Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) has taken a significant leap forward in internationalisation by formalising a partnership with Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences in Wolfsburg, Germany. Initiated by Dr Kevin Ramsarghey, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences, the collaboration will expand cross-border research, community development, and student exchange programmes, directly advancing MUT’s Ignite 2030 strategic vision.
What began as a faculty-level engagement has rapidly broadened across the institution. Following earlier visits from Ostfalia Professors Claudia Dinse-Ferenczi and Mike Hoffmeister, alongside the Be-Your-Own-Hero project team, the scope of cooperation now includes MUT’s Faculty of Engineering, led by Dr Richard Chidzonga, the faculty dean.
The partnership gained significant momentum after MUT and Ostfalia University formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MOU lays a strong foundation for long-term international collaboration, staff development, and academic exchange. Key outcomes and next steps include Ostfalia University sending a delegation of 16 students and five academic staff members to MUT in 2027 to officially launch the student exchange programme.
According to Dr Ramsarghey, “the milestones of the collaboration include community impact in the KwaZulu-Natal Middlands. Representatives from both universities visited the German-funded Be-Your-Own-Hero project in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. The delegation inspected a Safe Home, a school/crèchte initiative, and a skills development centre, noting the remarkable care and educational opportunities created despite ongoing regional challenges,” said Dr Ramsarghey.
Dr Ramsarghey was invited to Ostfalia University, where he presented a paper at its Intercultural Conference and delivered a joint lecture with Professor Mike Hoffmeister. The partnership received high-level support during a meeting with the South African Ambassador to Germany, Andries Oosthuizen, who officially endorsed the joint mobility initiatives.
The German university has pledged to sponsor an MUT student to attend classes for a semester in Wolfsburg, Germany. Success in the pilot programme will pave the way for future MUT students to complete semesters abroad, with potential work placement opportunities through Ostfalia’s industry partners. The institutions are planning numerous joint online engagements and academic sessions to keep students and staff connected.