South Africa Looks to USC for Partnerships

By Allison Engel on September 30, 2009 7:41 AM

Lulu Xingwana, South Africa’s Minister of Arts and Culture, visited USC on Sept. 28 with a delegation of South African government officials to discuss possible partnerships and research projects.

Xingwana noted that South Africa is hosting the 2010 World Cup in soccer next June and July, involving matches in nine cities across the country. She said she is interested in utilizing immersive audio and video technology developed at USC for the welcoming ceremonies, World Cup matches and, after the games end, “legacy projects” around South Africa.

During the delegation’s visit, members met with faculty from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, the USC School of Cinematic Arts, the USC Annenberg School for Communication and the USC School of Theatre.

The minister and her delegation’s visit followed discussions in Pretoria earlier in September with USC Vice Provost for Globalization Adam Clayton Powell III.

Eddie Mbalo, president of South Africa’s National Film and Video Foundation and a frequent visitor to USC since 2004, helped to arrange the meetings in South Africa and the delegation’s visit to USC. The foundation has been tapped to play a key role in the USC-South Africa partnerships.

Powell said that beyond the USC Viterbi School research projects, potential partnerships were discussed that included future Visions and Voices events with South African artists, as well as public diplomacy and public relations programs with USC Annenberg.

The Sept. 28 events concluded with a reception for the minister and her delegation at the University Club.

TAGS: globalization, research

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