The MarComms Team at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) continues to elevate the Institution’s visibility in international academic forums. This week, the team, in collaboration with Wits University, presented the SASUF+ Communication Plan (2025–2028) at a strategic session hosted by Stellenbosch University, to a cohort of delegates from the 37 member institutions of the South Africa–Sweden University Forum (SASUF).
Now entering its third phase, SASUF+ is a dynamic initiative that brings together 25 South African and 12 Swedish universities to tackle global challenges through local collaboration. This next phase focuses on five key areas: virtual collaboration, industry and societal partnerships, expanding African networks, student engagement, and interdisciplinary research themes—all within the guiding frameworks of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and African Union’s Agenda 2063.
The Communication Plan, developed jointly by MUT and Wits University, is designed to ensure that SASUF+ is widely known, well understood, and effectively supported across regions. It offers a clear roadmap for sharing project outcomes, engaging stakeholders, and positioning SASUF+ as a model for collaborative, sustainable academic partnerships.
The plan received strong praise from Helin Bäckman Kartal, SASUF Project Manager at the Division for Research and Partnership Support, who noted: “The plan is exceptionally well thought-out, accessible, strategic and deeply aligned with SASUF+ principles. It sets a high standard for what collaborative communication can look like.”
During the session, Bheki Hlophe from MUT emphasised the importance of collective participation in the Communication Work Package: “I told the whole group the importance of the SASUF delegates supporting our Work Package by forwarding us the relevant information—information that reflects what everyone is doing and ties directly into the themes, guided by AU and UN protocols. I also emphasised the need to be clear about who the information is for and how it should be written, based on that. There were no questions—it seems the message was received.”
This moment signals a significant milestone for MUT. Through its leadership in the SASUF+ Communication Work Package, the University not only affirms its commitment to inclusive and impactful partnerships but also positions itself as a key player in shaping how global research collaborations are communicated and understood.