Co-operation with other tertiary institutions is a high priority for the University of Pretoria. Various consortia of universities and technikons have been established in the country, of which the Foundation of Tertiary Institutions of the Northern Metropolis (FOTIM), with its 16 members, is the largest. The aim of FOTIM is to promote and facilitate collaboration between member institutions through a range of important projects.

The Gauteng and Environs Library Consortium (GAELIC) remains the largest and most prominent project of FOTIM. As a result of the work of this project, all 16 institutions have now implemented the INNOPAC library system, which is funded by the Andrew W Mellon Foundation. A major challenge will be the rationalisation of purchasing policies through agreements of collaboration between member institutions that now have access to each other's holdings.

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) project, under way in all member institutions of FOTIM, has as two of its major aims the fostering of flexible learning and the building of capacity through human resource training and skills development in the information technology area.

Other FOTIM initiatives include matters pertaining to access, quality assurance, disability, HIV/AIDS and regional clearance of academic programmes. A number of workshops and meetings addressing these topics took place in 2001.

On the issue of academic programme collaboration, FOTIM commissioned two consultants to investigate opportunities for collaboration in the region. A report entitled Academic Programme Collaboration in the FOTIM Region is being examined and discussed by the senior management of member institutions. A meeting will be convened early in 2002 to consider the consultants' recommendations.

The year 2001 saw a significant increase in the importance and recognition accorded by the Department to the regional consortia at a time when the tertiary sector faces some of its greatest challenges in recent decades. The University of Pretoria remains committed to full participation in FOTIM to assist it in achieving its objectives.