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02 November 2023
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Story Kekeletso Makau
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Photo SUPPLIED
The UFS Heads of Mission Breakfast event attracted a distinguished delegation of foreign diplomatic missions.
The second Heads of Diplomatic Mission breakfast was hosted by the University of the Free State (UFS) in collaboration with the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) in Pretoria, South Africa on 26 October 2023.
The event served as an opportunity to position the UFS as a preferred partner for international collaboration in higher education, research, and innovation – following the success of the inaugural event in 2022. More than ten diplomatic missions were represented by distinguished foreign mission representatives who shared in the deliberations on this year’s theme, namely partnerships and collaborations.
The keynote address was delivered by the UFS Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Francis Petersen, with contributing presentations from MISTRA researcher Laurence Caromba, UFS Professor of Pharmacology, Prof Motlalepula Matsabisa, and Senior Lecturer from the Centre for Gender and Africa Studies, Dr Grey Magaiza. A key goal of Prof Petersen’s presentation was to highlight the benefits of reciprocal collaboration and co-creation of knowledge with international partners, including industry partners. Contributing presentations posited the UFS as a partner of interest in research, innovation, and technology in the international arena and showcased the value of university and diplomatic partnerships in support of the UFS Internationalisation Strategy and Vision 130.
Caromba, a MISTRA researcher, reiterated the importance of collaboration between universities, research institutes, and the diplomatic community, further reaffirming the partnership value proposition entrenched in the UFS-MISTRA collaboration in co-hosting this year’s event. MISTRA, a renowned influential think tank, served as an excellent partner for the event.
The UFS currently boasts more than 100 vibrant international partnerships and is the incumbent coordinator of large EU-funded Erasmus+ projects among South African universities, with UFS researchers having co-authored more than 5 000 scientific publications with universities worldwide (2018-2022).
An engaging question-and-answer session concluded with insights and further action items for continued engagement post the event.
UFS strengthens links with Japan
2008-03-04
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The University of the Free State (UFS) has strengthened strategic links with Japan in various areas of research in the fields of material and nano sciences, as well as biotechnology. Joint funding opportunities for research were discussed with the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Tokyo University of Agriculture and the Tokyo Institute for Science and Technology. A framework for extended co-operation and research support was also developed and will be finalised during the 2nd SA-Japan University Forum meeting in Cape Town in April 2008. This follows the recent visit of the Head of Internationalisation at the UFS, Dr Aldo Stroebel, to Japan. His visit was facilitated by the ambassador of SA to Japan, Dr Ben Ngubane. Pictured from the left are: Dr Ngubane, Dr Uri Ofir (advisor to the Ambassador) and Dr Stroebel.
Photo: Supplied
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