The relationship between WSU and its surrounding communities is primed to get even tighter owing to a momentous partnership that launched South Africa’s first Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) centre at the institution’s Buffalo City Campus recently.

Thanks to the long-awaited official opening of the STEM Centre housed at WSU’s Potsdam Site, University and TVET students, high school learners, as well as the broader community will be trained in electronics,  basic computer skills and upskilled on certain aspects of the fourth industrial revolution.  

The centre is  divided into two separate labs – a computer skills lab that offers introduction to Basic Computer Skills such as Word Processing; Spreadsheets and Graphics. On the other hand, through the NEMISA-funded WSU e-Skills CoLab, unemployed youth and high school learners will be trained in Basic Digital Skills; Digital Entrepreneurship whilst 4IR Specialist Skills will be offered to ICT practitioners.

At the electronics lab, students will be taught introduction to basic electronics theory; introduction to basic Hand Skills in an electronics lab; and introduction to electronic instrumentation and its use.

‘’The opening of this centre is invaluable in our ability as a university to train young people in in these fields.. Being able to engage with learners early and building a relationship with them while they’re still in school will help us in our student recruitment in the long run, ’’ said engineering faculty dean Dr Msimelelo Siswana.

Addressing a substantial group consisting of university staff, student leadership, management and key stakeholders that had congregated at the site’s auditorium, WSU Vice-Chancellor Prof Rushiella Songca adopted an inquisitorial tone about the potential of the centre in her welcoming remarks.

The VC, positing many a fair questions, sought to explore the long term, strategic goals and potential benefits of the centre for the university, as well as its surrounding communities.

‘’This is a very important milestone for the university in our endeavours to foster and cultivate closer relations with our communities with the aim of achieving real and tangible benefits. In that pursuit we must however look at the potential for collaboration between the academic departments and the centre and how that can benefit our academic enterprise. We must also look closely at what opportunities lie in wait for the beneficiaries once they’ve completed the courses,’’ said Songca.

In what was a passion-filled address, STEMpower CEO, Edwin Kumfa, whose non-governmental organization was responsible for funding the project, welcomed WSU to the wide-ranging STEMpower network that consists of over 100 centres across the African continent.

Kumfa reaffirmed the importance of the centre in laying and creating a platform for African children to be taught and familiarized with the critical fields of STEM.

’’It is imperative that we cultivate a culture of encouraging our children to not only show interest in, but to show love and enjoyment of STEM subjects. Because if we ignite and harness the scientist that lies dormant within children, we invoke a scientist that can change the world. Remember, for more than a decade, STEMpower founders have been implementing many successful STEM programs  in Ethiopia and nearby countries. Pre-university students learn through our hands-on labs, engaging them towards advanced STEM study and careers. STEM enrichment programs bridge genders and ethnicity, fostering peace and development within and among nations,’’ he said.

On hand to deliver message of support were the other official stakeholder of the endeavour, namely DHL; the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA); SmartAid and Ripples for Change.

By Thando Cezula