Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Eswatini Medical Christian University (EMCU) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South Africa’s Central University of Technology (CUT) in a bid to internationalise education and enhance the quality of graduates.
The MoU, which was signed at Hilton Garden Inn yesterday, committed the two universities to work more closely towards achieving common goals, of which internationalisation of education was at the top of the list.
EMCU acting Chancellor Professor Isabel Zwane said the MoU ought to enhance the pursuit of the production of quality graduates, internalisation of education, promotion of quality assurance mechanisms, community engagement and research.
“Each side will pursue many significant activities such as the promotion of education and academic exchange between our universities, assistance to student educational activities, academic staff exchange and to collaborate for research activities, seminars, workshops and conferences in the area of education,” said Zwane.
Welkom Campus Director at CUT Professor Solomon Makola, who signed the memorandum on behalf of his institution said collaboration by universities across the world was very important, especially to share best practices.
“It will enable us to share best practices on how best we can advance the lives of the black child, and we can only successfully do that through collaboration,” said Makola.
He stated that Central University of Technology had one or another type of MoU signed with universities in various countries across the SADC region, however this was the university’s first MoU in Eswatini.
“As a start, we are going to have a training session and it will be one of the many interventions that are going to take place between the two institutions,” said Makola.
Value
He stated that he believed the two institutions would increase their value through creativity.
“This is to say the Central University of Technology wants to shape the future through innovation and you cannot shape the future through innovation if you do not collaborate. If you always do what you have always done, you will always be where you have always been.”
EMCU Dean of Applied Social Sciences Dr. Mkhubulo Ndlovu said he was convinced that the time had come for EMCU to shine, “This is an era where abandonment of the concept of a university being an ivory tower should be taken seriously and actioned.”
He stated that the relationship with CUT was centred on collaborative research whose outcomes should be shared with the world through journal publications, book chapters and attendance of academic conferences.
“We are the light of the world, a lit lamp should not be hidden but should be put on a lampstand for illuminating one’s house,” Ndlovu said.
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