Prof Puleng LenkaBula, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor (VC), and Prof Evelyn Welch, the University of Bristol’s Vice-Chancellor and President, signed a groundbreaking memorandum of understanding (MoU) on behalf of their institutions on Thursday 19 October, to strengthen collaboration in science, research and innovation. 

Prof Puleng LenkaBula, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor, and Prof Evelyn Welch, the University of Bristol’s Vice-Chancellor and President, signing the groundbreaking memorandum of understanding between the two institutions

Based in the United Kingdom (UK), the University of Bristol traces its roots back to 1595 and consistently ranks in the world’s top 100 and the UK’s top ten universities. 

This agreement comes on the back of the successful launch of the Africa Charter for Transformative Research Collaborations, the brainchild of Prof Puleng Segalo, incumbent of the Chief Albert Luthuli Research Chair at Unisa, co-constructed with colleagues from the University of Cape Town’s Institute for Humanities in Africa (HUMA) and the University of Bristol’s Perivoli Africa Research Centre (PARC).

Reclaiming Africa’s place in the global pluriverse

The objective of the Africa Charter is to develop transformative research collaborations that will serve to advance a more just and richer pluriversal global scientific effort across the formal, natural and social sciences, as well as the arts and humanities, in which Africa takes its rightful place. It has become a globally defining document on partnerships between the Global South and Global North, having been adopted by 88 universities during and following its launch at the African Association of Universities’ Biennial Conference of Rectors and Vice-Chancellors in Namibia earlier this year.  

Speaking at the signing ceremony, LenkaBula said: “Unisa is proud to be associated with conceptualising the African Charter and we are pleased to continue the conversation with Professor Isabella Aboderin here at the Perivoli Africa Research Centre to continue the planning process to ensure that this ambitious project is fully implemented and bears the fruits for which it was established. The UK has had long-standing partnerships with Africa. It is critical to look at these partnerships from a social justice and ethical perspective, and rethink how our collaborations function and how these continue the inequities and injustices. The UK, and by extension, the University of Bristol, needs to acknowledge that solutions for global crises are possible if there is modesty – intellectually, pedagogically, and epistemically – as this offers opportunities for learning.” 

Welch said that the University of Bristol and Unisa already have a strong relationship around the charter, and that during the conversations in Namibia she immediately identified that the institution’s areas of strength in the health sciences are matched to the interests of Unisa. Welch said that she anticipated rigorous engagements between the two institutions’ various faculties on the areas of interest. 

A shot in the arm for health sciences 

Following the MoU signing, the VC and the delegation from Unisa held in-depth discussions with PARC on how to promote the charter to become a globally recognised approach to partnership. It was agreed that the two institutions’ leadership and heads of the relevant units will look at ways of optimising and enhancing work in one of Unisa’s ten catalytic niche areas, that of health sciences and medicine, to advance varied iterations of healthcare. The university’s College of Human Sciences (CHS) is overseeing the activities in this niche area in partnership with the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES). 

Back, from left: Prof Zethu Nkosi (Executive Dean: CHS, Unisa), Prof Monde Ntwasa (Acting Executive Dean, CAES, Unisa), Prof Puleng Segalo (incumbent of the Chief Albert Luthuli Research Chair, Unisa), Prof Isabella Aborderin (Director: PARC, University of Bristol), Dr Sandiswa Figlan, (Academic Researcher, CAES, Unisa), Rob Etheridge and Prof Liang-Fong Wong (Research Fellow, University of Bristol)
Front, from left: Prof Ntanganedzeni Mapholi (Deputy Executive Dean: CAES, Unisa), Prof Eunice Seekoe (Distinguished Professor, CHS, Unisa, and Sefako Makgatho University), Dr Maureen Tong (Director: Special Projects and International Relations, Office of the VC, Unisa), Prof Puleng LenkaBula (Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Unisa), Prof Evelyn Welch (Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Bristol) and Dr Susan Jim (Manager: PARC, University of Bristol)

Key participants during meetings with the University of Bristol’s Medical School to deepen collaboration regarding this niche area were Prof Zethu Nkosi, Executive Dean: CHS, Prof Monde Ntwasa, Acting Executive Dean: CAES, Prof Ntanganedzeni Mapholi, Acting Deputy Executive Dean: CAES, Prof Eunice Sekoe, Distinguished Professor in CHS, and Dr Sandiswa Figlan, Academic Researcher in CAES.   

Placing the focus on the human side of the health sciences, Segalo presented a research seminar on "Stitching the trauma: research creation, obstetric violence and advocacy", in which she outlined a community embroidery project for women and its success in making visible the silences around obstetric violence.

The MoU signing and extensive engagements were an integral part of Unisa’s new vision, spearheaded by its VC, which is anchored, amongst others, on the need to advance and enhance internationalisation and strategic partnerships, especially  in research, innovation, engaged scholarship and science diplomacy.

* By Nolwazi Mwabi, Director, Department of Institutional Advancement