THENSA connects technology universities across Africa

Following a comprehensive review of its work, and as an expression of its responsiveness to sectoral changes, the South African Technology Network (SATN) has renamed and repositioned itself as the Technological Higher Education Network South Africa (THENSA).

THENSA represents a significant expansion in the network that was first set up in 2006 and included five South African universities of technology: Cape Peninsula, Durban, Central, Tshwane and Vaal universities of technology.

THENSA will now include 11 institutions. The group consists of six South African universities of technology, with Mangosutho University of Technology joining the existing club of five, four comprehensive universities (Zululand, Venda, Mpumalanga and Walter Sisulu) and the Namibia University of Science and Technology.

The Commonwealth Association of Technical Universities and Polytechnics in Africa and its nearly 200 members are also joining THENSA.

“Under the guidance of THENSA, we hope that our member institutions and organisations will continue to respond to the challenges meted out by our new normal and offer the kind of research, knowledge, technology, and leadership necessary to help South Africa during this unprecedented crisis and into the future,” said Dr Anshu Padayachee, the chief executive officer of THENSA, in a statement.

She highlighted the fact that technology-focused universities have joined the higher education sector and demonstrated their social responsibility by being on the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19, manufacturing personal protective equipment, ventilators, masks and hand-sanitisers for vulnerable communities.

Padayachee said changes in policy, curriculum and innovation agendas in the South African higher education sector prompted the organisation’s repositioning, but a further impetus emanated from calls by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Blade Nzimande, who asked the sector to focus on science and technology to meet the challenges of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

In response to these calls, the network has also aligned its work with targets set by the South African government’s National Development Plan, the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and the Africa 2063 Agenda, while also continuing its strong partnerships with business and industry.

Professor Lourens van Staden, the vice-chancellor of Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa, and chairman of the THENSA board, which represents the vice-chancellors of member institutions, said that, after 10 years of delivering quality technology-focused programmes, universities of technology responded to changes, and two years ago started reviewing SATN’s strategic objectives, mission and membership.

“Several institutions both locally and internationally showed interest in the programmes, research and innovations that the SATN was engaged in with its local and international partners and expressed interest in joining the network,” he said.

THENSA, a stronger organisation, with a sharper focus and an expanded membership, will be communicating the details of its repositioning to the higher education community in the next few months.