In a bid to explore opportunities for international collaboration, a delegation from Ashesi University in Accra, Ghana, recently visited the North-West University's (NWU’s) Vanderbijlpark Campus.

The delegation, which included Rose Dodd, executive director of the Education Collaborative, Vanessa Sam, senior operations and member institutions coordinator, and Rowland Opoku, digital communications officer, met with various campus leaders and colleagues from the career centre during their one-day visit.

The visit follows discussions held in June 2023 with a multi-country team at the June Convention in Ghana. During this time Prof Elrie Oosthuysen, director of the School of Industrial Psychology and Human Resource Management, presented a workshop, during which the possibility of establishing a Southern African Hub with partner universities was discussed. This led to the latest follow-up visit by the Ashesi University delegation.

The delegation met with Prof Linda du Plessis, vice-principal and deputy vice-chancellor for planning and Vanderbijlpark Campus operations, Prof Babs Surujlal, executive dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, and Prof Oosthuysen, among others. This was followed by a campus tour, and a visit to the library and student support facilities.

Prof Oosthuysen says she is excited about the discussions that took place. "The establishment of a Southern African Hub will broaden collaboration opportunities and provide a platform for partnering with other institutions in Africa. It also presents opportunities for funding, knowledge exchange, and cross-cultural learning experiences for students and staff," she adds.

Prof Du Plessis says the visit by the Ashesi University delegation highlights the importance of international collaboration in promoting academic excellence and advancing research and innovation.

"As more institutions explore opportunities for international partnerships, the potential for creating a more connected and collaborative academic community becomes even greater."

A delegation from Ashesi University in Accra, Ghana, recently visited the NWU’s Vanderbijlpark Campus.