GEORGE NEWS - Nelson Mandela University (NMU) George Campus principal Dr Kaluke Mawila has been selected as the first chairperson for the advisory board of Forest21.
It is a project through which five higher education institutions in South Africa with forestry curricula, or that will start teaching forestry, work together to promote climate-smart forestry.
According to Mawila, the project is also aimed at strengthening the capacity of the South African higher education system to produce exceptional talent for climate-smart forestry.
The advisory board is the highest decision-making body of Forest21 and its task is to steer the project towards reaching its objectives and making a long-term impact.
Mawila was selected at the board's first meeting on 21 September. One representative from each of the partner institutions serve on the board. The chair is selected annually on a rotational basis.
The other four local training institutions are University of Venda, Fort Cox Agriculture and Forestry Training Institute, Tshwane University of Technology and Stellenbosch University. There are three partners from Europe, namely Häme University of Applied Sciences (Finland - coordinator), Aalto University (Finland) and Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences.
Mawila said it was an honour to be selected as chairperson. “My esteemed colleagues and I look forward to the opportunity to lead with, through and alongside the very best and brightest minds in academe from partner countries.”
Mawila has a Doctorate in Higher Education and a Master of Arts Degree in Student Affairs Administration and has received numerous prestigious academic awards. She has extensive work experience in the higher education sector as a researcher and administrator.
Promoting innovativeness
The aim of the Forest21 project is also to promote entrepreneurial innovativeness in forestry education. Mawila said it will lead to job creation as well as mitigation of climate change. The curriculums in forestry entrepreneurship education will be reformed to equip graduates with problem-solving skills, an entrepreneurial mindset and climate-smart thinking.
"Problem-based learning techniques and a student-centric approach present opportunities for students and academics to be innovative and for new enterprises to be developed. The role of the project’s advisory board is to accept project plans and to guide the project team towards making a long-term impact in forestry education and industry in South Africa," said Mawila.
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