U3A Advises on Anchor Strategies in South Africa

Funded by the Kresge Foundation, a team from U3A spent a week at the University of Pretoria last fall to advise on strategies to strengthen the precinct around the UP Hatfield campus.  The team met with university leaders, students, city officials, business owners, and the Mayor of Tshwane to discuss their current challenges and begin to shape an implementation plan.  Faced with rising unrest from students in the #feesmustfall movement and fiscal pressure on South African cities, many universities are beginning to understand the need to engage, invest, and partner in place-based initiatives.

Following this visit, U3A coordinated and hosted meetings for UP Vice Chancellor Cheryl de la Ray and Prof. Denver Hendricks with several U.S. foundations and university leaders this summer.  In October, Jaime Flaherty, VP & CFO, was keynote speaker at the University-City Building workshop in Cape Town, which included university and city leadership from across South Africa.  U3A will continue to support and advise on the organization of a South African national platform to address university-city collaboration and investment.