Durban University of Technology (DUT) has once again demonstrated its international leadership and commitment to sustainable development by participating as a partner and exhibitor in the Times Higher Education 2025 Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC), held in Istanbul, Turkey, from 16 to 19 June 2025. The congress served as a global platform for universities to forge partnerships, exchange knowledge, and advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). DUT’s delegation, led by Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, Professor Fulufhelo Nemavhola, included Acting Director: Research and Post Graduate Support, Dr Nomcebo Mthombeni; Director: Data Analytics: IT Support Services, Alex Mngenge; International Education and Partnerships Director, Dr Lavern Samuels; and International Education and Partnerships Manager, Dr Divinia Jithoo.
The GSDC provided DUT with a unique opportunity to strengthen collaborations with universities in Turkey and to expand south-south cooperation by networking with institutions from the Philippines, Morocco, China, Australia, India, Central Asia and the Middle East. These engagements are central to DUT’s ENVISION2030 strategy, which emphasises international engagement, research and curricular excellence through innovation, sustainable development and green ecosystems.
A significant outcome of DUT’s participation was the formalisation of new partnerships through the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with five leading universities:
- Ibn Tofail University, Morocco
- Universidad Tecnológica Empresarial de Guayaquil, Ecuador
- Karadeniz Technical University, Turkey
- Gedik Universitesi, Turkey
- Gebze Teknik Universitesi, Turkey
These agreements will enable academic and research cooperation and will include staff and student mobility programmes, collaborative online international learning (COIL), research seminars, lecture series, and the internationalisation of DUT’s programme advisory boards. The MOUs also open the door for postgraduate joint degrees, further enhancing DUT’s global academic influence.
DUT signs and MOU with Karadeniz Teknik University: From left: Professor Hasan Olmez, DrUlas Kutsi Cezik, Professor Fulufhelo Nemavhola, Professor Yucel Bulut and Dr Lavern Samuels.
In addition to the agreements signed in Istanbul, DUT has initiated partnership engagements with 42 other universities. Notably, MOUs with institutions such as Kayseri University and Ondokuz Mayis University (Turkey), Visayas State University, Cavite State University, Central Philippine University and Marioano Marcos State University (Philippines), as well as Binus University (Indonesia), which will be formalised through online forums in the coming months. Specifically, DUT will foster cooperation with at least five universities in the Philippines.
During the congress, the DUT delegation also conducted strategic visits to KOC University, Gedik Universitesi, and Gebze Teknik Universitesi, all located in Istanbul. These on-site engagements provided an invaluable opportunity to move beyond initial discussions and begin activating tangible collaborations between DUT and its Turkish counterparts. The face-to-face meetings allowed for deeper exploration of mutual interests, the identification of specific areas for joint research, and the planning of staff and student mobility initiatives. By visiting these leading Istanbul-based universities, DUT has laid a strong foundation for ongoing academic exchange, collaborative projects, and the implementation of the newly signed MOUs, ensuring that partnerships move swiftly from agreement to action.
While DUT’s international footprint continues to expand, the university remains deeply committed to advancing intra-African academic collaboration. During the conference, DUT and the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) had discussions to advance an already strong partnership, while identifying new specific areas of collaboration.
DUT signs an MOU with IBN Tofail University: From left: Prof. Mohamed Kerkeb. Professor Fulufhelo Nemavhola, Dr Nomcebo Mthombeni and Dr Lavern Samuels.
Building on this momentum, DUT and NUST have planned a series of upcoming visits. DUT will send a delegation to NUST for the opening of their Luderitz campus and NUST will reciprocate with a visit to DUT in July 2025, for the DUT International Week. These exchanges are set to further strengthen the strategic partnership. This intra-African cooperation is a key pillar of DUT’s internationalisation strategy, which prioritises African-led collaboration, innovation and research excellence.
At the GSDC, DUT also took the opportunity to promote the African Partnership Universities Alliance (APUA), a collaborative initiative that brings together leading African universities to advance Africa-centred internationalisation and strengthen research and innovation networks. APUA, which is led by DUT, is driving the development of sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships that prioritise African knowledge systes and address local, continental and global challenges.
DUT’s participation in the Times Higher Education 2025 Global Sustainable Development Congress has yielded significant results with numerous opportunities for DUT faculties to engage in activities that help advance ENVISION2030. DUT is well-positioned to advance its core business through innovative curricular and research and contribute meaningfully to the achievement of the SDGs and future global sustainability.
Pictured: DUT at the Global Sustainability Development Congress in Istanbul Turkey. Left to Right: Mr Alex Mngenge, Dr Lavern Samuels, Dr Nomcebo Mthombeni, Professor Fulufhelo Nemavhola (Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement) and Professor Colin Stanley (NUST).
By Lavern Samuels and Divinia Jithoo
