This partnership aims to foster collaboration between the two institutions and strengthen their contributions to advancing higher education across the African continent.

Professor Boitumelo Senokoane, Acting Executive Director at UNISA’s Department of Institutional Advancement, explained the significance of the agreement. “One of the biggest ideas driving our strategy is reclaiming Africa’s intellectual futures and accelerating transformation within the continent. We need to work with other African institutions to ensure our efforts remain rooted in African customs, cultures, and traditions,” he said.

The partnership is expected to deliver joint multidisciplinary research projects, academic publications, and collaborative academic events. “We aim to conduct lectures, organise symposia, conferences, and workshops between UNISA and Makerere. This ensures the knowledge and information we share benefits both SA and Uganda,” Senokoane added.

The agreement also emphasises student exchange programmes. “We want to encourage students from across the continent to study at UNISA while also exposing our students to institutions like Makerere. This will help break borders in knowledge production and ensure that African students and scholars contribute to building a better continent,” said Senokoane.

He further encouraged other African universities to embrace collaboration rather than competition. “African universities must work together to progress the continent’s vision. This partnership serves as an example of how we can prioritise our traditions and cultures while advancing the African agenda,” he said.

Senokoane highlighted the importance of making MOUs actionable. “In the past, institutions have signed MOUs without meaningful follow-up. We hope this partnership demonstrates the value of moving beyond formal agreements to create tangible outcomes that benefit Africa’s future,” he said.

--ChannelAfrica--