Page 14 - Transformation Report 2021

significant opportunity for the growth of the South capable of grappling with the legal aspects of ocean
African economy. With unemployment at a record high governance challenges in various sectors.
of 32.6 percent in South Africa, the maritime sector has
the potential to create jobs through the sustainable 3.2 Medical School
development of national maritime industries. SAIMI, With social justice at its core, Nelson Mandela University’s
therefore, hosted a webinar in June focused on investing new Medical School is set to forever change the healthcare
in the ocean economy. In August, the SAIMI advisory landscape of South Africa and the lives of those it serves.
board held a strategic session to assess the Institute’s One of the key strategic growth areas for the institution
sustainability strategy and proposed revenue generation and surrounding community, the Medical School, is being
streams beyond 2024. As part of its strategy, SAIMI will intentionally and collectively driven as a beacon of hope
augment its partnership model to include local and on the Missionvale Campus in Gqeberha. When the first
international maritime industries, academic institutions 50 students started in March 2021, a decades-long dream
and relevant government authorities and expand its was fulfilled not only for the University but also for the area
contribution to the ocean economy through sought after around the campus, Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, and the
research, skills development and advocacy programmes. Eastern Cape province.

The University continues to expand its international The Medical School is a historic milestone in the history
partnership footprint in ocean sciences. This year marks the of our University and will make a tangible contribution
fifth year of FishFORCE, a collaborative project established towards building skills and expanding capacity for pro-
within the Faculty of Law in 2016 with support from the poor and accessible healthcare service delivery. The
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. FishFORCE’s work community-based approach aims to graduate socially
addresses several of the United Nations Sustainable conscious medical doctors who can compete globally but
Development Goals, notably those relating to eradicating who also have a deep passion for changing the lives of
poverty and hunger, promoting decent work and economic poor communities through an emphasis on preventive and
growth, as well as life below water. The FishFORCE promotive health. Within the current context of resource
Academy continues to offer various training initiatives constraints, careful attention was devoted to renovating
as part of Operation Phakisa that attract delegates from and upgrading existing facilities at Missionvale Campus
all over Africa. FishFORCE SLPs are also delivered by and Dora Nginza hospital. The focus was on how these
partner universities at Eduardo Mondlane University in investments can strengthen the Academic Health Complex
Mozambique, the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, as part of the University-Province partnership. The official
and the University of Nairobi in Kenya. The Faculty of Law launch of our new Medical School was celebrated in
presented the first year of the LLM Coursework in Ocean November with guests of honour who included Minister
Governance in 2021. The programme supports growing of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Mr Blade
a pool of specialised legal practitioners and researchers Nzimande.

14 | 2021