MUT Internationalisation

Fostering a strategic network of international partners

Foreword by Professor Nokuthula Sibiya: Vice-Chancellor and Principal

Becoming a truly international player will fulfil our vision of being a transformed University, one that is “destined for the world” as part of our strategy to Shape and Own the Future.

Our global destiny is one where we see our students engaged in internationalised curricula and our staff and students experiencing international, intercultural communication and collaboration.

In our quest to internationalise MUT we have adopted a comprehensive approach which includes Internationalisation at Home (IaH) and Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL). We also place an emphasis on inward and outward programmes by staff, students and international partners. I have chosen June, which is known as Youth Month in South Africa, to launch this magazine because as a University our efforts are null and void if they do not prepare our young people to solve the problems of the future.

A few years ago, I was part of the delegation that took the SRC and a few other student leaders on a cultural immersion tour to Tanzania and Kenya, on Africa’s east coast. That trip was an eye-opener for our students who got to experience not only a different culture but also how students navigate often similarly constrained circumstances.

My passion for internationalising MUT intersects with my passion for entrepreneurship which has been recognised at the highest echelon of the state. As a result, part of our internationalisation drive is to stimulate innovation. You will note from this publication that we have embarked on this and are learning from one of our partner universities, South Bank London University. A key element in all collaborations should be some form of entrepreneurship and/or enterprise development, particularly for our students, and I will be looking out for this keenly.

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Professor Nokuthula Sibiya

Who are we

The MUT internationalisation agenda has kicked off after more than two decades’ hiatus. The internationalization agenda is informed by MUT Strategy 2025’s Goal 4: Targeted national and international engagements.

MUT’s internationalisation agenda is currently housed in the Marketing and Communications (MarComms) directorate under the tutelage of the Vice-Chancellor & Principal.

Currently, the senior director of marketing and communications, who has vast experience in the internationalisation of universities and various institutions is the lead person and brings pertinent experience gained from:

  • USAID: Tertiary Education Linkages Programme (TELP)
  • United Negro College Fund Special Programs
  • The Association Liaison Office
  • International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP)

The Team currently leading MUT’s internationalisation agenda have been fellows in the TELP programme, DAAD, and IVLP. Their professional training and development has been with these universities:

  • Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, Tallahassee, Florida, (USA)
  • Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia (USA)
  • University of Vermon, Vermont (USA)
  • Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, (USA)
  • Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts

The team has received fellowships from Leibniz Universität Hannover, University of Potsdam, Germany and across various US universities through the International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP), and the Association Liaison Office.

PATRONS OF THE INTERNATIONALISATION AGENDA

Professor Marcus Ramogale

Professor Nokuthula Sibiya

Dr Manyane Makua 

Professor Babatunde Bakare 

Professor Roger Coopoosamy 

Dr Bheka Ntshangase 

 

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What are we doing

We aim to deliver on the MUT’s Internationalisation Strategy 2025’s goals of:

  1. Laying a foundation for MUT’s position globally
  2. Enhancing international visibility of MUT
  3. Enhancing MUT research activities outside South Africa
  4. Making MUT a globally aware university.
  5. Fostering students’ success among international students

How are we doing it

Internationalisation at Home

Post-Covid 19 opportunities of online collaboration are set to move the MUT Internationalisation agenda. With the establishment of more than 20 partnerships, processes are underway to enhance the buddy programme.

Conferencing
The International Relations Office will host an Artificial Intelligence Workshop to be hosted by MUT’s partner university, École nationale supérieure d’informatique pour l’industrie et l’entreprise, Évry-Courcouronnes
 
The International Relations Office will also host the EnergyWaterFood nexus summit in collaboration with Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University in July 2025. 
 
Benchmarking visits
Benchmarking visits are welcome from universities interested in partnering with MUT and internally, MUT encourages departments to find their own funding for these visits on condition that the outcome will be changemaking in the three pillars of the university: Teaching & Learning, Research and Innovation as well as Community Engagement. It is important for MUT to internationalise the community where it is located. 
 
Training and development
The team belongs to various professional bodies for International Relations as well as Marketing and Communications.
The team also uses its local networks as its networth in advancing its excellence on internationalisation. In July 2023, the team received enhanced training from its national partner Cape Peninsula University of Technology and received attendance certificates on COIL, SA’s 2019 Comprehensive Internationalisation Policy and on global engagement strategy implementation. 
 
Publications
Boundless
Good news Friday
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Key Programmes

A: Partnerships

The University has partnerships across Europe (Germany, France, United Kingdom and Sweden); Asia (India, Indonesia), USA (Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, Spelman College, and with some Non-Profit Organisations which are a gateway to MUT firming its presence in the USA); and Africa (Botho University, Namibia Institute of Technology, Bulawayo Polytechnic).

In South Africa, MUT has fostered collaboration with Cape Peninsula University of Technology and the University of Venda.

B: International student recruitment

International students provide a much-needed diversity to the MUT campus. Currently, MUT is home to students from the DRC, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria. The Schools’ Recruitment Team has built relations with embassies and touches base with them on a regular basis.

C: International Week and Africa Day

The International Week provides a platform for MUT researchers and academics to connect with partner universities and the 2024 International Week will focus on specific themes where key strengths from each partner university will be discussed around the areas of:

  • Food technology
  • Smart agriculture
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Drone technology
  • Climate change

In line with the African Union mandate of bringing together different cultures by celebrating Africa Day, MUT celebrated the 2023 Africa Day under the theme: The Africa we want

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Response By: Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi MP Founder of The Mangosuthu University Of Technology
Founder and President Emeritus of The Inkatha Freedom Party