Educators from the University of South Africa (UNISA) will visit Herkimer County Community College as part of the University’s signature course project. HCCC Professor of Social Science William Pelz is a team leader for the project, which involves designing and implementing six signature courses, one for each of the six UNISA colleges, for online distance learning. Pelz is leading the team for the College of Human Sciences.

The public is welcome to attend a panel discussion on “South Africa in Transition: The Potential Impact of Higher Education on Cultural and Economic Prosperity” moderated by Dr. Sabine O’Hara. Dr. O’Hara is principal of Global Ecology, a higher education firm heading the project.

The panel discussion will provide a forum for the South African team to express their thoughts on the Signature Curriculum Initiative, and allow the HCCC community to learn about the UNISA system and South Africa in general. After making brief statements, the panel will respond to questions from the audience. Local business leaders are encouraged to attend to learn more about UNISA’s role in stimulating economic growth and promoting international entrepreneurship.