Photo: Prof. Isabel Zwane, acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Eswatini Medical Christian University with Prof. Solomon Makola, Welkom Campus Director and acting Director: Office of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal.

On 23 June 2023, the Central University of Technology and the Eswatini Medical Christian University (EMCU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to share best practices in the academic sector. The partnership offers numerous benefits, including sharing regional expertise, research collaboration, student mobility, faculty development, resource sharing, cultural exchange, and policy development.

In her remarks, Prof. Isabel Zwane, acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Eswatini Medical Christian University said that both universities would be able to address and overcome their regional challenges through this partnership, enhance academic programs, and contribute towards the development of their respective countries and the broader region. “CUT and EMCU possess complementary areas of expertise in technology, engineering, and medical sciences. By collaborating, both institutions will leverage their respective strengths and knowledge to enhance research, education, and innovation. This partnership will lead to interdisciplinary collaborations, joint research projects, and the development of innovative solutions in healthcare and technology.”

According to Prof. Solomon Makola, Welkom Campus Director and acting Director: Office of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, the partnership was initiated by Dr Mkhumbulo Ndlovu, CUT Alumni, Dean of Applied Social Sciences at Eswatini Medical Christian University and part-time postdoctoral fellow in the CUT Faculty of Humanities.

“I am grateful to Dr Ndlovu for this initiative. This union is a breath of fresh for Welkom Campus and will bring meaningful academic growth and development to our Welkom Campus community. As a start, all staff and students at the Welkom Campus will benefit from this partnership because it is coordinated from this campus. As it expands, the entire university will reap the fruits,” he said.

Part of the day's activity included a training workshop conducted by CUT on Meaningful Conflict Management in the Work Environment. The training session was attended by personnel from EMCU, as well as Korean Institute of Logotherapy. The MoU was the first for CUT in the Kingdom of Eswatini.