At the Durban University of Technology (DUT), academic excellence is going global. Professor Zamokuhle Mbandlwa has been appointed as a visiting professor at five international universities, strengthening DUT’s footprint in the world of higher education and highlighting his globally recognised academic leadership.
The DUT academic, Prof Mbandlwa, began his international appointments in 2024, when he was first appointed as a visiting professor for five years at the Higher School of Economics, a leading public university in Russia. He is scheduled to visit the university annually until 2028. In the same year, he also began a five-year appointment at Kabale University in Uganda.
In 2025 alone, he was appointed by several universities as a visiting professor in addition to the existing appointments.
“I was appointed by Asia Pacific University in Malaysia, and I visited the university for the first time last year (2025). Through this visit, I was able to publish two journal articles in Scopus Q1 Journal. Still in 2025, I was appointed by Universitas Brawijaya, a top public university in Indonesia, as a visiting professor. Unfortunately, I was not able to start my duties last year due to many academic commitments. I will start my duties this year (2026). I was appointed by BRICS International School to teach international students of countries associated with BRICS. I was lecturing BRICS students about Economic Development Strategies in BRICS Countries. Exploring sustainable growth, innovation, and economic resilience within member states,” shared Prof Mbandlwa.
At the end of 2025, he was appointed by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) as a panel member for the implementation of the policy framework for internationalisation of higher education in South Africa.
“This is an important appointment in which I will help shape the future of South African universities, I will be contributing in developing strategies and direction for the next generations to come. The appointment is for a period of 3 years. My term starts this year, 2026 and it will end in March 2029,” he added.
As a visiting professor, Prof Mbandlwa said his duties include organising seminars, teaching undergraduate and graduate students. He also supervises and co-supervise master’s and doctoral candidates at the various universities.
Sharing some of his duties as a panel member of the DHET, Prof Mbandlwa said they consist of:
• Developing the best possible strategy or strategies to ensure that all the universities participate in the internationalisation activities. The strategy should encompass the aspect of transformation within the South African higher education institutions.
• Assessment of higher education institutions Annual Performance Plans and Annual Reports and provide feedback on the institutions’ internationalisation strategies to ensure compliance with the Policy Framework.
• Enhancement of international cooperation and expansion of partnerships, including global participation in bilateral and multilateral initiatives, through the Departments’ initiatives such as the University Capacity Development Plan.
• Advise on the policy brief ensuring internationalisation alignment with the principles of decolonisation and transformation.
• Guidance on the development and implementation of joint degrees; promotion of contextually relevant qualifications, ensuring alignment and compliance with the regulatory bodies.
He said all these duties and more will be performed by the panel members.
“All these appointments are benefiting me and DUT. I am contributing together with other colleagues who came before me and those who are still contributing to put DUT on top of the international map. I believe these appointments are exposing me to different leadership cultures, academic settings, strengthening my confidence. I believe a person who has more confidence will never suppress others who want to grow and learn. This will help me assist young academics at DUT who want to do what I do and perhaps do more,” shared Prof Mbandlwa.
He links his appointments with the Society perspective of ENVISION2030 stating that it promotes mutually beneficial collaborations, the practical application of knowledge and prepare graduates for a global future. Additionally, Prof Mbandlwa indicated that these appointments have exposed him to critical information that he has shared with his DUT students. He aspires to promote one of DUT’s ENVISION2030 strategic objective which is: ‘An Engaged University’. He believes this objective encourages DUT to be an engaged university that produces global citizens that establish mutually beneficial partnerships.
Pictured: Professor Zamokuhle Mbandlwa who has been appointed as visiting professor by several international universities.
Simangele Zuma
