A rose by any other name

Writer Elaine Davie

That’s Hermanus Varsity we’re talking about. And it’s requesting your help. So read on…

Less than two years ago, in March 2019, the Hermanus Varsity Trust (HVT) was launched to the polar extremes of excitement and scepticism amongst the local population. In the rock ‘n roll months that followed, the emotion felt by most changed to pride. It had truly become what it had set out to be, a project ‘by the community, for the community’. A home-grown rose, a sign of hope.

Selma Ncube receives a letter of congratulation from HVT’s CEO, Delana Finlayson. One of the 31 HV students who successfully completed their courses at the end of last year, Selma achieved distinctions in both of the Coursera courses and has applied to study towards the B.Ed. Degree, starting in 2021.

PHOTO: Johann Kruger

Of course the founding vision, arising out of the violent protests of 2018, was that Hermanus Varsity would provide an affordable opportunity for the young people of this region to obtain a post-matric qualification without leaving home. Furthermore, the intention was that the focus would be on offering qualifications that would equip them for employment or entrepreneurial activities that would enhance local economic growth.

The model chosen was one of partnership with recognised tertiary institutions around the country which would make online courses available to HV students. They would be assisted with tutorial support from retired academics living in and around Hermanus. Course curricula would be the preserve of the partnering institution which would also take responsibility for student evaluation, to maintain quality standards, and certification. The Universities of Stellenbosch and Johannesburg came on board immediately, followed by Nelson Mandela University.

The first course to be introduced in 2019 was UJ’s part-time 10-module LED (Local Economic Development) course, which was expected to take two years to complete. By the end of the year the students had achieved outstanding results for the first two modules. This course was slated to continue in 2020, and another oneyear full-time course, the Criminal Law Enforcement Programme – Environment (CLEP) presented by NMU, was added.

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