College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences
Unisa strengthens collaborative ties with major Chinese university
Delegates from CAES and Shandong Agricultural University, with the Unisa Experimental Farm plaque presented by Shandong Agricultural University
The College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES), in collaboration with the Directorate of Internationalisation and Partnerships, hosted a high-level delegation from Shandong Agricultural University (SDAU) on 5 November 2025.
SDAU, established in 1906, is a comprehensive university in Shandong, China. Several academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering are SDAU graduates.
The visit commenced at Unisa’s Muckleneuk Campus, where Professor Solomon Magano, Vice-Principal: Institutional Advancement, welcomed the delegation to Unisa. In his address, Magano shared an overview of the university’s rich legacy and its contribution to national leadership, highlighting distinguished alumni such as former Presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki, as well as the current President, Cyril Ramaphosa. He also noted that Unisa has more than 300 000 students registered across 130 countries, offering over 400 qualifications ranging from higher certificates to doctoral degrees.
Prof Solomon Magano and Prof Jianbo Xu
This was followed by a detailed presentation on Unisa by Dr Angie Magabane, Director: Internationalisation and Partnerships, who spoke about Unisa’s leadership milestones, including the historic appointment of Professor Puleng LenkaBula as the university’s first female Vice-Chancellor and Principal in its 150-year history. Magabane further elaborated on the ten catalytic niche areas identified by Unisa to enhance global collaboration and drive academic excellence.
Professor Ntanganedzeni Mapholi, Acting Executive Dean of CAES, then presented an overview of the college, focusing on its strategic intent, research priorities, and ongoing impactful projects. She also shared insights into the future plans for the newly acquired Unisa Experimental Farm, highlighting potential areas of collaboration with SDAU in research and agricultural innovation.
Representing SDAU, its President, Professor Jianbo Xu, shared that the university was established in 1906 and, while rooted in agricultural sciences, also encompasses faculties such as Humanities. He emphasised that SDAU is ranked number one in agricultural output in China. Xu further provided an insightful overview of the university’s research capabilities, academic strengths, and international standing, underscoring SDAU’s commitment to fostering partnerships that promote sustainable agricultural development and innovation.
The formal proceedings concluded with a robust discussion among all stakeholders on potential areas of collaboration, including joint research initiatives, staff and student exchanges, and capacity-building projects.
The delegation then visited the Unisa Experimental Farm in Bronkhorstspruit, where they explored opportunities for practical collaboration in agricultural research, innovation, and technology transfer.
On 6 November 2025, the SDAU delegation continued its visit to the Science Campus in Florida, where it toured the state-of-the-art CAES Laboratories and the Horticulture Centre, led by Professor Salerwe Mosebi, Head of Laboratories at CAES. The tour aimed to identify further areas for research and laboratory-based collaboration.
The visit was fruitful and productive, laying a strong foundation for future partnerships and collaborative projects between the two institutions.
* By Gugu Masinga, Communication and Marketing Specialist, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
Publish date: 2025/11/19
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