PRETORIA – The University of Pretoria (UP) and China’s Nanjing University (NJU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish institutional ties aimed at fostering student exchange programmes and promoting joint research projects in fields such as cancer treatments, sustainable development, engineering and artificial intelligence, and climate change.

The agreement was signed at UP’s Hatfield Campus on 5 August 2025 by the universities’ respective leadership, in the presence of faculty members and dignitaries from both countries. It is hoped that the MoU will pave the way for enhanced academic collaboration.

The key objectives of the partnership are highlighted as:

Student exchange programmes: facilitating intercultural academic experiences and knowledge transfer.

Joint research projects: enhancing joint research in fields such as health sciences, sustainable development, engineering and artificial intelligence, and climate change; and collaboration with UP’s Department of Political Sciences on research issues that address development challenges and strengthen Asia-Africa relations. 

Professor Francis Petersen, UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal, highlighted the mutual benefits of the partnership: “We have a very strong interaction with the local and international industry, including private-sector commerce, but one of the things that are important to us are key partnerships – because partnerships are about relationship. It is not only about delivering academic content; it is about how we connect as institutions.”

Professor Tan Tieniu, Chair of the NJU CPC Council and Fellow of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said, “We have a number of initiatives to support people at different stages of their career who spend some time with us – from professors, staff and students. An area for future collaboration that we would like to explore further is our strongest discipline, chemistry, and other fields like computer science, artificial intelligence and mineral engineering.”

Two leading institutions

UP is regarded as one of the leading universities in Africa, with a commitment to empowering students to think critically and equipping them for academic success. It is home to 82 research institutes and centres and 43 research chairs, and ranks in the top 1% of universities worldwide in 14 of 22 key science fields.  

Similarly, NJU has a proud legacy of scientific breakthroughs and a dedication to community improvement. It spearheaded personalised chemotherapy treatments that have changed cancer care and is a catalyst for interdisciplinary excellence tackling real-world challenges – from AI to advanced chip development and climate change to renewable energy. 

Attendees at the signing heard that UP’s dedication to African development through knowledge and NJU’s reputation of excellence in medical innovation and technology would no doubt pave the way to fruitful collaborations that will impact many lives.