The University of Johannesburg (UJ) welcomed representatives from 15 Canadian universities and colleges on 4 March 2025, reinforcing its strong academic ties with Canada. The engagement, held in the Alan Paton Boardroom at the APK Library, focused on strengthening partnerships and exploring strategic areas of mutual interest.
UJ has long-standing collaborations with Canadian institutions and works closely with the Canadian High Commission. In 2024, UJ and the High Commission jointly marked 30 years of South African democracy with the event Marking 30 Years of Democracy: Looking Back and Forging Ahead, which focused on empowering young people through education and strategic partnerships.
The visit formed part of a broader mission by Canadian universities to engage with South African higher education institutions and foster new academic collaborations. The UJ delegation comprised 10 senior colleagues, including Professor Refilwe Phaswana-Mafuya, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation, who officially welcomed the guests. Professor Ylva Rodny-Gumede, Head of the Division for Global Engagement, provided an in-depth overview of the university, while UJ academics highlighted their faculties’ strengths. The session concluded with a discussion, where academics on both sides identified synergies and agreed to pursue further engagements.
“For us to host a Canadian delegation of this size and stature is truly heartwarming and important, particularly since we work so closely with many Canadian higher education institutions,” said Prof. Rodny-Gumede. “We also work closely with the Canadian High Commission in South Africa, which has partnered with us on several high-level engagements involving our students and staff.”
Karen Dalkie, Vice President of Development and Partnerships at the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), echoed this sentiment: “There is tremendous potential to further deepen the already strong foundation of partnerships between Canadian and South African post-secondary institutions. Our delegation was deeply honoured to be warmly welcomed at UJ, where we discovered many complementary strengths and shared priorities. We look forward to exploring this potential for impactful and reciprocal partnerships in the months and years to come.”
The visit underscored UJ’s commitment to global engagement and the continued expansion of its international partnerships, further positioning the university as a key player in higher education collaboration between Africa and North America.
