Global
South Africa Looks to USC for Partnerships
- From left, Adam Clayton Powell III; Michael Preston, USC vice provost for strategic initiatives; Jeanette T. Ndhlovu, consul general of the South African Consulate-General, and Lulu Xingwana
- Photo/Dietmar Quistorf
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
Latest Global stories
- USC Team Mends Discord in Mexico January 30, 2012 1:55 PM
- Ostrow School Resident Provides Care in Thailand January 27, 2012 8:17 AM
- Mexico Program Targets Care for Mentally Ill January 23, 2012 10:28 AM
-
For Journalists »
-
USC in the News
for 2/10/2012 »-
The Wall Street Journal highlighted the $200 million naming gift from USC Trustee and alumnus David Dornsife and wife Dana Dornsife to the USC Dornsife College, and the $110 million gift from USC Trustee and USC Viterbi School alumnus John Mork and wife Julie to create the USC Mork Family Scholars Program.
KPCC-FM reported that this fall USC will offer Persian language courses for the first time. A $250,000 grant from the Farhang Foundation helped to establish the program. Bruce Zuckerman of the USC Dornsife College said he has many students interested in the Persian language, culture and region. “The Iranian region is one that has great impact on our lives today and has had great impact going back into ancient times,” he said. The story noted that USC and the Farhang Foundation hope to raise more money to create an Iranian studies minor. Payvand also featured the new courses.
American Songwriter ran a Q&A with Christopher Sampson of the USC Thornton School about the school’s Popular Music program, which Sampson founded. He noted that the program has been available as a major in Songwriting since 2009, and has incorporated a diverse range of musical genres. “We have now established a consistent track record of students having professional success to know that the program gets results,” Sampson said. He also highlighted the achievements of Songwriting faculty members Lamont Dozier, Andrea Stolpe and David Poe of the Thornton School.
The Economist featured research by Valter Longo of the USC Davis School finding that short periods of fasting could help cancer patients better tolerate chemotherapy, and may even make treatment more effective. The Globe and Mail (Canada) reported that cancerous tumors are essentially energy hogs. “They need to burn lots of energy just to stay alive,” Longo said. The study was also covered by Irish Independent (Ireland), Magyar Tavirati Iroda (Hungary), Anadolu Ajansi (Turkey), Son Haber (Netherlands), Vietnam+ (Vietnam), Turkish Radio and Television (Turkey) and Romania Libera (Romania).
L.A. Weekly featured research by USC’s Institute for Creative Technologies, which has developed video games based around physical movement for people recovering from strokes or other injuries. The games develop strength in specific body parts. Traditional video games weren’t right for these patients, said the institute’s Belinda Lange. “Often, the fun parts of the game would only be unlocked after a series of other levels, which our patients often couldn’t achieve,” she said. The games are now being tested with physical therapists in three major clinics.
-
-
Campus News
- Capital Connections
- USC faculty, staff and alumni in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento
- In Print
- New and recent books written or edited by USC faculty and staff
- Family Matters
- Achievements and awards
- Obituaries