cape produced many African leaders including Sir Seretse Khama of Botswana, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia.
The South African post-secondary education sector is largely non-residential, with over 80% of the commuter students living off-campus in college and university towns and cities. For many of these students, “the city becomes their campus”, since they live, learn and play in their host college or university towns or cities. These study destinations, play a crucial role in the human capital development and in shaping the futures of the youth of South Africa.
This is what Ann Hidalgo; Mayor of Paris had to say about Paris as a study destination: “Paris is proud to be ranked the best student city in the world! Our youth represents our greatest strength and incarnates our greatest hope. We carry an ambitious politic to make youth to be able to blossom, be successful, be able to choose and to build its future. We will continue to support students by offering them opportunities, in an open, dynamic and creative city”. Visit the following You Tube links to see some of the best student cities in the world:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7OOYKhFtB8&feature=share
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-boRqApgH4&feature=share
Click here to register
For more information on how to participate in the Student Cities Summit 2017 contact Kelebogile Moeketsi at 012-717-2071 or Kelebogile@sasss.co.za. To view the summit venue visit www.krystalbeach.co.za
Delegates attending the Student Cities Summit 2017 should consider attending the Cape Town International Jazz Festival which starts two days after the end of the summit. Krystal Beach Hotel offers discounted rates for their accommodation for summit delegates. For more information visit www.capetownjazzfest.com
