In a significant step towards strengthening international collaboration, the University of the Free State (UFS) has joined the launch of SASUF+, the next phase of the South Africa-Sweden University Forum (SASUF), supported by a grant of SEK 13.5 million. Running from August 2025 to August 2028, this new phase will enhance academic cooperation, foster research innovation, and expand mobility opportunities for staff and students between the two countries. 

The SASUF+ initiative will officially kick off in September 2025, with a series of funding calls, collaborative events, and research-driven projects focused on innovation, sustainability, and cross-border academic exchange.

Since joining the South Africa Sweden University Forum in 2017, the UFS has actively embraced opportunities for internationalisation, contributing significantly to the network’s mission of strengthening academic ties between South African and Swedish universities -  and their broader societal ecosystems. 

UFS success stories: building impact through collaboration 

UFS researchers and students have played an integral role in a variety of collaborative initiatives that have achieved tangible results. One notable example is the Future Impact Today (FIT) project, which was launched in 2019 by Prof Corinna Walsh from the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, in partnership with Swedish counterparts. The project focused on improving maternal and child health and was made possible through SASUF funding. 

In 2022, the university received a SASUF Virtual Exchange Grant for a project aimed at enhancing public health nutrition education through virtual collaboration between South Africa and Sweden.

The Afromontane Research Unit (ARU) on the Qwaqwa Campus has also gained international recognition. In 2021, it joined the RangeX project - part of the Horizon BiodivERsA consortium - as the only African and southern hemisphere partner. The ARU established a unique experimental research site in the Maloti-Drakensberg mountains, contributing to global efforts in understanding mountain ecosystems. Project partners include ETH Zurich and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. 

Empowering students, promoting sustainability 

In addition to its research achievements, the UFS actively promotes sustainability and student engagement through its SASUF student structure. Recently, in commemoration of World Hunger Day, the UFS launched a campus food garden (campus name to be confirmed), aligning with Goal 2  (Zero Hunger) of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. This initiative reflects the UFS’s commitment to social impact and inclusive development. 

A new chapter: SASUF+ 

“SASUF+ marks an exciting new chapter in a collaboration that has aged like fine wine - growing richer in partnerships, deeper in research, and stronger in trust,” said Chevon Slambee, SASUF Coordinator at the UFS. “Over the years, the UFS has not only leveraged opportunities within the SASUF network but helped shape a space where collaboration thrives.”  

Slambee noted that SASUF+ is structured around transformative work packages, including: 

“This expanded focus allows us to address not only global priorities but also regional and continent-specific challenges, while fully embracing the principles of inclusion,” she added. “The trust capital built over time enables us to broaden our collaborative scope and make a meaningful impact. SASUF is a true testament to the strength of collaboration and the transformative power of collective action.”