Charismatic keynote speaker, Mr Steve Farr, Secretariat Executive Director at the Alliance of Guangzhou International Sister-City Universities shared his forward-thinking approaches that aims to contribute to shaping the future of higher education in Africa and beyond.
The dynamic thought leader delivered his interactive, keynote address titled: “An Alliance Approach to Internationally Transforming Education, Research and Innovation” at the Learning, Teaching, Research, Innovation and Engagement (LTRIE) Conference which took place today, Tuesday, 28 October 2025 at Coastlands Umhlanga.
Mr Farr is passionate about his craft, and has conducted programmes for thousands of Chinese, American, Russian and South American students, educators, government and business officials, being at the forefront of the Alliance of Guangzhou International Sister-City Universities. As the Founder of the Globalliance Group, he consults with a wide variety of organisations, governments, private businesses, health care facilities and schools building international projects, and partnerships promoting global education and friendship.
Besides his exhilarating love for education, research and innovation, he has spoken of his love for China which is now home to him, settling down with his beautiful Chinese wife. His presentation which focused on the Alliance of Guangzhou International Sister-City Universities showcased how an international academic platform can attract, leverage and better combine the resources of its university members during this exciting time of converging global horizons.
He indicated that the purpose of his talk is basically to learn more about how to transform education, innovation and research. He delved into what the Alliance does and how one can apply it to what they are doing, giving an overview of it.
“This Alliance founded in 2018 and its current 27 members represent six continents, 22 countries, 25 cities, a combined approximate population of almost 60 million, 640,000 students and 67,000 faculty and staff. Serving as a catalyst, more than 60 programmes are offered each year in the primary areas of Joint Research and Publication Projects, International Symposiums, Entrepreneurship Competitions, Collaborative Programmes and Digital and Entrepreneurship Academy Programmes. He indicated that this year, more programmes launched include “Five-Year” Projects featuring a member universal Student, Faculty and Staff Exchange Programme and a Business and Industry Network providing mutually beneficial relationships,” he added.
He briefly then shared on the various competitions, revealing more on DUT’s alliance with the Alliance of Guangzhou International Sister-City Universities (GISU), which includes the collaboration on the GISU Urban Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, which for the first time in Africa, DUT in partnership with the Alliance of Guangzhou International Sister-City Universities (GISU), will host the grand finale of the global GISU Urban Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition under theme: Further Promoting Sustainable Urban Development.
This prestigious competition, comprising of students from 28 universities representing 23 different countries, will be held at the Southern Sun Elangeni from Thursday, 30 October 2025 to Friday, 31 October 2025.
He highlighted further on the GISU Urban Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition initiative.
“Last year’s winner was a student team from DUT. What these students are doing is incredible. This year, thanks to Ms Nontokozo Ngcobo, Manager: innobiz DUT Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and to other leaders here, DUT is hosting this year’s event. I encourage you to watch your student teams and student teams from throughout the world present their concepts. I also want to thank DUT for hosting this year’s competition and we look forward to seeing those results,” he shared.
Mr Farr spoke on joint research and publications, saying that DUT has participated in this programme every year. “The Faculty at DUT and faculty throughout all of our universities submit joint research proposals. What we do with those joint research proposals is it’s an award of approximately 50,000 RMB. The faculty member that’s chosen at DUT or whichever university is chosen, they go ahead and they are partnered with a Guangzhou University faculty member. That faculty member is flown to China where they’re introduced to that faculty member and then they work on a joint project of interest,” he said.
He further emphasised on the digital and entrepreneurship academy which offers a series of online two-hour non-credit development programmes which internationally complement and enhance curriculums.
“Taught by leading experts, these programmes are offered free of charge to the students and faculty of all Alliance members, and industry representatives. Other projects that the Alliance will be focusing on is at mentorships, grant writing, space technology, developing articulation agreements, and global warming. I hope that you see some of the various benefits that are offered through our Alliance. I again want to thank DUT for hosting this year’s competition,” he concluded.
Pictured: Mr Steve Farr
Waheeda Peters
