A top-level academic delegation from Sweden, consisting of vice-chancellors from various Swedish universities and representatives of Swedish funding agencies, are currently visiting Southern Africa. Their trip is taking place between 14 and 18 March and includes visits to various universities in South Africa and Botswana. It was organised by the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT) and the Swedish Higher Education Authority. The delegation aims to foster new relationships, and nurture established ones, between academic institutions in Sweden and these countries.

The delegation, headed by Swedish University Chancellor, Prof Harriette Wallberg, began their tour of Southern Africa at the University of Pretoria (UP) on Monday, 14 March, where they were hosted by Prof Stephanie Burton, Vice-Principal: Research and Postgraduate Studies and the deans of faculties at the University.  

Prof Cheryl de la Rey, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UP, addressed the delegation, after which delegates engaged in group discussions with the deans. They also had the opportunity to see the state-of-the-art facilities the University has to offer in the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology.

The delegation had the opportunity to see the state-of-the-art facilities the University has to offer in the Faculty of Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology

The delegation’s visit follows after STINT, in cooperation with the Swedish Research Council (VR), the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (Forte) and the Swedish Research Council (Formas), made an investment of 5,3 million SEK (approximately R10 million) into ten projects that form part of the South Africa-Sweden Bilateral Scientific Research Cooperation Programme for the period of 2016 to 2019, at the end of last year. The National Research Foundation (NRF) is supporting the South African groups who are included in these projects with an equivalent amount. UP is among the South African institutions included in these projects, and also has a number of other long-term collaboration agreements with various Swedish institutions. Staff and students from UP regularly take part in exchange programmes with universities in Sweden.

Following their visit to UP, the delegation is visiting the universities of the Witwatersrand, Stellenbosch and Cape Town. In addition, a meeting to which all the Vice-Chancellors of universities in South Africa have been invited has been scheduled for Friday, 18 March 2016.  It is envisaged that the delegation’s visit this week will pave the way for even greater collaboration between the two countries in the future.