The University of Venda (UNIVEN) Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Dr Bernard Nthambeleni, led a UNIVEN delegation consisting of Executive and Senior Management Staff to Switzerland on 22 – 27 September 2019. The delegation consisting of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic – Professor Jan Crafford; Deputy Vice-Chancellor Operations – Dr Robert Martin; Director of Research and Innovation – Senior Professor Georges Ekosse; and Director of Centre for Higher Education, Teaching and Learning – Professor Nancy Mutshaeni. The primary purpose of the working visit to Switzerland was to develop networks and collaborations with universities in Switzerland in order to foster our efforts in research, innovation, technology transfer, and teaching & learning.
UNIVEN’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Dr Nthambeleni on behalf of the University signed a MoU with Dean and Managing Director of Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture, Professor Viktor Sigrist.
UNIVEN Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Dr Bernard Nthambeleni making a presentation
UNIVEN delegation and hosts in one of the laboratories at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Lucerne
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic – Professor Jan Crafford, and Director Research and Innovation – Senior Professor Georges Ekosse, at the premises of Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Lucerne
UNIVEN delegation, selected Staff of Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Wadenswil, and colleagues from Institute of Tropical Health Basel
The working visit was coordinated from the Office of Science and Technology of the Embassy of Switzerland to South Africa under the leadership of Ms Jackie Fernandel who is the Counsellor of Science and Technology in the Swiss Embassy. The following universities were visited: Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Lucerne; Rapperswil University of Applied Sciences, Rapperswil; Winterthur; Bern University of Applied Sciences, Zollikofen; Biel; Switzerland Innovation Park, Biel; Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Wadenswil; Zurich University of the Arts, Zurich; and Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag).
Counsellor of Science and Technology in the Swiss Embassy in South Africa, UNIVEN colleagues, and selected staff of Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur
Presentations at the various universities were made by both our Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Dr Nthambeleni, and leading host university officials in Switzerland. Discussions were held on several topics of mutual institutional benefits. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between UNIVEN and Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Lucerne.
Counsellor of Science and Technology in the Swiss Embassy in south Africa, UNIVEN and host colleagues at the Switzerland Innovation Park, Biel
Counsellor of Science and Technology in the Swiss Embassy in South Africa, UNIVEN colleagues, and selected staff of Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Wadenswil 6
Counsellor of Science and Technology in the Swiss Embassy in South africa, and UNIVEN colleagues under the principal clock at the Zurich Train Station
Upon returning to South Africa, the visiting team met and identified eight major projects which should be pursued with vigor. The projects are as follows: Migration from blackboard to Moodle to be coordinated by Professor Nancy Mutshaeni; Renewable Energy to be led by Dr Eric Maluta; Health Promotion Programme to be coordinated by Professor Tshilidzi Mulaudzi; Facilities Management Programme; Biodiversity to be coordinated by Professor Jan Crafford; Chair in Drug Development to be handled by Senior Professor Georges Ekosse; Chair in Entrepreneurial Activities to be handled by Dr Robert Martin; and Chair in Water Quality.
Issued by:
Department of Communications & Marketing
University of Venda
Tel: (015) 962 8525
Date: 07 November 2019
