OVERVIEW
Education The University of Limpopo celebrated 60 years in 2019.
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he University of Limpopo celebrated a significant milestone in September 2019, a 60th birthday. As part of the celebrations, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was installed as the university’s first female Chancellor. Early in 2020, the university received a gift in the form of a R480million loan from the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) for the construction of a 3 500-bed student residence. Other contributions will come from the Department of Higher Education and Training and the National Treasury Budget Facility for Infrastructure. This is the first phase of a longer-term project to provide 15 000 beds over the next 15 years. The University of Venda (UNIVEN) is making strides in the field of waste-to-energy. The Green Technologies Promotion Drive draws from the Department of Physics and the schools of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences with support from the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Water Research Commission (WRC). One of its goals is to develop the biogas market. The Univen Innovative Growth Company offers professional services to the outside world through four units which cover areas such as statistics and design and editing. This not only creates another revenue stream for the University of Venda but links the academic institution to the commercial world. The Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (formerly part of Limpopo University) is now an independent university in Gauteng Province. University of South Africa (Unisa) has a regional support centre in Polokwane and agencies at Makhado and Giyani. The longstanding issue of school sanitation infrastructure is being tackled aggressively. A commitment was made in February 2020 that 515 schools in the province will benefit from new or upgraded infrastructure this year. Some of the funding for this programme comes from the Presidential School Sanitation Infrastructure Grant. A Coding and Robotic curriculum is to be introduced in 110 primary schools in the 2021 academic year. There are 15 secondary schools in Limpopo offering Information Technology at Grade 12
Online Resources Limpopo Department of Education: www.edu.limpopo.gov.za National Education Collaboration Trust: www.nect.org.za Turfloof Graduate School of Leadership: www.ul.ac.za
LIMPOPO BUSINESS 2020/21
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Sector Insight Energy research is going forward at the University of Venda. while 46 schools are offering Computer Applications Technology. During 2020, a further 75 secondary and 32 primary schools are to be provided with ICT equipment. The S chool Nutr ition Programme in Limpopo feeds pupils in 3 795 public schools and the Scholar Transport Programme is active in 380 schools. The No-Fee School Policy applies to more than
UIGC graduation. Image: UIGC 1.6-million pupils and more than 231 000 children have been enrolled at Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres. There are seven Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET ) colleges in Limpopo: Capricorn College, Lephalale College, Mopani East College, Mopani South College, Sekhukhune College, Vhembe College and Waterberg College. ■
