The University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Faculty of Education has strengthened its international footprint by formalising a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Newcastle (UoN) in Australia. Signed on 12 June 2026, the agreement establishes a collaborative partnership that will advance research, academic exchange and innovation in education until the end of 2030.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Prof Nadine Petersen, Executive Dean of the UJ Faculty of Education, and Prof Terence Lovat, Emeritus Professor and former Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Arts) at the University of Newcastle. Prof Sarita Ramsaroop, Vice-Dean, witnessed the signing, along with Research and Innovation in the Faculty of Education, and Prof Victoria Graham, Senior Director: Strategic Initiatives and Administration at the University of Newcastle. Also in attendance were Prof Nazreen Dasoo, UNESCO Chair in Values Education (Learning to Live Together) at UJ and host of Prof Lovat during his visit, together with Prof Bhaso Ndzendze, Director of Global Engagement at UJ.
While the signing marked the formal commencement of the partnership, the relationship between the two institutions has been cultivated over many years through a twenty-one-year academic collaboration between Prof Dasoo and Prof Lovat. Their shared commitment to values education, scholarship and UNESCO initiatives has laid the foundation for a partnership that has now evolved into a formal institutional agreement.
Prof Dasoo holds one of the University of Johannesburg’s longest-standing UNESCO/UNITWIN Chairs and was among the first academics at the University to be awarded this distinction. Her work through the UNESCO/UNITWIN Chair in Values Education (Learning to Live Together) has positioned UJ as a recognised leader in values education. Coupled with the University of Newcastle’s internationally recognised expertise and participation in the UNESCO/UNITWIN network, the partnership creates significant opportunities to expand collaborative research, strengthen international academic networks, produce joint publications, and enhance global engagement.
Reflecting on the significance of the agreement, Prof Petersen said:
“This partnership represents far more than the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. It formalises a relationship that has been nurtured over many years through shared scholarship, mutual respect and a commitment to advancing education globally. We are proud to partner with the University of Newcastle to create opportunities for collaborative research, academic exchange and innovation that will benefit both institutions and contribute meaningfully to the global education community.”
She added that the agreement demonstrates the value of investing in long-term academic relationships.
“The work undertaken through Prof Nazreen Dasoo’s UNESCO Chair has laid a strong foundation for this collaboration. It is particularly rewarding to see years of scholarly engagement culminate in an institutional partnership that will create opportunities for our staff, students and the broader international research community.”
The collaboration brings together two universities with established strengths in teacher education, spanning initial teacher preparation through to postgraduate and doctoral studies. A key focus of the partnership will be joint research in values education and related fields, building on the work of UJ’s UNESCO/UNITWIN Chair in Values Education and the University of Newcastle’s internationally recognised scholarship.
The agreement will also promote academic and student exchange, collaborative research projects, joint publications and the sharing of best practices between the two institutions. Through the University of Newcastle’s participation in the UNESCO/UNITWIN network, the partnership will further strengthen international collaboration and expand opportunities for global engagement.
Beyond education, the Memorandum of Understanding provides a platform for multidisciplinary collaboration across areas of shared academic strength. The partnership also aligns with the strategic priorities of both institutions by supporting initiatives that advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reinforcing their shared commitment to sustainability, social impact, and educational transformation.
As both institutions begin implementing the agreement, the partnership is expected to enhance international research, strengthen academic networks and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of education through global collaboration.
