The University of South Africa (Unisa) is strengthening its international partnerships through its participation in the Southern African-Nordic Centre (SANORD) International Conference, hosted by the University of Namibia in Windhoek from 22 to 25 September 2026.

As a new SANORD member, Unisa's participation provides a platform to expand its relationships with universities across Southern Africa and the Nordic region while creating opportunities for collaborative research, academic mobility and knowledge exchange.

SANORD brings together universities and other higher education stakeholders from Southern Africa and the Nordic countries to promote equitable partnerships, collaborative research, student and staff mobility, and shared knowledge creation.

For Unisa, membership provides an opportunity to deepen its engagement with institutions in both regions and identify areas for research and academic collaboration.

CLAW session presenters

The Unisa delegation was led by Dr Matshediso Molapo, Vice-Principal: Strategy, Risk and Advisory Services, and included students and academics from the College of Human Sciences (CHS), College of Economic and Management Sciences (CEMS), College of Law (CLAW), College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET), as well as representatives from the Directorate: Internationalisation & Partnerships.

The conference brought together students, academics, researchers, university leaders and policymakers to discuss developments and challenges facing higher education and research.

This year's gathering also marked SANORD’s 20th anniversary. Established in 2006, the network has spent two decades facilitating partnerships in research, education, student and staff mobility, institutional learning and international cooperation between Southern African and Nordic institutions.

The 2026 conference was held under the theme "Reimagining knowledge for shared development", which placed knowledge co-creation, inclusive partnerships and the role of universities in addressing societal challenges at the centre of discussions.

For Unisa researchers, the network provides opportunities to engage with international scholars on issues including digital transformation, climate resilience, health, education, governance, entrepreneurship and social justice.

The conference's official opening featured a keynote address by the Prime Minister of Namibia on knowledge co-creation, research, innovation and sustainable development. A roundtable discussion examined the relationship between knowledge, democracy and the future of human development, while a subsequent plenary considered the role of global collaboration in transforming higher education.

Workshops throughout the conference focused on research cultures, cooperation between SANORD partner universities and ways of strengthening Africa-Nordic collaboration.

Discussions across the programme also highlighted the growing importance of both North-South and South-South cooperation in addressing global challenges.

Participants explored models of collaborative online learning, student and staff mobility, joint research and international partnerships aimed at supporting more inclusive knowledge systems and equitable development.

Particular attention was given to the internationalisation of higher education, digital inclusion, virtual exchanges and Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), as well as the role of technology in expanding access to higher education.

These discussions have particular relevance for Unisa as an open distance and e-learning institution, providing opportunities to examine how international networks and digital platforms can strengthen teaching, learning and research while exposing students to global perspectives.

Dr Matshediso Molapo, Vice-Principal: Strategy, Risk and Advisory Services.

On the second day of the conference, Molapo represented Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor Prof Puleng LenkaBula at the SANORD Vice-Chancellors Forum.

The forum considered the future of Nordic-African research partnerships and the role of universities in advancing sustainable development through policy engagement, collaborative research and international partnerships.

The discussions reinforced the role of SANORD as a platform for institutions in Southern Africa and the Nordic region to develop partnerships and respond collectively to regional and global priorities.

For Unisa, the forum also provided an opportunity to identify potential institutional partners, explore areas for collaborative research and contribute to discussions on the future of international higher education cooperation.

Dr Angie Magabane, Director: Internationalisation & Partnerships, represented Unisa at the SANORD Contact Persons Meeting and SANORD Council Meeting.

The meetings considered the network's organisational performance, financial matters and strategic priorities, including efforts to strengthen research cooperation, internationalisation and knowledge exchange across the SANORD network.

As a new member, Unisa was able to participate in discussions with representatives of universities from Southern Africa and the Nordic region and contribute to deliberations on the future direction of the network.

For the Unisa delegation, participation in SANORD 2026 provided an opportunity to represent the university’s academic community in international discussions on the future of higher education and research.

The conference also created opportunities for networking, knowledge exchange and the development of relationships that could translate into future research, mobility and institutional partnerships.

Unisa's participation marks an early step in its engagement with SANORD and provides a platform for the university to build sustained academic relationships across Southern Africa and the Nordic region.

* By Dr Angie Magabane, Director: Internationalisation & Partnerships, and Ms Phinda Mkontwana, Lecturer: Public Relations, Department of Communication Science