Describing the University of Johannesburg (UJ) as an international university of choice anchored in Africa and pursuing initiatives that accelerates the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the University’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Tshilidzi Marwala stressed that he strongly believes in a globalised higher education landscape.
Joined by members of the University’s Executive Leadership Group, Prof Marwala engaged a high-level team led by the University of Potsdam President, Prof Oliver Günther who visited UJ on Thursday, 1 March 2018.
Conversations on pragmatic ways forward to expand international focus took centre stage as they explored a number of areas of interest, which included more effective and influential learning and teaching and joint research.
Prof Marwala pointed out that part of UJ’s international drive is to continue to forge and maintain relationships with European partners and that the University is open for business with its cultural allies.
”We welcome international students and are keen for our students to engage with German higher education institutions and explore the potential of joint qualifications. Furthermore, we would like to promote exchanges amongst our academic and administrative staff,” Prof Marwala said.
Prof Oliver Günther – President, University of Potsdam noted, ”I am very impressed with how UJ has evolved in such a short space of time. Internationalisation is a major strategic objective for a young university like Potsdam because we want to be visible and especially visible in the global rankings. We want to increase our international networks and we welcome the idea of looking at further collaborations with UJ.”
With Brandenburg’s largest university and numerous extramural institutes, Potsdam is known as one of the regions with the highest density of research facilities in Germany. Since its founding 25 years ago, the University of Potsdam has excelled in research and teaching and is well positioned both on a national and international scale.
Prof Marwala concluded: “International understanding requires dialogue and we are delighted at the prospect of collaboration between UJ and the University of Potsdam.”
Read: UJ fosters international collaboration with US-based public research university.
