The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has embarked on a strategic visit to the United Kingdom, where a high-level delegation led by Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, is engaging leading universities to strengthen international partnerships and expand opportunities for collaboration.
The visit, taking place from 27 July to 1 August 2026, forms part of UJ’s ongoing commitment to internationalisation, research excellence and global engagement.
The UK programme commenced at the University of Birmingham, where the delegation is engaging with senior leadership and academic colleagues to build on existing collaborations and identify new opportunities in education, artificial intelligence, engineering, health sciences, research, fundraising and global engagement.
Discussions are focused on expanding joint research initiatives, strengthening academic collaboration, enhancing student and staff mobility, deepening alumni engagement, and exploring new opportunities for institutional partnership.
Professor Mpedi said the University of Birmingham remains an important strategic partner through Universitas 21 (U21), the global network of leading research-intensive universities.
“The University of Birmingham is a valued U21 partner, and we already have established links between our academics in Health Sciences, Education and Engineering. This visit allows us to build on those foundations and explore new opportunities for impactful collaboration.”
The programme continues on 28 July with a visit to the University of Oxford, where Professor Mpedi will deliver a lecture hosted by the Centre for Global Higher Education (CGHE). The delegation will also visit the University of Warwick later in the week to strengthen existing collaborations and explore new opportunities in management education, health sciences, engineering and Africa-focused initiatives.
The UK visit reflects UJ’s strategic focus on building meaningful international partnerships that advance research, innovation and knowledge exchange while creating new opportunities for students, academics and professional staff. Through engagements with globally recognised institutions, the University continues to strengthen its position as a leading African university with an expanding international footprint.
