CUT and the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State better known as PACOFS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 7 May 2013. “This MoU that we have signed today is long overdue.  Our collaboration with CUT has always been there.  It needed to be nurtured.  We at PACOFS have identified that we have a common goal in respect of our collaboration with CUT and we see our role as reaching out to artists in the province; nurturing their talents.  CUT has resources and capacity to enable us to realize this commitment”, said Acting CEO of PACOFS, Mr. Teboho Macholo. 

The partnership will ensure that PACOFS to provide experimental learning in technical and production areas for CUT students in engineering, communications sciences and fine art programmes so that they graduate. As we plan to have our own academy, we believe CUT will be able to assist PACOFS with proper accreditation of course content and training programmes for youth in the province,” he concluded. This long standing non-formal partnership is now formalised and the two parties will henceforth cooperate by not only exchanging facilities, equipment and services, but also embarking on joint partnership development projects and marketing ventures. 

Mr Teboho Macholo added that CUT students will be placed at PACOFS for work-integrated learning (WIL) and staff members come to CUT and study to retool their skills in career-related programmes. Deputy Registrar: Student Services, Dr Pakiso Tondi said that CUT has such immense talents among our students and PACOFS is an important partner to enhance cultural and social programmes on campus and to help showcase these talents. CUT decided to work closely with industry through the establishment of board committees for its programmes so that students acquire sets of skills and practical implementation experience to meet the demand of job sector and industry. “Break a leg!” - the term used in the theatre world instead of good luck - seems apt at the start of another fruitful endeavour undertaken by like minded institutions that look forward to making a change in the central region.

Pictured is (from left): Mr China Kokoana, Manager: Governance and Student Life at CUT; Dr Pakiso Tondi; Mr Rolihlhla Alexandra, Human Resources Manager of PACOFS; Mr Teboho Macholo, Acting CEO PACOFS; Prof. Alfred Ngowi, Acting Registrar at CUT; and Mr Seretse Leeuw, Manager Audience and Artists at PACOFS.