On Thursday, 15 of January 2015, a delegation from the University of Johannesburg (UJ), organized by the Division for Internationalisation, held a meeting with the government of Venezuela to discuss forthcoming South-South postgraduate academic collaborations.

​​Venezuelan Ambassador Mairin Josefina and Minister Counsellor Omar Berroteran Paredes pronounced the South American country’s interest in pursuing an agreement with one of their preferred South African higher education institutions, UJ, particularly within the prestigious faculties of Engineering, Sciences and Health Sciences.

“With its infrastructure and facilities, UJ tries to create an enabling environment for all students’ and aims for conducive study spaces. The international office offers solid support to international students. This is in line with UJ’s interest to foster a strong relationship not only with the Venezuelan government and Venezuelan universities, but important institutions throughout the globe,” said Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, UJ’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Postgraduate Studies and the Library and Information Centre.

Venezuela sends a substantial number of students abroad to pursue their Postgraduate studies from their 30 million people population.

“The movement of students between African and South American countries can create an environment for them to find solutions to common problems that both continents face,” said Dr Motala: Director, Research and Innovation.

Feedback on the signing agreement after the Venezuelan Ambassadors report back to their government will be announced by the end of the first half of 2015​.