University of Johannesburg hosts Swedish higher education delegation
The South Africa-Sweden University Forum (SASUF) is a strategic internationalisation project aimed at fostering stronger ties between South Africa and Sweden in the areas of research, education, and innovation. To this end, SASUF organised the SASUF Research and Innovation Week 2023, which took place from March 27th to March 31st, 2023 at the University of the Western Cape.
As part of the pre-event activities, SASUF facilitated a visit by a delegation of Swedish VC’s and representatives of higher education institutions to the University of Johannesburg on March 28th, 2023. The purpose of the visit was to engage with the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof. Letlhokwa Mpedi, and other senior members of the university, as well as to hear from UJ academics who are currently collaborating with Swedish universities and to explore potential opportunities for further collaboration.
Areas for Collaboration
During the visit, UJ academics made presentations and engaged in Q&A sessions, providing insights into the current collaboration between UJ and Swedish universities, both bilaterally and within the SASUF and SANORD networks. The discussions highlighted several areas for enhanced collaborative activities, including Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Social Sciences, Teaching and Learning, and Tourism and Hospitality.
The Swedish delegation included 29 VC’s and other senior representatives of higher education institutions, while the UJ delegation comprised 15 colleagues, including the VC, MEC, ELG members, and other UJ academics and administrators.
‘‘SASUF provides a platform to take South Africa-Swedish collaborations into the future and to build on the shared commitment to a world built on democracy, equality, and sustainability’’, said Prof. Ylva Rodny-Gumede, Senior Director of the UJ Division for Internationalisation.
The visit underscored the longstanding history of collaboration and partnerships between South Africa and Sweden, which dates back to Sweden’s involvement in the anti-apartheid movement, and its deep commitment to democracy and the realisation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.