UKZN Expands Global Reach Through Strategic Research Partnerships

UKZN’s College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science (CAES) is proud of a significant milestone in its internationalisation journey, having been officially accepted as a founding member of the China-Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Alliance (CAASTIA).

This achievement follows strategic engagements led by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the College, Professor Fhatuwani Mudau, and the Dean of Agriculture and Science, Professor Ade Olaniran, building on UKZN’s existing collaborations with global research institutions, particularly the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences (JAAS) in China.

CAASTIA, a pioneering initiative launched under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), is jointly driven by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and the African Academy of Sciences (AAS). It seeks to promote innovation and collaboration in agricultural science and technology between African and Chinese research institutions.

The alliance focuses on key areas such as agricultural technology transfer, food security, sustainable development and capacity building, with the overall aim of addressing pressing agricultural challenges across the two regions.

Becoming a founding member of CAASTIA represents a strategic move by CAES to cement and expand its partnership with JAAS, which is itself a member of the alliance.

The relationship between UKZN and JAAS has developed over several years, starting with research collaborations and extending into formalised agreements involving student and staff exchanges, joint supervision of postgraduate research and shared scientific projects in agricultural sciences and biotechnology.

JAAS, based in China’s Jiangsu Province, is a renowned institution known for its contributions to crop breeding, sustainable farming practices and rural development technologies. Its role in CAASTIA underscores the calibre of institutions involved and signals the depth of opportunity available to UKZN through this alliance.

UKZN’s membership in CAASTIA opens new avenues for collaborative research, access to shared infrastructure, co-funding opportunities and increased visibility within a dynamic international network. It aligns closely with South Africa’s national research priorities and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, particularly in the areas of food security, innovation and climate-resilient agriculture.

Mudau expressed his enthusiasm about the development, highlighting the long-term value of such partnerships for both institutional advancement and regional impact.

Further extending the College’s international footprint, Mudau recently held a breakfast meeting with key representatives from the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), including a Swedish-based delegate currently participating in a mathematics workshop in northern KwaZulu-Natal. During this engagement, discussions centred on UKZN’s potential involvement in the South Africa-Sweden University Forum (SASUF), a growing collaboration between Swedish and South African universities that supports joint research, academic mobility and innovation aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

SASUF represents a powerful platform for UKZN to diversify its international engagements, particularly in areas of shared research interest such as sustainability, renewable energy, water resources, health and agriculture.

With over 40 partner universities involved across both countries, the forum has become a beacon of multidisciplinary co-operation, supporting academic exchanges and collaborative research funding, as well as the possibility of joint PhD programmes.

The opportunity of joining SASUF complements the University’s broader strategy to position itself as a global leader in research and innovation, while expanding opportunities for staff and students to participate in international projects and training programmes.

Both the CAASTIA and SASUF engagements represent a commitment to knowledge exchange, sustainable development and the advancement of science in the global south.

Said Mudau: “As UKZN moves forward with its involvement in CAASTIA and advances discussions around SASUF, the University is poised to become an even more active player in global research networks, leveraging these alliances to drive innovation, enhance academic excellence and contribute meaningfully to solving real-world challenges.

These developments signal a promising future for UKZN’s College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, affirming its place at the forefront of international research collaboration.

Words: Sally Frost

Photograph: Sethu Dlamini