Norfolk State University News November 26, 2014 Ambassador Announces Partnership With NSU A South African ambassador who helped fight against apartheid talked to students at Norfolk State University on Monday to provide details about a recently announced educational initiative between the institution and officials in the country. Ebrahim Rasool, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to the United States, delivered a speech to more than 200 students, faculty and guests at the NSU Student Center. The event was organized by the University's Office of International Studies and Service-Learning, NSU Honors College and African Students Association and was open to the public. Rasool provided details about "Friends of South Africa" and its university network, a non-governmental organization that will stimulate educational initiatives and partnerships between NSU and schools abroad. The colleges and universities include the University of the Western Cape, University of Cape Town, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, WITS University and the University of Johannesburg. Rasool said the goal of the network is to "transplant the methodologies of teaching" at the institutions so students from both continents can benefit and gain a global perspective. He said with the downturn of economies across the world, there is potential for African and African-American citizens, investors and educators join together. "The choices for black young people across the world lie on such a narrow life edge," Rasool said. "You're not just here to fulfill your dreams...the fact of the matter is...we have a responsibility." The network hopes to facilitate study abroad programs between NSU students and South African students, promote research initiatives, scholarly exchanges and the development of programs that will allow South African students to pursue degrees in the U.S. The speaker said it is time for people of color in both countries to converge their histories and the way to do it is through education. Rasool, the event's guest speaker, previously served as a Member of Parliament in South Africa's National Assembly and was Special Advisor to the State President. Rasool was involved in the anti-apartheid struggle in high school during the 1970s and served time as a political prisoner with Nelson Mandela. NSU's Dr. Geoffroy de Laforcade, director of International Studies in the Office of International Studies and Service-Learning, will serve on the board of directors for the university network. The professor said next year, NSU and Old Dominion University will host the Mandela Summer Democracy Institute, where more than two dozen South African students will visit the U.S. and attend educational sessions and workshops at the two universities. "Norfolk State has pursued bold and original initiatives in study abroad, and people are taking notice internationally," de Laforcade said. "Our students are very excited to about the partnership." SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children.