students

The University of Pretoria collaborates with over 3 000 institutions across the globe and has some 230 international institution-wide partnerships across 70 countries and six continents. In 2022, a few more international partnerships were strengthened.

University of Bristol, United Kingdom

The Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education at the University of Bristol, Prof Tansy Jessop, visited the University of Pretoria (UP) to discuss areas where both universities can produce transdisciplinary research, improve their curricula and create opportunities for students.

Prof Loretta Feris, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic at UP, addressed a number of issues of universal interest. These include student mental health and identifying at-risk students early by monitoring class attendance and participation. She pointed out that first-generation students also need support and the University of Bristol has mechanisms in place that actively identify, select and support them.

Carleton University, Canada

UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Tawana Kupe and Carleton University President and Vice-Chancellor

Dr Benoit-Antoine Bacon formalised an institutional agreement to facilitate transdisciplinary research collaboration and student and faculty exchange. The agreement was signed in the presence of SA High Commissioner to Canada HE Rieaz Shaik.

The agreement, which was signed at Carleton University campus in Ottawa, forms part of UP’s internationalisation and global engagement initiative – the African Global University Project (AGUP), which intends to develop much deeper and meaningful collaboration with selected institutions across the world to address local and global challenges, particularly as they relate to the African context.

University of York, United Kingdom

Earlier this year, UP accepted an invitation to become a member of the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), a global community of universities who leverage partnerships and collaboration. York is a fellow member. UP had already enjoyed fruitful discussions with York throughout 2022 and a visit in November 2022 built on these talks.

UP’s Prof Tawana Kupe noted: “UP’s vision is to be an African university with global relevance and impact, and this cannot be done without strong international partners. York is a like-minded institution with which we would like to develop a long-term relationship as a core partner under UP’s Africa Global University Project.”