In order to extend the effective and mutually beneficial cooperation and develop academic and cultural exchange in education, research and other areas, The Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) and the University West, Sweden, entered into a five-year agreement to collaborate towards advancing the internationalisation of higher education. Signed on 20 February 2020, the two-year relationship has seen milestones on some of the agreed cooperation.

The areas of cooperation include any program offered at either university and amongst such programs are work integrated learning, exchange of faculty members, exchange of support staff members, exchange of students; exchange of publications; joint research projects; joint conferences, joint teaching projects; joint cultural programs; and development of qualifications.

In shaping and contributing to nation building projects, University West is one of the 63 CUT strategic partner universities from 29 countries. There is significant growth in partnerships in Africa and academic relationships with universities in Brazil, Russia, China, Germany, Belgium, Finland, Netherlands, and the Asia Pacific. The academic relationship is envisioned to create cross-border partnerships and better global community through education and most importantly, to contribute to South Africa’s status as a participant in innovation and world markets.

Of the programmes on the agreement, the universities have reached some milestones despite the COVID-19 pandemic challenges. To date, two of the CUT PhD in Work Integrated Learning (WIL) have enrolled at the University West - a first of its kind globally; the parties have also conducted joint research on WIL as well as co-presented on WIL at the Southern African – Nordic Centre (SANORD) and The South Africa-Sweden University Forum (SASUF) conferences.

If all plans fall into place, the University West will be visiting CUT on 15 March 2022.

Caption

Mr Karabelo Motsatsi, final year Biomedical Technology student is one of the CUT WIL beneficiaries serving his time at the National Health Laboratory Services in Pelonomi Hospital, Bloemfontein. All CUT qualifications include a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) component which equips CUT students to graduate with much-needed experience in their respective fields of study.