Academics from the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa business communities) arrived at the Durban University of Technology this morning (Monday March 15, 2013) where they are expected to spend the next two days engaging over a number of areas surrounding the BRICS countries.

The Academic Forum, which forms part of the Fifth BRICS Summit currently underway at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, Durban, is being hosted at the DUT Hotel School as well as the Ritson Hall, DUT Ritson Road Campus.

Themed BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Development, Integration and Industrialisation, the event started today and ends on Wednesday (March 13, 2013). Each country is represented by 10 academics with South Africa – as the host country – having had invited more so that a broad section of the country’s academics is exposed to the robust discussions. Some components of the ideas and proposals generated at the Forum will be submitted to the attending heads of state for further consideration.

Speaking before the start of the discussions, Gwebinkundla Qonde, Higher Education and Training Department Director General said the Academic Forum will look at what contributions academics should make to bolster the BRICS efforts as well as whether they (academics) can lead in bringing about policy suggestions and knowledge production needed to realise these objectives.

“That’s what this is all about in the main. Development, integration and what lessons we can learn from one another. What the best practices are. We hope to better position our academics to contribute towards the enhancement and development of BRICS using South Africa as a platform,” said Qonde.

DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Ahmed Bawa who could not attend the Forum because of another pressing engagement said the event will provide an opportunity to build deeper relationships and connections between the five nations. “Perhaps more importantly, it will be an opportunity to see how much we can begin to integrate our economies and to understand the importance of focusing on industrialisation”, he said.

Alan Khan, Senior Director of Corporate Affairs at DUT said the University is excited about its involvement with the BRICS Summit. He said it is important for DUT, Durban and KwaZulu-Natal to support government’s strategies as well as to make our President proud.

“Part of this is to showcase Durban, and indeed South Africa, to the visiting Heads of State. Hosting His Excellency Mr Xi Jinping (President of China) for his first visit to the African continent is a very proud moment and we hope that his visit will bring an increase in activity and partnerships with Chinese universities and research foundations. We would love to establish partnerships in many areas, including engineering, health sciences, biotechnology, visual communication design and art, information technology, fashion design and textile technology and applied sciences amongst others,” said Khan.

– Sinegugu Ndlovu

Pictured: Delegates of the Fifth BRICS Summit host country, South Africa, are pictured during Summit’s Academic Forum inaugural plenary session.