Professor Suren Singh, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), has been awarded the Tianjin Haihe Friendship Award, the highest honour conferred by the Tianjin Municipal Government on foreign experts since 2006, in recognition of his long-standing contribution to scientific collaboration between South Africa and China.
The award was presented during the Tianjin Conference on High Quality Development of Talents, held in Tianjin, China, on 28 May 2026 and Prof Singh was one of ten recipients to receive the award. The event brought together government officials, researchers, and industry representatives to explore approaches to talent development and international cooperation in science and innovation.
Professor Singh’s recognition is closely tied to his nearly 20-year collaboration with Prof Zhenxiang Wang at Tianjin University of Science and Technology (TUST). Working with Professor Wang Zhengxiang and colleagues, he has helped build sustained research cooperation in areas such as biocatalysis, enzyme technology, and biomass utilisation.
Over the years, the partnership between DUT and TUST has supported several jointly funded research projects (NRF – MOST and BRICS) and enabled regular exchange of researchers and postgraduate students, more than 30 in total since 2008. It has also contributed to joint supervision arrangements that continue to strengthen academic links between the two institutions which have led to 36 joint publications in high IF journals. “This achievement makes our collaboration one of the most successful biotechnology partnerships ever established between our two countries”, said Prof Singh.
During his visit, Professor Singh took part in meetings with representatives from TUST and the Tianjin Association for Science and Technology, where discussions focused on strengthening existing areas of collaboration and identifying new opportunities for joint research and training.
Prof Bai Haili, Party Secretary and Chairman of the University Council of TUST, warmly met with Professor Suren Singh and expressed the university’s highest respect for his long-term efforts in advancing cooperation between the two universities and supporting Tianjin’s development.He praised Professor Singh for facilitating major Ministry of Science and Technology projects, aligning research with South African industry needs, and establishing a regular cooperation platform involving TUST, the South African Association for Agricultural Development, and DUT.
Bai Haili expressed hope that Professor Singh’s Haihe Friendship Award would serve as a new starting point to deepen cooperation in biocatalysis and biomass resource utilisation.
He emphasised the desire to build a benchmark model for China-South Africa science and education collaboration while contributing to Tianjin’s opening-up and the China-South Africa community with a shared future.
TUST President Professor Lu Fuping congratulated Professor Singh during a special meeting held in his honour and acknowledged his contribution to the university’s international cooperation efforts.
“Your receipt of this award is not only a recognition of your personal contribution, but also of the strong partnership built over many years between our institutions,” said Professor Lu.
In the same visit, Professor Singh was formally appointed as a Visiting Professor at Tianjin University of Science and Technology, further strengthening the institutional relationship between DUT and TUST.
Accepting the award, Professor Singh thanked the Tianjin Municipal People’s Government and TUST as well as DUT, the NRF, NSF and MOST for their continued support.
“Working with Tianjin University of Science and Technology has been one of the most rewarding parts of my academic career, I am fully committed to working hand-in-hand with President Lu, Professor Wang, and the entire TUST team to elevate our partnership to new heights, not only for the benefit of our two universities, but for the greater advancement of science and technology between China and South Africa”, he said
He noted that the collaboration had grown steadily over many years and expressed his intention to continue strengthening academic links between the two institutions.
As part of his programme in Tianjin, Professor Singh delivered a lecture to students and staff at TUST, where he shared recent developments in biotechnology research and highlighted areas for possible future collaboration. He also engaged with industry representatives on opportunities for applied research and technology development.
The visit concluded with discussions with postgraduate students involved in joint supervision arrangements between DUT and TUST.
Professor Singh is a B3 NRF-rated researcher and this recognition highlights DUT’s growing international research presence and reflects the value of long-term institutional partnerships in advancing scientific work internationally.
Pictured: Executive Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences: Professor Suren Singh, and the Tianjin Municipal People’s Government and TUST delegation.
Tiyani Mboweni
