problems of the rural poor, who the world over have been neglected by universities and other knowledge producers. It is our intention to develop a high-calibre world-class research institution. We should engender a mentality worldwide where, when students want to research rural issues, the University of Limpopo should be their first port of call. Our new motto is ‘the University of Limpopo for human and environmental wellness in a rural context: finding solutions for Africa’. Perhaps it is germane that one should reflect how the higher education landscape has transformed worldwide in the 21st century. Gone are the days when academics were cloistered in their ivory towers, dreaming about the stars and the heavens with scant regard to the material conditions of the ‘paying’ public. All over the world, governments and other higher education funders want to get a return on their investment. They want research that is targeted at solving day-to-day material needs of society. While stargazing may help develop and harness radio and optics technology that may be applied to ground and interplanetary travel, most payers want to solve the more pressing needs of the here and now. The University has chosen the latter path. This should not be interpreted to mean that we shy away from innovation and knowledge creation, but rather that such efforts will be targeted. The University’s focus areas as it seeks to exploit its rural setting are: • Mineral and natural resource exploitation is a logical priority in a province bestowed with abundant mineral wealth and natural resources. • Tourism flows naturally from the diverse cultural and natural heritages in the province. • Environmental protection and sustainability while exploiting the natural resources is important for the province. In particular, water utilisation and agriculture are crucial in this regard. • People development is paramount. We need to nurture and enhance the intellectual and operative skills of our people to enhance their quality of life away from the tedium of subsistence farming and toiling labours.
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