There was a calm sense of purpose at North-West University (NWU) as a high-level delegation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia arrived to explore future collaboration. Warm greetings were exchanged, discussions began with focus and intent and a shared optimism demonstrated the significance of the moment.
The visit, led by His Excellency Soliman Abdullah Alhomidan, Commercial Attaché of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to South Africa and representative of the General Authority for Foreign Trade, sought to explore potential strategic collaborations between the NWU and leading Saudi universities and industry partners.
The discussions form part of broader engagements aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reform agenda. , which has placed strong emphasis on higher education, healthcare innovation, mining development and digital transformation.
For the NWU, the visit represented more than an official engagement, it was an important step in strengthening global partnerships with tangible impact.
Welcoming the delegation, Prof. Mzubanzi Bismark Tyobeka, principal and vice-chancellor of the NWU, expressed appreciation for their direct engagement.
“We value the effort to come and see us,” he said. “At the NWU, we are always looking for new ways to expand, but we do not pursue expansion for its own sake. We expand where we can make a meaningful impact.”
Prof. Awie Kotzé, executive dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, highlighted the potential in the university’s developing medical school. He spoke about shared opportunities in clinical training, health sciences research, and specialised fields such as sports medicine, noting that partnerships with well-resourced institutions can enhance capacity on both sides.
In mining and engineering, Prof. Liezl van Dyk, executive dean of the Faculty of Engineering, described the potential collaboration as a significant opportunity to address the complex challenges currently facing the mining and mineral beneficiation sectors. The planned School of Mines and Mining Engineering could benefit significantly from joint research, scholarships, and industry engagement with experienced partners.
The Saudi delegation spoke openly and proudly about the changes that their country has made over the past 10 years. They shared how they have improved in areas such as infrastructure, digital systems and research. The delegation expressed strong interest in partnering with institutions that combine academic excellence with industry relevance.
The morning concluded with a shared lunch, where conversations continued in a lighter, warm atmosphere. Before that, Prof. Tyobeka took the opportunity to highlight a cause close to his heart: the urgent need for more veterinary students in South Africa.
“South Africa faces significant challenges in veterinary care and in training sufficient numbers of professionals,” he said. “I hope that through collaborations like these, we can create opportunities for students to study veterinary science and, in the process, make a real difference for people and animals across the country.”
Silvanus Welcome, director for development and fundraising, summed up the day in a way that truly captured its spirit. He emphasised that that partnerships are not defined by agreements alone, but by sustained collaboration that delivers measurable societal benefit.
