The Central University of Technology (CUT) has entered a new venture with the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State (Pacofs). The collaborative endeavour focuses on supporting the growth and development of the performing arts and culture in the Bloemfontein and Free State region.
Ms Kwena Mageza, CUT Acting Registrar, expressed the university’s gratitude for being part of the union. “The University has been working with Pacofs for many years and today, we are bracing our relations to work together again to develop access and enable our students to work with Pacofs in the fields of drama, music, or any other type of entertainment,” she said.
The collaboration will allow Pacofs to make use of CUT’s focus areas as a learning institution by providing access to its infrastructure in research, as well as human capital assistance in the form of Work-Integrated Learning. “We want to see our students developing an appreciation for what Pacofs has to offer, while also exposing them to the production and staging of large events,” said Mageza.
Mr Themba Dlamini said the collaboration marks a significant milestone for Pacofs. “This collaboration is in line with the National Development Plan Vision 2023,” he said, “which emphasises that all children should have access to high-quality education. As Pacofs and CUT, we are already ahead as we have started to build roads, as demonstrated by two students, Asive Maseti and Boitumelo Dauw, who were exposed to real-time work experience in the field of Information Communications and Technology.”
Dlamini added that eight more CUT students have already started working at Pacofs. “This milestone was realised because of the thought leadership that prevails between us, and that has developed over time. As game changers, we want to leave legacies behind while building a sustainable talent pipeline for our country,” he said.
Compiled by Warren Hawkins
