The University of Johannesburg (UJ) and industrial group Barloworld have partnered to create a Science Centre at Hanyani High School, in the Vhembe district of Limpopo province. The centre is equipped with digital learning resources, microscopes and 3D printing technology, among other resources. It is intended to give local learners the knowledge, practical skills and confidence to seek careers in the fields of science, technology and engineering.

“We are creating a place where young people can encounter science not only through textbooks but through experimentation, discovery and practical learning,” highlighted UJ Science Faculty Dean Professor Anna Moteetee. “The true impact of the sector [sic] will ultimately not be measured by the equipment housed within it or by the building itself. It will be measured by learners whose lives are changed because they were given greater access to opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”

The new Science Centre is an example of the commitment of both UJ and Barloworld to achieve lasting societal impact, by means of partnerships that increase access to quality education, opportunity and innovation, and thereby transform communities.

“Learners thrive when conditions around them enable them to succeed. Sustainable change is never the work of one institution. It is built through trust, shared responsibility and consistent action,” pointed out Barloworld Limpopo GM Vusi Dondolo. “This centre belongs to you [learners] and your future. Use it fully. Be curious, ask the difficult questions, do not be afraid to experiment, to make mistakes, and to try again. Science advances because people are willing to question what is known and imagine what could be possible.”

“This lab makes you want to keep learning about science,” enthused Hanyani High School Grade 11 learner Lufuno Ndou. “We can now do practical things and see the results. I want to be more involved in science because there are so many interesting parts to it.”

For UJ, this is the latest initiative in its Societal Impact programme, which was launched in 2014. This is intended to meet critical infrastructure needs in communities. These include the villages of Gwakwani, Matatani and Mbodi. The university and its partner companies and institutions have already delivered sustainable programmes that cover connectivity, education, energy, food security, healthcare and water.