The foremost higher educational institution in the heartland of South Africa, the Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) has been selected to be part of the Brazilian, Russian, Indian, Chinese and South African (BRICS) Network University initiative. 

CUT is one of the 12 universities amongst the 60 BRICS universities that form part of the international network.  “We are ecstatic about this fantastic achievement! Being selected to be part of such a dynamic network not only means that we will be sharing local best practices with our BRICS partners, we will also be learning top-class international best practice from our counterparts around the world,” says Vice-Chancellor and Principal at CUT, Professor Thandwa Mthembu. The BRICS Network University initiative was formed to serve as a research and educational project, aimed at bringing together higher educational institutions from the BRICS countries. The project’s six focus areas include: Computer Science and Information Science; Energy; Economics; Ecology and Climate Change; Water Resources and Pollution Treatment; and BRICS Studies*.

“The BRICS Network University’s board members have selected CUT specifically to contribute in the field of Water Resources and Pollution Treatment,” adds Mthembu. “What this means is that the Unit for Sustainable Water and Environment of CUT, established in 2015, will be actively engaging in this international partnership to help contribute towards achieving its vision. The vision of the Water and Reources and Pollution Treatment Category, is to become a regional knowledge hub for sustainable use and management of water and environment for socioeconomic development.” The Ural Federal University located in Ekaterinburg, Russia, hosted the first-ever conference of Vice-Chancellors of the BRICS University Network from 06 to 09 April 2016 at the Ekaterinburg Campus. At the forum, Mthembu signed the agreement on behalf of CUT in acceptance of the highly coveted invitation to be part of the BRICS Network University. The event was attended by over 150 representatives of universities and Ministries of Education from the BRICS countries. The conference focussed on finding practical solutions to global issues pertaining to the project and on building sustainable international synergies. “We believe that CUT will play a key role in creating top quality masters and PHD professionals in the field of Water Treatment and Pollution. Our university has a wealth of academic and technological expertise to bring to the table and we look forward to sharing this with our international counterparts through mutually beneficial learning partnerships,” concludes Mthembu. 

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At the first BRICS University Network conference held in Russia, from left: Prof. Thandwa Mthembu, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of CUT; Prof. Mbudzeni Sibara, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Academic at the University of Limpopo; Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation, Postgraduate Studies and the Library at the University of Johannesburg; and Prof. Zeblon Vilakazi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Post Graduate Affairs at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.