Recently returned from a five-week stay at Ghent University in Belgium, Prof Dorothy Queiros, from the Department of Applied Management in Unisa’s College of Economic and Management Sciences (CEMS), describes the experience as enriching, instructive, thought-provoking and just the beginning of this research collaboration.

Queiros was awarded a Global Minds Short Research Stay, working with Prof Peter Goethals, a specialist in Applied Water Ecology and Sustainable Water Management, and head of the Aquatic Ecology Research Group in the Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology (Faculty of Biosciences Engineering).

Their research centres on mangroves in the African context and aligns with Unisa’s Marine Studies catalytic niche area. "The interdisciplinary collaboration has added tremendous richness to the research," says Queiros. "Working across disciplines allows us to view the research problem through different lenses, leading to deeper insights."

The partnership has its roots in 2022, when Queiros reached out to Goethals following the call for the research stay, which is part of Unisa’s memorandum of understanding with Ghent. Although they missed the deadline that year, the connection sparked a collaboration that continued to grow. In 2023, Queiros was invited to serve as an examiner and member of the jury for a PhD defence at Ghent University. She also presented a paper that year at the 6^th Multidisciplinary Conference of the AU-Gent Africa Platform, where the conference theme was "Knowledge production, research ethics and authorship in African contexts". When the next call was issued in December 2025, the two researchers seized the opportunity, submitting a joint proposal that was subsequently approved by the selection panel at Ghent University.

Apart from the paper in progress, the research opportunity opened doors to new professional networks and stimulating conversations about sustainability challenges and practices across different contexts. Queiros was asked to speak to Ghent postgraduates, postdocs and staff about Unisa’s educational model, focusing on how Unisa defies barriers to provide accessible education in Africa. A second presentation explored reflections on conducting research in rural South Africa, generating valuable dialogue.

"The Global Minds Short Research Stay at Ghent University is a wonderful opportunity to build partnerships with overseas researchers from a highly ranked European University that has a strong connection with Africa," says Queiros. She encourages fellow academics to explore future opportunities through the programme. The first step is to identify a potential collaborator at Ghent University who shares similar research interests and is willing to function as a host promoter. From there, researchers can jointly develop a proposal while awaiting upcoming calls.

Queiros, upon her return from Ghent, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Directorate of Internationalisation and Partnerships for its assistance. In a handwritten note of appreciation, she thanked the directorate for their "immense support and ever-present caring" during her time in Ghent and before her visit.

Siza Magubane, Deputy Director: Internationalisation and Partnerships, and Prof Dorothy Queiros

Siza Magubane, Deputy Director: Internationalisation and Partnerships, played a pivotal role in this support, demonstrating exceptional commitment to facilitating Queiros' experience. Additionally, Queiros gratefully acknowledged the contributions from the Department of Applied Management and the CEMS Deanery, which further enhanced her visit.

* Article prepared by Prof Dorothy Queiros, Associate Professor, Department of Applied Management, College of Economic and Management Sciences