The University of South Africa (Unisa) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Fern Universität of Hagen in Germany. The MoU, signed on Monday, 23 September 2024, seeks to strengthen collaboration between the two universities in areas of research, student exchanges, and the joint development of academic programmes, UNISA said in a statement on Monday, September 21.
The Fern University of Hagen is Germany’s only state-owned open distance-learning university and its largest by numbers. Under the partnership, the two universities will foster collaborative research initiatives, the sharing of resource management and promote cross-cultural understanding and knowledge sharing for the benefit of the student populations.
Unisa’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Puleng LenkaBula expressed her excitement at the opportunity to collaborate with another state-owned open and distance e-Learning institution (ODeL).
“I would like to believe that at the core of this partnership lies a shared vision – a vision that seeks to empower our societies and continues to break geographical barriers through the provision of lifelong learning using a groundbreaking model known as ODeL.” said Prof LenkaBula.
According to Unisa, the collaboration will also serve as a geopolitical bridge between South Africa and Germany, further strengthening diplomatic ties and promoting global citizenship.
Germany is South Africa’s second-largest bilateral trading partner and shares development cooperation in the fields of good governance, energy, health, vocational education, and the prevention of violence.
South Africa’s partnership with Germany in education has been fruitful, particularly in the development of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges and Universities of Technology (Technikon), as well as practical work experiences that have been offered by German companies, especially in the German automotive sector.
Earlier this year, in March 2024, South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Buti Manamela, hosted Germany’s Secretary of State for the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Prof. Dr Sabine Döring, during her visit to South Africa. The two discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in education and committed to exploring other avenues for further collaboration.
The collaboration between UNISA and Fern University is a continuation of the fruitful relationship between South Africa and Germany, particularly in the fields of higher education and vocational training.
Prof Puleng LenkaBula emphasised the importance of the MoU, stating that the partnership will produce new synergies between the two universities.
“The signing of this MOU between our universities symbolises a partnership which we believe will lead to many new joint research initiatives that produce new synergies and add academic value for both universities in the years ahead.” said Prof LenkaBula.
