On 19 March 2026, a high-level delegation from China’s Guangdong University of Technology (GDUT), led by its President, Professor Xueqing Qiu, visited  Unisa to strengthen global academic ties and collaborate on knowledge exchange.

The delegation was hosted under the leadership of Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor (VC), Professor Puleng LenkaBula, together with the university’s executive management,  to share exchanges on both universities’ rich history and to discuss mutual academic benefits, and potential areas of collaborations aligned with Unisa’s catalytic niche areas, with a view to entering into a formal memorandum of understanding to cement future partnerships and exchange programmes.

GDUT is a multidisciplinary university specialising in engineering disciplines. It is located in China’s Guangdong Province, which is regarded as the richest province in South Central China. The university is strongly invested in engineering, technology, manufacturing and applied sciences. It boasts impressive rankings in the ARWU, Nature Index, Times Higher Education, and the QS Asia University Rankings.

In 2024, GDUT launched the Nobel Prize Winner Konstantin Joint Laboratory, which focuses on intelligent materials and green electrochemistry, led by Physics Nobel Laureate Professor Konstantin Novoselov, after whom the laboratory is named.

Unisa’s catalytic niche areas poised to lead and strengthen research capacity in the era of artificial intelligence

In her welcome address, the VC stressed the significance of this partnership, stating: “It is important for us as a country and for Unisa to have a strong partnership with our Chinese colleagues and their universities to strengthen our contributions to science and that which enables communities to thrive in the era driven by artificial intelligence (AI). Unisa is reigniting its vision and strengthening its impact in intensive research. Therefore, the ten catalytic niche areas are poised to lead and strengthen these arenas. As a leading global open, distance and eLearning university,  we want our university to be seen as the success of the African continent and to contribute to global sciences continuously.”  

Fertile common ground for collaboration

In his opening remarks, Qiu said that he is appreciative of Unisa’s impressive, rich history and its academic offerings, especially those aligned with the catalytic niche areas, which, he said, have a lot of commonalities with GDUT’s offerings. “This collaboration will further strengthen both our universities' curricula offerings,” he continued.

Prof Xueqing Qiu, President of Guangdong University of Technology, exchanging gifts with Prof Puleng LenkaBula, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor

Qiu explained that among GDUT’s flagship programmes are its international summer camps, which are designed to immerse students in Guangdong Province's industrial landscape. The camp, he said, comprises the Summer Immersive Language and Culture Programme, Outstanding Student Camp, and the Science and Innovation Camp.

A powerhouse in the technical field

Professor Bheki Mamba, Executive Dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology, said he looked forward to expanding Unisa's global reach in its catalytic niche areas. Mamba explained that this collaboration will enhance technology-driven solutions and advance commercialisation.
Continuing, Mamba revealed that the collaboration will be formalised with the signing of a memorandum of understanding in the coming weeks with a view to producing benefits for students and gaining exposure in the commercial corridors of Hong Kong and  Shenzhen (China’s primary technology hub located in Guangdong Province), which are at the height of industrialisation and commercialisation in China.  

“We are very proud to associate ourselves with GDUT,” Mamba concluded. “We will surely achieve a lot when we work together.”

*By Godfrey Madibane, Acting Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement