The University of Johannesburg (UJ) hosted the Ambassador of Haiti to South Africa, His Excellency Mr Jean Robert Pillard, for a campus tour highlighting the institution’s innovative hubs and research facilities on Monday, 17 August 2026.
Accompanied by UJ Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, the Ambassador visited key sites across UJ campuses, including the Centre for Ecological Intelligence (CEI) at the Auckland Park Bunting Road Campus (APB), as well as the Rescue Simulation Centre, the Optometry Clinic, and the 3D-printed house at the Doornfontein Campus (DFC).
During the tour of the CEI Hub, Professor Michael Rudolph, CEI Director, demonstrated UJ’s use of sustainable farming practices and composting to enhance food security. He mentioned the use of greywater generation and bioremediation to repurpose the water for irrigation, aligning with the water-energy-food nexus.
Ambassador Pillard noted parallel challenges regarding deforestation in parts of the world, suggesting that reforestation and fruit tree planting could offer viable solutions.
Prof Rudolph emphasised the importance of government support and the role of partnerships and collaboration in addressing developmental goals. Together with the VC, they discussed the potential for workshops and school programmes in South Africa and Haiti, highlighting the importance of research, training, advocacy and demonstration in unlocking potential.
Ambassador Pillard expressed interest in securing a formal agreement with the Haitian and South African governments, specifically the Ministry of Agriculture, to pursue potential collaboration and partnership.
At the Doornfontein Campus, the Ambassador was welcomed by the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Annie Temane, before touring the Rescue Centre and the Optometry Clinic. Head of Department for Emergency Medical Care (EMC), Prof Craig Vincent-Lambert, and Rescue Centre Acting Manager, Connor Hartnady, guided the delegation through Africa’s first advanced Rescue Simulation Centre—a facility designed to transform emergency and disaster response training across the continent. The Ambassador noted that Haiti’s previous experience with disasters makes collaboration essential, specifically recommending an integrated training programme between Haitian personnel and the EMC team.
The delegation also visited UJ’s 3D-printed house, where they were hosted by Professor Jeffrey Mahachi from the Department of Civil Engineering Technology to review affordable, tech-driven housing solutions.
Closing the tour, Dr Nabeela Hasrod, Head of the Department of Optometry, emphasised the clinic’s dual focus on hands-on student training and direct community impact. She highlighted outreach efforts through the department’s Eye Give Back initiative, which provides free eye examinations, vision screenings, educational workshops, and donated spectacles to vulnerable communities across South Africa. Dr Hasrod also noted that the department is exploring AI-driven solutions to assist with facial recognition and optimal frame selection for patients.
By uniting technological innovation, practical research, and community outreach, UJ continues to advance its core strategic pillars of academic excellence and societal impact, driving meaningful progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on a global scale.
