Unisa and the University of Namibia (UNAM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the second day of the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM). The ceremony was a significant highlight of the conference, with three other universities - Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Makerere University (Uganda), and Chinhoyi University of Technology (Zimbabwe) - also signing agreements with UNAM.

Unisa and UNAM sign landmark MOU at RUFORUM Conference

The event was graced by officials from the four universities and vice-chancellors from various institutions across the continent, reflecting a strong commitment to fostering African academic collaboration. The MOUs symbolise a united effort by African universities to collaboratively develop and implement innovative and sustainable solutions to address the continent's challenges.

Strengthening Unisa and UNAM ties

Unisa and UNAM share a rich history of collaboration rooted in the close and robust bilateral relationship between South Africa and Namibia. Unisa's achievements in research, innovation, science and engineering have long attracted partnerships from universities across the continent and beyond. The newly signed MOU between the two universities seeks to solidify these ties further, promoting broad African collaboration and internationalisation.

In her remarks, Unisa's Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Puleng LenkaBula, underscored the importance of intentional collaboration among African universities. She emphasised that such partnerships are crucial for developing knowledge that benefits the continent while also engaging with institutions in the global north. The vice-chancellors of both universities agreed that this partnership would enhance their collective capacity to conduct groundbreaking research, enabling academics and students to revolutionise science and shape Africa's intellectual future. Giving remarks about the African collaborations, Prof Kenneth Matengu, Vice-Chancellor: University of Namibia and President of the Pan-African University Council, stated: "What the Africans know, they must share, and what they do not know, they must find out."

The South African High Commission in Namibia, represented by Acting High Commissioner Pela Selomo, played a pivotal role in supporting the signing of the agreements. Collaborating closely with colleagues at UNAM, Selomo helped ensure that the ceremony was both memorable and smoothly executed, underscoring the strong diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Areas of collaboration

The MOU outlines several key areas for collaboration between Unisa and UNAM, including but not limited to:

• Advancing agricultural ecosystems and innovation in Africa;
• Promoting research collaboration across diverse fields of study;
• Encouraging joint research programs among students, academics, and professional staff;
• Facilitating joint publications in credible, high-impact journals;
• Creating platforms for knowledge exchange, research dissemination, and networking among academics;
• Conducting joint public policy dialogues and participating in each other's conferences, workshops, and technical training;
• Engaging in topical issues such as the future of work, business development, gender inclusion, and the One Health initiative;
• Establishing academic linkages with a focus on building capacities for implementing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA);
• Collaborating on initiatives within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and beyond.

The agreement also allows for the development of additional collaborative activities as mutually agreed by both universities, with specific conditions to be detailed in a future programme.

The MOU represents a significant step forward in African academic cooperation, promising new opportunities for students, academics and researchers across the continent.

As the day progressed at the RUFORUM conference, the Unisa delegation strategically engaged with various dignitaries, actively seeking to foster collaborations with those eager to undertake serious academic work with the university. These interactions facilitated valuable information exchanges, with plans set in motion for side meetings both during the conference and in the future. Most importantly, LenkaBula and Matsiababa Motebele had a chance to engage with His Excellency Kora Tushune, Minister of the Ministry of Education in Ethiopia, about Unisa's Regional Campus in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

* Submitted by the Office of the Vice-Chancellor